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Gelato, Mobile Games and Gaeilge…Ireland’s top local enterprises line up for the National Enterprise Awards Final

Minister Mitchell O’ Connor announces the 32 National Enterprise Award finalists ahead of Awards night on May 25th

Gelato, Mobile Games and Gaeilge…Ireland’s top local enterprises line up for the National Enterprise Awards Final

 The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D., has today announced the finalists for this year’s National Enterprise Awards, to be hosted by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) later this month.

The National Enterprise Awards will celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s top small businesses and micro-enterprises from all parts of Ireland in a showcase of enterprise, innovation and ambition at Dublin’s Mansion House on May 25th.

Announcing the finalists, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “Last week, we saw that Ireland’s unemployment rate has dropped to a new low of 6.2%. This is hugely encouraging, and it is due to the hard work and dedication of enterprise heroes such as these local businesses who are quite rightly taking their place in the spotlight at the National Enterprise Awards on May 25th.”

The Minister added: “These innovative businesses are led by people who are serious about their ambition, who are taking real risks and making real sacrifices to achieve success, and they are making a huge contribution to their local communities and to the economy at large. It is very important that we mark their achievements. I wish all of the finalists the very best of luck in the Final on the 25th May.”

The 32 finalists are drawn from diverse business sectors, such as skin-care, ice-cream making, language courses and mobile game development. The announcement of finalists was made at the Mansion House (today) by Minister Mitchell O’ Connor, accompanied by Sheelagh Daly and Oisín Geoghegan representing the Local Enterprise Offices, Brendan Flood of Enterprise Ireland and last year’s Overall Winner, Mark Clendennen of Applied Concepts in Offaly.

Sheelagh Daly, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities said: “Small business and micro-enterprises are making an outstanding contribution to our local and national economy. Last year, almost 3,700 new jobs were created by over 6,800 micro-enterprises supported by the LEOs. These entrepreneurs are continuously looking to grow by developing new products and services and investing in export markets. The National Enterprise Awards help to recognise the contribution that small businesses and microenterprises make to our communities every day.”

Last year’s winner, Applied Concepts in Birr, manufacture and export blast machines used in construction and renovation projects in countries such as Spain, Denmark and Chile. Previous winners have included Irish Yoghurts, Innovate, Grouse Recording Studios, Simtech Aviation, MyBio and Design Pro.

The winners of this year’s National Enterprise Awards will be announced at the Mansion House in Dublin on Thursday, May 25th. Twelve awards will be presented including eight regional awards.  The overall winner will receive €10,000 to invest in their business.

Competition updates and results will be available through www.localenterprise.ie and by following #NEAwards on social media.

The Local Enterprise Offices are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

ENDS

For all media enquiries, please contact Engage Ireland                           

Sarah Bohan Tel: 01 427 8388 / 087 65 39936 / office @engageireland.com

Notes to the Editor: 

The 2017 National Enterprise Awards, co-ordinated by the Local Enterprises, will take place on May 25th at the Mansion House in Dublin (evening event). Social Media: #NEAwards.

A limited number of tickets for media are available through Engage Ireland.

Photography Note: Reproduction-free images are available from this announcement (Sasko Lazarov of Photocall Ireland).

 

NATIONAL FINALISTS IN 2017 (supported by their Local Enterprise Office)

LEO Area & Company                 Website                                           

Carlow            McNally Denture Clinic                 www.mcnallydentureclinic.ie

Cavan            Moran’s Megajam Ltd                    www.moranshomestore.com

Clare                    Core Optimisation Ltd                    www.coreoptimisation.com

Cork (City)        Rebel Chilli                        www.rebelchilli.com

Cork (North & West)    Enibas Jewellery                    www.enibas.com

Cork (South)        Polar IceTech                        www.polaricetech.ie

Donegal        Sharon McDaid – Silver Birch Gallery & Studio         www.sharonmcdaid.com

Dublin (City)    Pink Kong Studios                    www.pinkkongstudios.ie

Dublin (DLR)      Moontour                        www.moontour.ie

Dublin (Fingal)     Hope Beer                         www.hopebeer.ie

Dublin (South)    Acutrace                        www.acutrace.com

Galway (City)    9th Impact                        www.9thimpact.com

Galway (County)IMS Marketing                         www.imsmarketing.ie

Kerry        Irish Host Family Ltd                    www.irishhostfamily.ie

Kildare    Broghies Ireland                    www.broghiesireland.com

Kilkenny    Greensbridge Engineering Ltd                www.greensbridge.ie

Laois        Infrastruct AMS Limited                www.infrastruct.ie

Leitrim    Jinny’s Bakery                         www.jinnysbakery.com

Limerick    Student Programmes Ireland Ltd             www.spil.ie

Longford    Purpledecks Ltd.                    www.purpledecks.com

Louth        Aphix Software Ltd                    www.aphixsoftware.com

Mayo        Monaghan Bros Bar Furniture Manufacturers Ltd    www.barfurniture.netMeath  ;    

Meath        Hexafly                            www.hexafly.co

Monaghan     RAMfit Ltd                        www.ramfit.com

Offaly        Dezynamite                        www.dezynamite.com

Roscommon    PJ Fallon & Son                    www.pjfallon.ie

Sligo        Studyclix                        www.studyclix.ie

Tipperary     MediSkin                        www.mediskin.ie

Waterford    Pip and Pear Chilled Baby Food             www.pipandpear.ie

Westmeath    Lift Hire Ireland                    www.lifthireireland.com

Wexford    Scup Gelato                         www.scupgelato.com

Wicklow    Goldfish.ie                        www.goldfish.ie

Award Categories and Prize Fund – National Enterprise Awards 2017•    Overall Winner, National Enterprise Awards 2017 (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)

Regions:o    Dublin City, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown and South Dublin o    Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath o    Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny o    Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan o    Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford o    Galway, Mayo and Roscommon o    Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary o    Cork City, South Cork, Cork North & West and Waterford Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) As part of a range of reforms carried out by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) in recent years, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established to provide a ‘first-stop shop’ system of enterprise supports to start-ups and small businesses across the country. Located in the Local Authorities, the LEOs are operated on a partnership basis by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities and their parent Departments, DJEI and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The LEOs provide funding for projects primarily in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which over time have the potential to develop into strong export entities. There are three main categories of grant under which direct financial assistance is provided – Priming, Feasibility and Business Expansion. The LEOs also provide training and mentoring support to entrepreneurs and businesses to assist business development and performance. Details on all the supports available for small businesses and microenterprises through the 31 LEOs are available at www.localenterprise.ie.