Some of Ireland’s best small businesses were in Dublin today ahead of the National Enterprise Awards Finals on the 29th May. The awards, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, celebrate Ireland’s small businesses from all across the country with specific awards included, focusing on start-ups, innovation and exports.
Run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in the local authorities nationwide, the National Enterprise Awards are now in their 21st year and offer an investment prize fund of €40,000. The Awards take place on the 29th May in the Mansion House in Dublin and feature businesses from a variety of sectors.
Some of these businesses include blue light blocking glasses for those who use screens all day, a VirtualVet system to track drug usage in animals, an online supermarket for locally produced foods, a marine fabrication company, handcrafted farm toys for kids and a skincare company that combines healing philosophies and science.
Previous winners of the National Enterprise Awards include Irish Yoghurts (1998), Obelisk (2000), Simtech Aviation (2008), Digiweb (2004) and Design Pro (2013). Last year’s winners, Terra NutriTech, are an AgTech company, backed by Local Enterprise Office Kildare. Established by brothers Padraig and Tom Hennessy, their company specialises in precision liquid supplementation for livestock. Since winning in 2018, Terra NutriTech have become a client company of Enterprise Ireland, adding a further seven staff and hope to double their workforce by 2021 following a recent €2million investment.
Breda Fox, Chair of the National Enterprise Awards Committee with the Local Enterprise Offices, said; “The National Enterprise Awards are very much a benchmark for excellence for small businesses across the country. It is much more than just awards. The businesses involved avail of mentoring and guidance as the process develops and generate connections and leads from other businesses along the way. They also receive signposting for their business helping them to move their company forward, irrespective of whether they win an award. Those who do take part always see the benefit, our winners are now employing over 830 people and are exporting across the world with annual revenues in excess of €130million. The class of 2019 looks to be well prepared to follow in their path.”
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE). The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception five years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 18,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with over 7,000 client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
National Enterprise Awards 2019
Award Categories and Prize Fund
The 2019 National Enterprise Awards take place on May 29th in the Mansion House in Dublin and are an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices.
• Overall Winner, National Enterprise Awards 2019 (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)
o Regions:
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
*Please see below full list of finalists followed by short profiles
NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2019 – FINALISTS
Dublin Region
LEO Dublin City: Gym + Coffee www.gympluscoffee.com
LEO Dún Laoghaire Rathdown: Ambr Eyewear www.ambreyewear.com
LEO Fingal: Cult Drinks www.cult-drinks.com
LEO South Dublin: Uniformal Ltd www.uniformal.ie
South West Region
LEO Clare: Great Ireland Experiences www.greatirelandexperiences.com
LEO Kerry: Annascaul Black Pudding www.annascaulblackpudding.com
LEO Limerick: ABS Engineering www.absengineering.ie
LEO Tipperary: Clonmel Covers www.clonmelcovers.com
Mid-East Region
LEO Kildare: Pestle & Mortar www.pestleandmortar.com
LEO Laois: Hanlon Woodcraft www.hanlonkitchens.com
LEO Offaly: Dotser www.dotser.ie
LEO Westmeath: Powerwashing Ireland www.powerwashingireland.com
South Region
LEO Cork City: NeighbourFood www.neighbourfood.ie
LEO Cork North & West: Viska Automation Systems www.viska.ie
LEO South Cork: ARQ Asset Solutions www.arq.ie
LEO Waterford: VirtualVet www.virtualvet.eu
South East Region
LEO Carlow: Carlow Toolmaking Services www.carlowtoolmaking.ie
LEO Kilkenny: Mechanical Modular Solutions www.mmsoffsiteconstruction.com
LEO Wexford: Liz Harte Outdoor Lighting www.harteoutdoorlighting.ie
LEO Wicklow: Profits Flow www.profitsflow.com
North West Region
LEO Donegal: MMG Welding www.mmgwelding.ie
LEO Leitrim: Art of Coffee www.artofcoffee.ie
LEO Longford: Precision Healthcare www.precisionhealthcare.ie
LEO Sligo: Champ Cloud www.champcloud.com
North East Region
LEO Cavan: Ice Cream Treats www.yomega3.com
LEO Louth: Celtic Wind Crops www.celticwindcrops.eu
LEO Meath: European Industrial Coatings www.eicoatings.com
LEO Monaghan: Rivval Limited www.rivval.com
West Region
LEO Galway: Clean Cut Meals www.cleancutmeals.ie
LEO Mayo: Skillko www.skillko.com
LEO Roscommon: The Field www.thefield.ie
NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS FINALISTS – SHORT PROFILES
Dublin City – Gym Plus Coffee
Award winning start-up Gym Plus Coffee is an online start-up which provides premium athleisure wear designed in Ireland for any activity from street to studio and gym to mountainside. As well as providing their community with healthy active events to socialise and exercise, Gym Plus Coffee’s goal is to Make Life Richer. Their vision is to build an Irish lifestyle brand with a global reach in 5 years.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown – Ambr Eyewear
Ambr Eyewear produces beautiful glasses that help relieve the symptoms of digital eye strain. By combining blue light blocking lenses with custom-designed frames, the company promises to provide a stylish solution to the discomfort associated with excessive screen use. Founded in 2017, Ambr Eyewear has gone on to export glasses through its website to over 60 countries across 6 continents. Ambr Eyewear also recently launched its range in Brown Thomas stores.
