The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards now in its 12th year of fruition, is held annually by Limerick Chamber and The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), the awards are designed to acknowledge companies in the local region who strive for success each day. The awards are designed to recognise the hard work, commitment and innovative approach each company has showcased which has contributed to the growth of the company and in turn the region itself
With over 14,000 students on six campuses in Ireland’s Midwest and Midlands, TUS is Ireland’s newest and most unique Technological University. Through applied learning and fresh thinking, our focus is on meeting the evolving needs of society and industry, within our region and beyond.
AIB is committed to actively supporting economic recovery and job creation by backing entrepreneurs, early start ups and established SME’s. In addition to this, we support our SME customers through our Backing Brave programme with a range of customer-focused offers, including providing credit decisions on loans up to 30,000 within 48 hours and the AIB Start Up Academy in partnership with the Irish Times. AIB also have a 400m tranche of funding in partnership with the strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, which is offer at a discounted rate.
Tonight’s President’s Dinner is a celebration of achievements within the regional business community throughout the year and the work being undertaken by Limerick Chamber to support member’s ambition. Miriam O’Connor, Limerick Chamber President 2022/3, will tonight be announcing the recipient of this year’s President Award, honouring a person who embodies the spirit of business community and who has had a significant impact on Limerick and the Mid-West.
Throughout Miriam’s presidency, she has achieved a lot through various policy and events, for example; the recent release of the Limerick City Centre Report, a project close to her heart, Limerick Chamber’s Inaugural Golf Classic, the second in the installment of the Energy on the Estuary series held in Foynes
The Limerick Chamber President’s Award, presented by our President, Miriam O’Connor, celebrates individuals or groups who have made remarkable and praiseworthy contributions to enhance life in the Midwest region. This prestigious accolade encompasses a wide range of contributions to the region, including acts of philanthropy, social initiatives that boost regional confidence, pride, and recognition. This award can also serve to recognize those individuals or companies that have introduced pioneering business practices, elevating the region’s standing, promoting its prosperity, fostering skill development, and driving future growth. The recipient of this award is thoughtfully chosen by our President, and it serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment, dedication, and determination to give back to the region. The award is a meaningful gesture to honour, acknowledge, and express gratitude to the selected individual, group, or enterprise.
The Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, represents our new beginning, are delighted to be the main sponsor of the Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards again this year. The Limerick Chamber Regional Awards acknowledge businesses that have not just survived but have adapted and thrived during the challenging times of the last two years. We have seen inspirational levels of resilience and ingenuity from organisations across the region. These awards recognise and reward business excellence, innovation, best practices and outstanding business performance. LIT and AIT became a Technological University on 1st of Oct and we, like many organisations, have gone through a renewal, some of those changes have been involuntary such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing, but many, have been driven by us because of our shared vision of impactful collaboration, excellence in education, research and our spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and community. We encourage all organisations to enter these awards this year. Celebrate your successes, share your story with your peers, acknowledge the loyalty of your customers and recognise your employees for their hard work and commitment. These awards are a great platform for all organisations in the region. Best wishes to all the entrants!
Dr. Vincent Cunanne, TUS President
ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance and refers to a set of criteria used to assess the sustainability and ethical impact of a company or investment. This year the Chamber has added an ESG award focused on the Environmental Impact aspect that is measured within ESG.
The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards will award The Best Employer Award: Employee Value Proposition to an organisation, trading for more than two years in the Mid-West Region, demonstrating excellence in employee value proposition (EVP). EVP includes a culture of belonging (including diversity and inclusion), wellbeing, flexibility, skills development and growth. The award recognises initiatives that support staff retention and talent attraction and an overall high-quality value to employees that benefit the employee and support growth in the business
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The Business Award for Contribution to the Community celebrates organisations that have demonstrated exemplary commitment to social responsibility and made a positive impact on their local communities. This prestigious award acknowledges businesses that go above and beyond their core operations to address pressing social and community challenges, fostering a culture of corporate citizenship. The winning organisation will have demonstration that it has made exceptional contributions to the community it has supported and has positively influenced the regions social and economic wellbeing (note – environmental contribution is a separate category)
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The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards will award The Best Not for Profit Organisation of the Year Award to an organisation, in operation for at least 12 months based in the Mid-West Region, that demonstrates significant positive impact on the community it serves. This can be in a variety of areas such as social, economic, environmental or cultural impacts.
The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards will award the ‘Excellence in Customer Experience Award: Retail and Hospitality’ to an organisation trading for more than one year in the Mid-West Region that demonstrates excellence in delivering better outcomes for their customers and their own business. The Chamber recognises that customers’ expectations have rapidly evolved in this era of consumer empowerment and digital disruption. Therefore these awards will recognise the ingenuity, innovation and commitment to excellence in customer experience by the retail and hospitality sector in the region.
The Limerick Chamber Regional Business awards will award The Innovation Excellence Business Award 2023 to an organisation that has demonstrated breakthrough achievements using innovation and creativity that have driven business success. The award honours organisations who foster a culture of innovation and harness existing or new technologies to create cutting-edge products or services that lead to growth and job creation as well as positively impacting the way organisations or industries are doing business.
The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards will award The Best SME of the Year award to an organisation, trading for more than 3 years, based in the Mid-West Region, that is striving to create world-class products and services, setting the highest benchmarks and optimising opportunities in their marketplace.
The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards will award The Best SME of the Year award to an organisation, trading for more than 3 years, based in the Mid-West Region, that is striving to create world-class products and services, setting the highest benchmarks and optimising opportunities in their marketplace.
The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards will award The Best Emerging Business of the Year award to an organisation, trading 5 years or less, that demonstrates innovation in its model/process/service or product in the marketplace. The Best Emerging Business Award recognises an organisation who has the most compelling opportunity.
Each award acknowledges the dedication of nominated companies in pursuing success through innovation, investments, expansion, strategic acquisitions, and service excellence, resulting in a substantial boost to their business. This award specifically celebrates the accomplishments of companies in the region that have demonstrated success in these areas, leading to significant business growth. The prestigious 2023 Limerick Chamber Regional Business of the Year Award is selected from among the finalists and honours their exceptional sustainable achievements and business success in 2023. It recognises a company that, according to our judging panel, has displayed outstanding growth and success or has presented the most compelling opportunities in the past 12 months, thereby making a significant positive impact on their marketplace and the region.
Stryker were last year’s winners of the Overall Business of the Year Award.
from Left to Right: Dee Ryan – CEO Limerick Chamber, Zara Begley, Kayla McCann, Zham Salgado Paul Schmit and Richard McKeogh all from Stryker / Overall Winners, Professor Vincent Cunnane – President TUS, Donal Cantillon – President Limerick Chamber
We would very much like to extend a special thanks to this year’s judging panel, who brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the awards process, the judges were very impressed with the calibre of applicant for this year’s Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards and have consolidated over a number of hours to list tonight’s finalists, we thank them kindly for the time and effort in reading each application, travelling for the judging session and for their advice and guidance in ensuring we deliver an awards process that is efficient and seamless for the applicants.
CEO, CPL
MD, Grassland Agro
Manager & Co-Owner,
Hotel Woodstock
Independent Non-Executive Director (INED)
CEO, Business in the Community Ireland
Senior Market Advisor,
Design and Crafts Council,
Ireland
