The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has presented the top prize in the National Enterprise Awards to Applied Concepts, an Offaly-based manufacturer and exporter of blast machines used by builders and restoration companies.
Set-up by Mark Clendennen and supported by Local Enterprise Office Offaly, the Kinnitty-based company began trading in 2010 and employs ten people. Its machines are used in building and restoration projects in countries such as Finland, Estonia, Venezuela and Ethiopia.
With a total prize fund of €40,000 on offer through the Local Enterprise Offices, thirteen awards were presented in total at the black-tie event at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin yesterday evening (Thursday, June 9th) and the other major category winners were: CarveOn from Kildare (Best Exporter), Global Sauces from Limerick (Best Start-Up) and Invizbox Ltd from Fingal in Dublin (Innovation Award).
Speaking at the awards, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD said: "I am delighted to be here to witness first-hand the innovative entrepreneurs that Ireland has. Through the National Enterprise Awards, the success stories of Ireland's small businesses are showcased nationally and internationally by the Local Enterprise Offices. Small businesses, like finalists here at the National Enterprise Awards, are the backbone of the Irish economy and I want to ensure that I can put in place the right conditions for more small businesses to grow. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and I want to encourage more people to start new businesses, with the help of their Local Enterprise Office. I want to congratulate all of this year's winners and I wish them the very best for the future, as they 'fly the flag' for Ireland's small businesses.”
The local company was nominated for the awards by the Local Enterprise Office Offaly, which has supported the company through business expansion grants and mentoring assistance. Speaking at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Offaly, Orla Martin, was among the first to congratulate the Offaly winners, saying: “Mark Clendennen and his team at Applied Concepts are wonderful ambassadors for the county and are truly a national success story. Under Mark’s direction, the company has achieved impressive international growth and has brought all manufacturing in-house, rather than outsourcing it abroad. With distributors now in place in the UK, Belgium, Finland, Hungary and Estonia, Applied Concepts is very well-placed for future growth and expansion from their Offaly base.”
Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council wished to congratulate Mark and spoke about his accomplishment, saying: “I am delighted with Mark’s success, he is a deserving winner and has done Trojan work in building up his business, now employing 10 people. Economic development and job creation are a top priority for Offaly County Council and the county has a growing indigenous jobs base. We want to expand on that and provide the necessary support through our Local Enterprise Office & Business Support Unit. The key to success is everyone working together.”
Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices said: “For thousands of small companies like all the winners and finalists at the National Enterprise Awards, the Local Enterprise Offices through the Local Authorities Network have become a first stop shop for business. The National Enterprise Awards help to celebrate these companies’ achievements. As a business moves through the start-up phase and into the growth phase, their Local Enterprise Office is standing by, ready to provide whatever supports are needed to help that business grow and expand. ”
Eight new regional awards were introduced this year and these were presented to:
Dublin Region: Brian and Rachel Nolan, Nobó in Dublin City
Kildare/Laois/Offaly/Westmeath Region: Tom Davitt and Dr. Orla Dardis of Scantech Geoscience in Westmeath
Wicklow/Wexford/Carlow/Kilkenny Region: Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson of EquiRatings in Carlow
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan/Meath Region: Clinton Pratt of M.D.,Ualto Ltd in Cavan
Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim/Longford Region: Detta and Aoife McNiffe, McNiffe’s Boxty in Leitrim
Galway/Mayo/Sligo Region: Donal Byrne, M.D., Big Red Barn Ltd in Mayo
Clare/Limerick/Kerry/Tipperary Region: Fionan Murphy, M.D., Murphy Marine Services in Kerry Cork/Waterford Region: Clare Hughes, M.D.,CF Pharma Ireland Ltd in Waterford
Meanwhile, the first-ever ‘Peer Award’ was presented to Darren Hayes from Dare Technology in Cork City and was judged by all 32 finalists.
Further information on the supports available through the Local Enterprise Offices is available through www.localenterprise.ie
RESULTS: NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2016
Organised by Local Enterprise Offices and set up in 1997.
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Special Guest: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D.
Overall Winner (Cash Prize for business: €10,000)
Offaly LEO Applied Concepts Limited: Manufacturer and exporter of abrasive blast machines
Best Exporter (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
Kildare LEO CarveOn: Manufacturer and exporter of lifestyle leather accessories
Best Start-Up (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
Limerick LEO Global Sauces: Sauce manufacturing for food sector and retail
Innovation (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
Fingal LEO InvizBox: Secure digital services for customers around the world
Regional Awards (Cash Prize for business: €2,000)
Dublin Region:
Dublin City LEO Nobó: Dairy-free ice -cream alternative
Kildare/Laois/Offaly/Westmeath Region:
Westmeath LEO Scantech Geoscience Ltd.: GPR surveys for engineering sectors
Wicklow/Wexford/Carlow/Kilkenny Region:
Carlow LEO EquiRatings Ltd: Data analytics for the sport of Eventing
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan/Meath Region:
Cavan LEO Ualto Ltd: Electrical process and plant automation
Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim/Longford Region:
Leitrim LEO McNiffe’s Boxty Bakery: Traditional Irish food producer
Galway/Mayo/Sligo Region: Donal Byrne, M.D., Big Red Barn Ltd in Mayo
Mayo LEO Big Red Barn: Portable structure manufacturer and events
Clare/Limerick/Kerry/Tipperary Region: Fionan Murphy, M.D., Murphy Marine Services in Kerry
Kerry LEO Murphy Marine Services: Boat-builders and designers
Cork/Waterford Region:
Waterford LEO CF Pharma Ireland Ltd.: Pharmaceutical company
Peer Award
Cork City LEO DARE Technology: Renewable energy technology
Other Finalists – National Enterprise Awards 2016
Clare LEO Titan Logistics: Fourth party logistics
Cork North and West LEO Hennessy Timber Group: Timber manufacturer
Cork North and West LEO Health & Safety Publications Ltd.: Publishing company
Cork South LEO GoCambio: Travel and languages web-platform
Donegal LEO GetBrain.fit: Brain training services
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown LEO ClearChoice: Software for financial brokers
South Dublin LEO Wyldsson: Health foods producer
Galway LEO N. Barrett Engineering Ltd.: Animal handling equipment
Kilkenny LEO Goatsbridge Fish Processors Ltd: Trout fish processing
Laois LEO Twiznight Ltd.: Digital media technology
Longford LEO ARK Energy: Technology for the energy sector
Louth LEO Sing Li Foods: Curry sauces for retail and wholesale
Meath LEO TouchHits: Digital touchscreen jukebox manufacturer
Monaghan LEO Cloud 10 Beauty: Online shop for beauty products
Roscommon LEO Roschem Products Ltd.: Cleaning detergents manufacturer
Sligo LEO L.C. Seating Ltd.: Custom-made mobility seating
Tipperary LEO Savvy Kitchens: Bespoke kitchens
Wexford LEO Hentech Fabrication Ltd.: Mild steel fabrication
Wicklow LEO Showoff: Software and app development