Fingal – Piranha Beverages Ltd T/A Cult Drinks
Cult Drinks has successfully launched and built a diversified portfolio of brands in the domestic, UK and Global markets. The company has recently acquired a craft bottling line and can offer third party bottling services. Cult Drinks’ business model relies on event marketing and key partnerships. The company currently operates in Ireland and 12 other countries with plans to expand further.
South Dublin – Uniformal Ltd
Uniformal are designers and manufacturers of premium hospitality uniforms and workwear to the luxury hotel sector, bar and restaurant trade, and spirits and drinks industry throughout Ireland and internationally. Uniformal specialize in handcrafted canvas, leather bar and restaurant aprons and luxury tailored front of house hospitality uniforms, all of which are designed and manufactured in their 14,000 square foot premises in Fashion City, Dublin 12.
Clare – Great Ireland Experiences
Great Ireland Experiences is a digital software solution for visitor attractions. It is a front-end app for the visitor and smart, intelligent, dynamic software for the attraction. The company enables attractions to load their content to a single space, capture rich customer data in real time, and customise and personalise their sales offering.
Kerry – Annascaul Black Pudding Co.
Annascaul Black Pudding Co. produce an artisan range of pudding, sausage and related products to the retail, wholesale and food service market. Each product is hand made in Annascaul by their team. Stockists are mainly Kerry based with outlets in Dublin and nationwide delivery is available through web sales at www.annascaulblackpudding.com
Limerick – ABS Engineering Control System Ltd
ABS Engineering Ltd design and install Building Management Systems (BMS) for new and existing buildings. Their products manage functions such as heating, cooling, energy usage and monitoring from a centralised location which can be accessed both on-site and remotely. This is beneficial in industries such as manufacturing facilities, civic buildings and local amenities e.g. schools, commercial buildings and private residences. ABS Engineering’s target markets are Ireland, UK, and overseas, and this has been highlighted by the recent acquisition of new clients in the UK and India.
Tipperary – Weather Stop Ltd T/A Clonmel Covers
Clonmel Covers is one of the largest manufacturers of waterproof covers. Initially concentrating on transport lorry covers, it has since diversified into manufacturing a large range of products such as windbreakers for farm buildings, boats and machine covers. Currently selling throughout Ireland, the company is now also exporting to the UK.
Kildare – Pestle & Mortar
Pestle & Mortar is a family owned company founded by Sonia Deasy in 2014. It is now a global skincare brand combining natural healing philosophies with science to produce products which are beautifully simple, effective and easy-to-use. Sold across 3 continents, all 8 of the existing ranges are recipients of numerous awards worldwide.
Laois – Hanlon Woodcraft Ltd
Hanlon Woodcraft are manufacturers of bespoke handcrafted kitchens and bedroom furniture. The company is strategically located off the M7 & M8 motorways in Ballacolla, Co. Laois making their showrooms and factory accessible from all locations. Their skilled staff can guide you through design, manufacturing and installation of all the products they have on offer.
Offaly – Dotser Ltd
Dotser Ltd. was founded in 2000 by Loughnan Hooper, providing web development and marketing services to the SME business sector. Based in Tullamore, Dotser now employs a team of 9 professionals, delivering a suite of online software and related web services to over 300 clients throughout Ireland. With double digit growth each year, over the last 3 years Dotser boasts flagship clients who are recognised as leaders in their industry sector including waste management, hardware, machinery and agricultural shows.
Westmeath – Powerwashing Ireland
Powerwashing Ireland Ltd is a family owned business specialising in exterior cleaning services of buildings, structures and properties from groundworks cleaning to structures of height. The business serves the commercial and domestic markets alike. Currently servicing the midlands and greater Dublin region, the company has also made successful inroads in developing its business nationally.
Cork City – NeighbourFood
NeighbourFood is an online platform that facilitates the sale of locally produced products direct from producers to consumers by means of a weekly collection point. With 13 locations currently across the UK and Ireland, NeighbourFood hopes to have nationwide collection points by the end of 2019.
Cork North & West – Viska Automation Systems T/A Viska Systems
Viska Systems are advanced automation specialists in the areas of Machine Vision, Robotics and LabVIEW development. Viska Systems design/build high-accuracy manufacturing and measurement automation systems for the medical device, electronics, semiconductor, and research industries. The company’s ‘secret sauce’ is their specialist knowledge in designing equipment that operates with accuracies to one-thousandth of a millimetre.
South Cork – ARQ Asset Solutions
Cork based engineering technology company ARQ Asset Solutions simplify the business of machinery reliability for time pressured industrial engineers. By considering the oil in a machine like the blood in the human body, the company has developed an innovative, medical diagnostic tool for early detection of cholesterol in industrial machinery.
Waterford – VirtualVet
VirtualVet is an international and innovative GDPR compliant data management company that tracks drug usage in animals in the food chain. VirtualVet and agricultural food partners work together to change drug use behaviour in the food chain.
