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And the nominees are...
Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O’ Connor, Kieran Comerford of the LEOs, Mark Christal of Enterprise Ireland, Paul Reid, Chair of the Local Government Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Committee and last year’s Overall Winner, Linda Nolan of MyBio in Kilkenny
It’s set to be an all-Ireland affair with each county represented in the upcoming Finals of the National Enterprise Awards, which celebrates the success of Ireland’s small businesses and micro-enterprises. Whittled down from thousands of small businesses supported through the Local Enterprise Offices across the country, technology, manufacturing, food, on-line and energy businesses dominate this year’s list.
The competition has a prize fund of €40,000 and was set up nearly two decades ago. Twelve awards will be presented including eight new regional trophies and the overall winner will receive €10,000 to invest in their business.
Award Categories – National Enterprise Awards 2016
- Overall Winner, National Enterprise Awards 2016 (Cash Prize for business: €10,000)
- Best Export Business(Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Best Start Up Business (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Innovation Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Eight Regional Winners (Cash Prize for business: €2,000 each)
- Dublin City, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown and South Dublin
- Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
- Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny
- Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan
- Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford
- Galway, Mayo and Roscommon
- Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary
- Cork City, South Cork, Cork North & West and Waterford
Who are this year's finalists?
Local Enterprise Office | Name of business | Type of business |
| Carlow | EquiRatings Ltd | Data analytics for the sport of Eventing |
| Cavan | Ualto Ltd | Electrical process and plant automation |
| Clare | Titan Logistics | Fourth party logistics |
| Cork City | DARE Technology | Renewable energy technology |
| Cork West | Hennessy Timber Group | Timber manufacturer |
| Cork North | Health & Safety Publications Ltd | Publishing company |
| Cork South | GoCambio | Travel and languages web-platform |
| Donegal | GetBrain.fit | Brain training services |
| Dublin City | Nobó | Dairy-free ice-cream alternative |
| Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown | ClearChoice | Software for financial brokers |
| Dublin Fingal | InvizBox | Secure digital services |
| Dublin South | Wyldsson | Health foods producer |
| Galway | N. Barrett Engineering Ltd | Animal handling equipment |
| Kerry | Murphy Marine Services | Boat-builders and designers |
| Kildare | CarveOn: | Manufacturer of lifestyle accessories |
| Kilkenny | Goatsbridge Fish Processors Ltd | Trout fish processing |
| Laois | Twiznight Ltd. | Digital media technology |
| Leitrim | McNiffe’s Boxty Bakery | Traditional Irish food producer |
| Limerick | Global Sauces | Sauce manufacturing for food sector and retail |
| Longford | ARK Energy | Technology for the energy sector |
| Louth | Sing Li Foods | Curry sauces for retail and wholesale |
| Mayo | Big Red Barn | Portable structure manufacturer and events |
| Meath | TouchHits | Digital touchscreen jukebox manufacturer |
| Monaghan | Cloud 10 Beauty | Online shop for beauty products |
| Offaly | Applied Concepts Limited | Manufacturer of abrasive blast machines |
| Roscommon | Roschem Products Ltd | Cleaning detergents' manufacturer |
| Sligo | L.C. Seating Ltd | Custom-made mobility seating |
| Tipperary | Savvy Kitchens | Bespoke kitchens |
| Waterford | CF Pharma Ireland Ltd | Pharmaceutical company |
| Westmeath | Scantech Geoscience Ltd | GPR surveys for engineering sectors |
| Wexford | Hentech Fabrication Ltd | Mild steel fabrication |
| Wicklow | Showoff | Software and app development |
Who were last year's winners?
MyBio in Kilkenny, founded by Linda Nolan in 2009 to supply research products to companies in the Life Sciences industry, was crowned Overall Winner of this year's Annual National Enterprise Awards last night. Linda Nolan was one of two female entrepreneurs taking home top prizes, with Anne Behan, founder of the Áine Knitwear in Clare winning the design award, marking Irish Design 2015 (ID2015).
It was a good year for Ireland’s construction and property sectors, with Vision Built in Galway winning the export award (light steel gauge manufacturing), the Property Button in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown clinching the start-up category (utility transfer management) and Gannon Eco in Westmeath taking the innovation prize (reprocessing waste into raw materials).
In previous years, winners have included Irish Yoghurts, Innovate, Grouse Recording Studios, Simtech Aviation and Design Pro.
Where can I find more information?
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, June 9th. Updates will be available through www.localenterprise.ie and by following #NEAwards16 on social media.
About the Local Enterprise Offices
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are now the ‘first-stop-shop’ State support service for micro and small businesses in each local area. The LEOs provide advice and a signposting service to other State supports and services to anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. The LEOs also provide financial assistance for projects that meet certain criteria in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector as well as soft supports such as training and mentoring.
Find your Local Enterprise Office.