A Laois co-working hub and a business have been named as one of the finalists for the upcoming OpEx awards.
Operations and Community Manager Regina Dunne confirmed that BloomHQ has been shortlisted for the finals on Thursday, June 17.
They are in the Innovations in Operations category alongside four other nominees – including a Laois company.
Portarlington-based business Polar Ice Ltd are playing a key role delivering dry ice to all major industries and to companies and research organisations leading the fight against Covid-19.
Polar Ice began as a family business in 1996, with only two employees and a vision to develop the dry ice market in Ireland.
Initially manufacturing ‘wet’ ice and importing dry ice from the mainland UK, the company has focused solely on dry ice manufacturing since 2002.
Today, Polar Ice has grown the market by over 800% and employs a team of 22 people. With a dedicated production plant based in the midlands and depots in Dublin, Cork, and Portadown, Polar Ice is the leading manufacturer and supplier of Dry Ice in Ireland.
Polar Ice is also nominated in the Operational Excellence in Transport and Operational Excellence in Manufacturing categories.
The Awards recognise Innovation in Operations for the BloomHQ project at Mountrath which saw a 200-year-old Convent, gifted to the community of Mountrath by the Brigidine Sisters, become a hive of activity for business owners, companies, and community projects.
Founded in 2019 as a Social Enterprise, BloomHQ was established to bring business back to the rural town of Mountrath.
Situated in a renovated Brigidine Convent school, the project boasts 7200sq ft of Enterprise, Event Space, CoWorking Space, a Martial Arts & Fitness Academy, and Community Hub.
BloomHQ has become a poster project for Innovation and Creativity in redefining unused spaces in Irish towns through rural regeneration.
From enterprise development, provision of high-speed broadband, hot-desking facilities, and meeting room space for local, national and international business BloomHQ has become a central location in the Irish Midlands for many companies and start-ups.
As a Social Enterprise, the BloomHQ project has been able to fund many projects from education programmes, community grinds schemes, to the revival of Cottage industries through its monthly Cottage Market.
Regina said: “We are honoured to be shortlisted in the finals of the OpEx Awards 2021 for the category of Innovation in Operations supported by The Irish Times, Business River, and amárach research.”
Innovation in Operations
- Alexion Global Supply Chain Team
- BloomHQ
- eCOMM Merchant Solutions
- LotusWorks
- Polar Ice
Operational Excellence in Transport
- An Post
- Exolum Aviation Ireland
- Fastway CouriersPolar Ice
Operational Excellence in Manufacturing
- EJ
- Hovione
- ISHKA Irish Spring Water
- Polar Ice
- Tosara Pharma (Part of Teva)
- Viatris Little Island
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