Kerry County Enterprise Board announces County Enterprise Winners on 5th October, 2009
Kerry County Enterprise Board will host a lunch on Monday, 5th October, 2009 to announce the winners of the 2009 County Enterprise Award Winners.
Tomas Hayes, CEO stated that the number of entries had exceeded expectation and the number of entries had now been shortlisted to eight individual businesses across a range of categories.
Inspiring enterprise in challenging times
2009 Kerry County Enterprise Award Recipients announced
Eight of Kerry’s most innovative small businesses were acknowledged at a gala luncheon hosted at the Manor West Hotel last Monday afternoon as Kerry County Enterprise Board (CEB) announced the winners of the 2009 Kerry County Enterprise Awards. The awards seek to highlight the contribution that small enterprises make to Kerry’s economic development and acknowledge their role in building a vibrant and successful business sector.
Tom Curran, CEB Chairman stated “Starting a business needs careful planning and support, both financial and advisory. The County Enterprise Board continues to provide these early stage services which are vitally important, especially in the initial formative years of a business. The CEB compliments the entrepreneurs for their courage and risk taking in becoming self employed and developing their businesses”.
The Kerry Enterprise Board Awards form part of the National Enterprise Awards, introduced in 1997 to highlight entrepreneurial endeavour. Kerry County Enterprise Board has eight local categories into which clients grant aided by Kerry CEB may enter. Kerry CEB will select one to go on to represent the county at regional and national level. The National Enterprise Award will be held in Dublin Castle on November 10th – these finalists will compete for a prize fund of €20,000.
The competition is independently adjudicated and the selection criteria includes employment potential, marketing strength, financial strength, innovation/technology and quality of business plan.
“Kerry County Enterprise Board is pleased to acknowledge the work and endeavour of these business people in these challenging times” said Tomás Hayes, CEO of Kerry County Enterprise Board. “These businesses are in our community, provide sustainable jobs and are an inspiration to other potential start up businesses and expanding businesses all over the county. Local businesses will be our future lifeblood in rural economies and we must provide an environment which encourages growth”.
The 2009 Kerry County Enterprise Board Award Recipients announced were:
BEST NEW BUSINESS:
Caroline Matthews,
Caroline Atelier, Tonevane, Tralee.
Bridal and evening-wear designer Caroline recently located from the UK to Ireland and holds a BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textiles from Leeds University. She has wide experience both in general business and fashion having worked in organisations such as Zara, New Women Magazine and Spectrum Trimmings in Leeds. She has continuously worked on the production of Bridal Wear and Evening Wear; this year she designed the dresses for Kerry Rose, Karen McGillycuddy, for the Rose Ball and for her TV appearance. Her new collection has garnered rave reviews.
BEST FAMILY BUSINESS:
Pierce Walsh,
John R’s, Church Street, Listowel.
Pierce runs a long established and successful delicatessen providing ready to go meals, home baked breads and confectionery. All the ingredients he uses for his products are locally sourced. He undertook a major expansion in 2008 doubling the size of his premises but he retains the family ethos and product range. He is closely involved with the Listowel Food Fair and the promotion of local producers.
NEW PRODUCT DESIGN:
Fionán Murphy,
Murphy Marine Services, Valentia Island.
Fionán’s business provides a complete range of boatyard services – winter storage; maintenance chandlery; fit-out and complete construction from hull to finished vessel. He is a fully trained in Marine Engineering and worked previously at Valentia Marine as a Marine Fitter and then as Yard Foreman. He started his own business in 2002; the business has since expanded and in 2008, he took the brave step of purchasing the Cygnus 30 boat moulding equipment from the Cygnus boat builders in the UK. He now manufactures the Cygnus boat on Valentia Island.
BEST ARTISAN PRODUCT:
Benoit Lorge,
Lorge Chocolatier, Bonane, Kenmare.
Benoit is a native of France who moved to Ireland in 2001 to work as head pastry chef in the Sheen Falls Hotel. In late 2004, he commenced production of chocolate on a trial basis while still retaining his job in the hotel, before developing this into a business. The Chocolate Crust has grown substantially and now delivers hand crafted chocolates in exquisite packaging throughout the country. “We have a small shop, the chocolate is produced in Bonane in the Old Post Office Building on the N71” said Benoit, “We have retained the old style and old wood fashioning of the building. When people visit the shop, they can also see into the kitchen made where we also run chocolate making courses.”
Lorge Chocolates has proved itself to be a major success; now supplying shops and hotels all over Ireland, Benoit was also honoured with a Gold Medal last Friday at the Blas na hÉireann Awards which were held in Dingle during the Dingle Food & Wine Festival.
BEST RURAL BUSINESS:
Oliver Holbein,
Holbein Carpentry & Joinery,
Dummeen, Dromoughty, Kenmare.
Holbein Carpentry and Joinery Ltd. was formed in April 2004 and has grown significantly over the past number of years. Oliver is a qualified and experienced woodworker who trained in the Letterfrack Furniture College. He worked for two years with Ballingeary Joinery before joining his father and developing Holbein Carpentry and Joinery Ltd. Olivier operates from a reclusive location in Kenmare where he faced tremendous challenges in even securing adequate electricity supply to run his business. His product is well regarded and he has developed a solid business over the years.
BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY:
Stephen Linnane,
Liosdoire Computers, Dirra, Asdee.
Stephen is a self-taught Software Consultant. In 2002, he started up his own company Liosdoire Computers Ltd. whose main activity was the sale and servicing of computers, networking of equipment and associated products. Since 2007, the business focus has changed with the presentation of information for educational purposes. The company’s core business now includes the delivery, installation, networking and commissioning of educational hardware. Stephen has built up an excellent reputation for quality and prompt service to his customers. “I was very excited to be nominated for the County Enterprise Awards – these awards give your business a boost” said Stephen. Kerry CEB couldn’t have been more helpful; It’s an important body in Kerry, especially to those operating businesses in small remote areas.”
BEST FARMERS MARKET PRODUCT:
Olivier Beaujouan, Sea-to-Land
Kilcummin Beg, Castlegregory.
Mons. Beaujouan is a French national and has worked in the food industry for 10 years as a Pork Butcher and Chef. He moved to Ireland in the mid 1990’s and resides in Castlegregory. Olivier manufactures natural organic food products including fish dishes, patés and seaweeds. His products have been widely acknowledged by those in the food sector. Olivier is progressive in his approach to work and has completed construction of a specialised food production area at his home in Castlegregory
BEST ESTABLISHED BUSINESS:
Seán Rush,
Seán Rush Dental Laboratory,
Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee.
Seán set up his Dental Laboratory in Tralee in 1993 having previously worked in a dental laboratory in Tralee and in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. His business has shown consistent growth over the period and in 2006, he moved to new premises in Monavalley Industrial Estate. Séan has delivered in his business with consistent innovation and growth through the purchase of the most modern tooling and equipment.
OVERALL WINNER AND COUNTY NOMINEE TO REGIONAL FINALS:
In announcing the overall County Winner, Stephen Linnane of Liosdaire Computers, Tomás Hayes CEO stated that “this businesses had displayed enthusiasm and business acumen with solid consistent growth, flexibility in a competitive marketplace and the seeking out of new markets. Business agility and attention to customer needs will be the primary differentiators of successful businesses in the current economy.
Each category winner was presented with a €500 cash prize and specially commissioned glassware produced locally by Kerry Crafted Glass.
Stephen Linnane, Liosdaire Computers recived a cheque for €2,500 and will now proceed to the regional Finals to be held in Limerick on 13th October, 2009.