Two Mullingar firms among SFA National Small Business Awards 2022 finalists
Mullingar firms Bevcraft Group and Lakeland Kayaks have been named as finalists in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2022. The awards were announced this morning, by Sue O’Neill, chair of the SFA Awards judging panel.
The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of small business in Ireland, and to recognise the vital contribution of the small business sector to Irish industry.
The Mullingar firms are in the manufacturing category finalists (up to 50 employees), sponsored by permanent tsb (Bevcraft); and the emerging new businesses (up to 50 employees and less than years in business) category, sponsored by .IE Domain Registry (Lakeland Kayaks). Lurgan Foods, Athlone, is also in that category.
“The response to the awards programme serves as a reminder that Irish small companies are resilient, putting their best foot forward and seeking recognition for their efforts” said Ms O’Neill.
“As well as our nine award categories, we also feature five of the best Emerging New Businesses (less than two years established) and, given the quality of the businesses represented this year, entrepreneurship is alive and well in Ireland.
“The SFA National Small Business Awards are now entering their 18th consecutive year and are a celebration of small business owners and their achievements. The 270,000 small firms in Ireland employ half of the private sector workforce and these awards aim to promote excellence and innovation among these companies in all sectors and parts of the country.
“The companies that have been announced as finalists this year represent all that is good about small business,” said Ms O’Neill.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, patron of the awards, said: “The SFA National Small Business Awards acknowledge and recognise the innovation, resilience, and talent demonstrated by these companies, and their importance to the future of the Irish economy. This is especially important as we re-open society and rebuild as we emerge from the pandemic. We need the agility, flexibility and adaptability of small business more than ever now.”
Forty seven companies have been selected as finalists, from 12 different counties, in categories.
Goodness Grains Gluten Free Bakery, in Longford is in the food and drink category (up to 50 employees), sponsored by Bord Bia, and in the exporter of the year category (up to 50 employees): CALX Instrumentation Services, Kells, is in the services category;
The awards prize package for all finalists includes participation in the SFA Business Connect event next March, a strategic management masterclass weekend during February, as well as broad-ranging national and local media coverage, all valued at €50,000.
Finalists also receive five tickets to the gala prize giving ceremony, which will take place in the RDS in April 2022 when the category winners and overall winner will be announced.
The category winners will be presented with trophies and free membership of the Small Firms Association for one year. The overall winner will also receive a bursary of €5,000 to present to a charity of their choice (donated by the 2019 Overall Winner, Kore Insulation).