ENI Awards
LEA Events
The Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards were set up in 2013 to showcase the best SME and start-up activities of the Northern Irish business sector.
Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards 2013
Over 220 attendees gathered at the first Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards in the Holiday Inn, Belfast, to celebrate the achievements of the local SME community. The awards, hosted by Enterprise Northern Ireland, showcase 'best in practice' examples of work by the small business community and the local enterprise agency network. Commenting on the Awards, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: "Enterprise Northern Ireland does great work in supporting and representing entrepreneurs right across Northern Ireland. These awards are an important opportunity to celebrate the diverse range of business talent and development opportunities that exist through the local enterprise agency network. Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any economy and it is vital that every avenue is explored when it comes to encouraging entrepreneurial spirit. Supporting entrepreneurship is one of the key aims of my department, and through the many initiatives that exist to help people who are thinking of starting a business, such as Invest NI's 'Go For It' programme, we are demonstrating how we can help build a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland."
Gordon Gough, chief executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland, said: "We've seen a fantastic response to these awards – not just in the quality of the entrants but in their enthusiasm. Helping new businesses to thrive through innovative marketing and product development is an important part of any economic recovery, so it's important that we give a proper platform to those who do it well." Enterprise Northern Ireland is the organisation responsible for representing the interests of Local Enterprise Agencies and small businesses with central government, official agencies, the private sector and other organisations operating in the field of enterprise and economic development.
Award winners:
– Business Start Up of the Year award Sponsored by Capaxo Management Consulting: CIARAN McMENAMIN OF LIGNUM INTERIORS, Downpatrick
– Best Business Growth Strategy by a Young Entrepreneur Sponsored by Full Circle Management Solutions: JOANNE CASEY OF GLOWMETRICS
– Exporter of the Year award Sponsored by Enterprise Equity: GARY TINSDALE OF TINSDALE WOOD DESIGN, Ballymena
– Exploring Enterprise2 Programme Participant Achievement Award Sponsored by The Open University: STEVEN MacKAY, Portrush
– Social Economy Advisor of the Year award Sponsored by Clarity Business Education: BRIAN O`NEILL of ENTERPRISE NORTH WEST in Derry
– Member website of the year award Sponsored by 31 Interactive: ORTUS – THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
– Best Social Media Campaign by a Local Enterprise Agency Sponsored by MCE Public Relations: OMAGH ENTERPRISE COMPANY
– Regional Start Programme, Best LEA Delivery Agent Sponsored by ASM Chartered Accountants: COOKSTOWN ENTERPRISE CENTRE
– Best Marketing campaign by a Local Enterprise Agency Sponsored by Lairdesign: CAUSEWAY ENTERPRISE AGENCY
- Promoting Entrepreneurial Spirit Sponsored by Danske Bank: LEDCOM
The 2014 Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards were held at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast. A total of 9 awards were given out to the best and brightest in the small business sector, with the top award - Business Start Up of the Year - going to So Popcorn. We would like to say a big congratulations to all winners and runners ups whose work caught the attention of our panel of judges. A big thank you also goes to all our sponsors for all their support, and finally to everyone who attended the awards.
Our thanks to our sponsors; Legacy Wealth, BDO, Business First Magazine, Clarity Business Education, Full Circle Management, HR Department NI, ICONI, Lair Design, Lloyds Bank Foundation NI, The Open University, Ulster Bank, UCIT
After a sweet year of success, the stars of the local enterprise sector were celebrated at the annual Enterprise Northern Ireland awards, held at the Hilton Hotel in Belfast last night. Hosted by broadcaster Claire McCollum, the glittering evening showcased the work done by the Northern Ireland small business community and the efforts of the local enterprise agency network in supporting business development. The event was opened with an address from Patsy McGlone MLA and the audience also enjoyed an engaging and inspiring presentation from Tom Griffiths, founder of gapyear.com, who is widely regarded as the creator of the modern gap year industry.
