Infrastruct AMS Ltd from Mountmellick has been officially announced by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. as a finalist in this year’s National Enterprise Awards.
Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices, the 2017 National Enterprise Awards 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 25.”
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.”
The Laois finalist, Infrastruct AMS, was set up in 2012 and offers a range of specialist inspection, testing and investigation services on all types of structures. The company will be represented at the National Enterprise Awards on May 25 by company founder Dr Thomas Callanan.
The other finalists this year 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 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.
Local Enterprise Office Laois will be represented in the Mansion House by Evelyn Reddin, Head of Enterprise. She said: “Small business and micro-enterprises, including Infrastruct AMS, are making an outstanding contribution to our local economy.
“Last year, nearly 3,700 new jobs were created by over 6,800 micro-enterprises supported by LEOs all over the country. 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 micro-enterprises 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 nationally have also 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.
NATIONAL FINALISTS IN 2017 (supported by their Local Enterprise Office)
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.net
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:
- 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