VirtualVet serves three specific markets:
•Farmers who must record
•Agri-food & animal health industries who must report
•Governments who must monitor the food chain
Carlow – Carlow Toolmaking Services
Carlow Toolmaking Services Ltd is a niche market company which provides high quality precision components for a range of customers in the medical, pharmaceutical, oral care, automotive and metrology sectors. They design and build from concept to completion with an open mind to each project and deliver on time to ensure the customer’s needs are met.
Kilkenny – Mechanical Modular Solutions (MMS)
MMS design. manufacture, integrate and deliver pre-engineered and pre-fabricated modular solutions for large-scale construction projects including data centres, schools, colleges, hotels, leisure centres, retail outlets and office developments. Operating from a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and with accredited in-house expertise, MMS can deliver modules for large-scale projects worldwide.
Wexford – Liz Harte Outdoor Lighting
Harte is the only manufacturer of cast iron outdoor lighting in Ireland. The company supplies directly to customers nationally and via select lighting specialists. The product range has been extended to include contemporary steel lights, cast-iron free standing and in-built post boxes.
Wicklow – Profit Expert Ltd T/A Profitsflow
Profitsflow provide a unique tailored ERP solution to the manufacturing and field service sectors. They offer full service–systems sales, support, development and training. Profitsflow consultancy services ensure that the system and the business are aligned and that the modules integrate seamlessly enabling instant reporting across the business.
Donegal – MMG Welding Ltd
MMG Welding are a leading service and manufacturing company providing a support service of coded welding and marine fabrication to the marine, offshore construction and civil engineering industries. The company design and manufacture a patented product range of gangways featuring a unique folding mechanism, providing safe vessel access.
Leitrim – GSV Coffee T/A Art of Coffee
GSV Coffee Ltd has two brands. Art of Coffee is an artisan coffee roaster, while Cáfe Lounge is a speciality café/tea room. Art of Coffee supplies branded and private label freshly roasted coffee beans to trade customers and consumers. Both businesses are based in Carrick-on-Shannon and the business has seven employees.
Longford – Precision Healthcare Limited
Precision Healthcare Limited provides corporate wellness and screening programmes to corporate clients. These programmes help to develop a company ethos that puts its employees at the centre of company. Their wellness programmes are designed with the individual company in mind considering multiple factors so that the company can provide a beneficial offering
Sligo – Champ Cloud Ltd
Champ Cloud is a leading provider of cloud-based fundraising and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to charities, membership and not-for-profit organisations. The Champ platform empowers organisations to engage effectively with their donors or members, while primarily streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and ensuring they maintain transparency and regulatory compliance (including GDPR).
Cavan – Ice Cream Treats
Ice Cream Treats is a producer of award- winning premium quality ice cream and frozen yogurts. All of their products are hand filled using all Irish dairy milk and cream. Ice Cream Treats produce product for retail and have begun exporting to UAE and the far east.
Louth – Natural Oil & Fibres Ltd T/A Celtic Wind Crops
Celtic Wind Crops produce a unique range of “seed to shelf” food supplements. Their “Multi-Complex CBD” hemp oil is 100% natural, free from herbicides and pesticides and is cold-pressed in the Cooley Peninsula. Supplying pharmacy multiples in Ireland and the UK, recent US FDA approval will continue to progress the company’s export development.
Meath – European Industrial Coatings Ltd
European Industrial Coatings Ltd specialise in a full range of wood coatings. With full colour mixing facilities, they can mix from a range of beautiful colours and stains in various gloss levels. European Industrial Coatings are equipped to assist with any queries relating to the long-term protection, enhancement and maintenance of wood in any environment. From their base in Kells, Co Meath, they can provide next day nationwide delivery on orders.
Monaghan – Rivval Limited
Rivval Limited is an engineering and supplies company focused on providing engineering and supply solutions primarily to the Irish Railway Industry. The company do this through the application of core customer service values and identification of customer requirements. Supply areas include Signalling, Permanent Way, Operational and Traction & Rolling stock within the rail sector.
Galway – Clean Cut Meals
Clean Cut Meals offer healthy, readymade meal plans delivered directly to your door. All meals are handmade by the team based in Clarinbridge, Co. Galway. The company focus on sales directly to the customer but are also looking at branching into multiple retail stores across Ireland in late 2019. Established in 2015 by two Galway men, the company has grown from strength to strength and are looking to branch outside of Ireland in the near future.
Mayo – Skillko Ltd
Skillko Ltd is an Enterprise SaaS company with a next generation training platform. They create an open marketplace for businesses and training suppliers to connect, network and transact in a smart, efficient way, saving both parties time and money. Skillko Ltd removes 85% of training administration and ensures compliance with the Skillko app.
Roscommon – Class Grass Ltd T/A The Field
Class Grass Limited T/A The Field Toys supply a range of handcrafted model toy field products for imaginative play to Irish, UK, European and US Markets. The company’s simple creative toys are extremely popular with their target customers worldwide, and there is no swiping of screens or batteries required. Just simple imaginative play!
