The high achievement of entrepreneurial local companies has been celebrated at a prestigious awards event in Belfast.
Eight Ulster firms, including new businesses and successful exporters, have received prizes in the provincial stage of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards, run in association with Invest Northern Ireland and InterTradeIreland.
Seven firms from across Northern Ireland and one from Donegal were on stage at Riddel Hall in Stranmillis recently to collect their awards in the Ulster final of the all-island scheme.
The Ulster winners are:
- Start-Up Business Award: Budget Energy (Londonderry)
- Innovation and Emerging Technology Award: Wastes Systems Limited (Omagh)
- International Business Award: TG Eakin (Comber)
- Agri-Food and Drink Award: Crossgar Foodservice (Downpatrick)
- Social Entrepreneurship Award: East Belfast Mission (Belfast)
- Family Run Business Award: Island Seafoods Ltd (Killybegs, Co Donegal)
- Green Business Award: Williams Industrial Services (Newtownabbey)
- Service Business Award: Guardian 24 (Belfast)
A Judges Special Recognition Award was also presented to Esker Lodge Nursing Home from Cavan.
The Ulster winners will now go forward for all-island judging against provincial winners from Leinster, Munster and Connaught, with the all-island winners to be announced on April 19, at a gala event in Dublin.
Ulster Bank’s head of business and commercial banking, Ian Jordan, said: “There were 400 entries this year, and even more pleasing was the high quality of many of the entries, including a large number of start-up and internationally-focused companies. Entries from the agri-food businesses were also very strong, which is not surprising given our vibrant agri-food sector in Northern Ireland.”
Judges for the Ulster stage of the awards included Ian Jordan, Ulster Bank; Sam McIlveen, the Belfast Telegraph’s digital publisher; Liam Nellis of InterTradeIreland; Donal Durkan of Invest Northern Ireland and Grainne Kelly owner of BubbleBum UK, which picked up the Best Business Start-Up category last year.
The companies were judged on a variety of merits including business milestones and achievements, business strategy, business financial performance, development of innovative products or services, importance of the business to the local area, the leadership and vision of the entrepreneur.