There were many worthy winners but the top award, for Business Start Up of the Year, was scooped by Holohan's at the Barge, a family owned restaurant moored next to the Waterfront in Belfast. It was a keenly contested category, in which the judges were looking for a business owner who demonstrated passion and enthusiasm and who had set up a business that could demonstrate sustainability in the long term. The judges were particularly impressed by how Holohans had developed the restaurant concept into an overall consumer experience and at the same time providing training and employment for over 20 people in the Belfast area. Holohans is taking the catering sector to the next level.
Chief Executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland, Gordon Gough, said: "Enterprise Northern Ireland is the voice of local entrepreneurship and we're very pleased to celebrate great examples of local ingenuity and talent. Helping to develop strong companies that create employment and export across the world is an important part of what we do. These awards are an excellent chance to recognise the hard work and dedication of businesses and members of the Enterprise Northern Ireland network. Whether it is through offering business support or highlighting access to finance initiatives, our network of enterprise agencies is playing an important role in stimulating Northern Ireland's economy."
Keith Liggett from Legacy Wealth, the headline sponsor of the Awards said: "We were proud to support the awards again this year to show our commitment in helping to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial tenacity and determination is alive and well and the 2015 Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards certainly showcased Northern Ireland's brightest business talent."
The search to find the stars of Northern Ireland's small business community reached its conclusion on Thursday 1st December 2016 at the Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards 2016.
Hosted by broadcaster Jim Fitzpatrick, the glittering evening showcased the work done by the Northern Ireland small business community and the efforts of the local enterprise agency network in supporting business development.
The event was opened with an address from Economy Minister Simon Hamilton, MLA, and the audience also enjoyed spellbinding tricks from The Irish Magician Rodd Hogg. Lara Morgan, founder of Pacific Direct gave an engaging and inspiring after dinner speech.
There were many worthy winners but the top award, for Business Start Up of the Year, was scooped by Walled City Brewery, a craft brewery and restaurant in the new civic space of Ebrington Square, Derry- Londonderry. It was a keenly contested category, in which the judges were looking for a business owner who demonstrated passion and enthusiasm and who had set up a business that could demonstrate sustainability in the long term.
Chief Executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland, Gordon Gough, said:
"Enterprise Northern Ireland is the voice of local entrepreneurship and we're very pleased to celebrate great examples of local ingenuity and talent. Helping to develop strong companies that create employment and export across the world is an important part of what we do.
"These awards are an excellent chance to recognise the hard work and dedication of businesses and members of the Enterprise Northern Ireland network. Whether it is through offering business support or highlighting access to finance initiatives, our network of enterprise agencies is playing an important role in stimulating Northern Ireland's economy."
This year's awards saw the introduction of two new awards honouring the Technology and Food & Drink sectors.
Mr Gough explained: "In light of 2016 being the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink, Enterprise Northern Ireland felt it important to both showcase the incredible artisan food and drink producers we have in the province, hence why we created a new award this year. We have world class artisan produce here in Northern Ireland and now is our chance to show it to the world."
Chris McVeigh, Head of Business Banking Unit at Ulster Bank, the headline sponsor of the Awards said:
"Entrepreneurs and small businesses put their heart and soul into their ventures, and we're really pleased to be supporting these awards to give them deserved recognition for their efforts and their success.
"We have a proud history of supporting start-up and scale-up businesses to achieve their ambitions. Through finance, advice and taking the time to really understand our customers' business, we're committed to making it easier for businesses to grow and thrive in a sustainable way."
And the winners were....
Business Support Initiative of the Year, sponsored by Pure Genius – The Foundry, East Belfast Enterprise
Exploring Enterprise Programme Personal Development Award, sponsored by Willis Towers Watson – Kyree Forrest
Growth Business of the Year, sponsored by UCIT – M & M Contractors
Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by BDO – Katie Jayne Wray, Horse and Hound Physiotherapy NI
Artisan Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by ASM – Miss McKeowns
Tech Award, sponsored by Iconi – Green 17 Creative
Business Adviser of the Year, sponsored by Cobweb Information – Emma Pearson, NDDO, Meike White, Work West (Joint winners)
Business Start Up of the Year, sponsored by Ulster Bank – Walled City Brewery