Limerick business, Future Heroes, has won an award at the Regional Mid West Local Development Company Enterprise Awards and will now go on represent the Mid West at the National Awards in Dublin in September.
Style and suspense was the air of the evening as the 12 finalists in the Regional Mid West Local Development Company Enterprise Awards gathered at the Inn at Dromoland on May 19th 2016 to find out who will represent the Mid West at the National Awards in Dublin in September.
Laura Fitzgerald, joint owner and manager of the childcare business Future Heroes based in Limerick City won a Regional Mid West Local Development Company Enterprise Award on the night. In 2014 when her employer decided to close the business, Laura made the move from worker to owner and she, along with her co owner, Niamh. Since then they have built a successful and growing business.
Elaine Mac Grath of PAUL Partnership, MC for the evening, opened the evening by recognising the range of businesses involved, stating that, “while the recovery is slow, opportunity is there. These businesses are an inspiration for others and the Mid West LDC Enterprise Awards are about recognising their hard work and achievements. It also gives these 12 local businesses an excellent opportunity to build their profile locally, regionally, and nationally.”
Marie Price Bolger, Chair of the Irish Local Development Network echoed the importance of business start-ups in the economic recovery and noted that across Ireland over 6,000 businesses were established in 2015 with the support of Local Development Companies and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance.
Jim Lynch, Regional Manager with Department of Social Protection spoke of the challenges and rewards that self employment can bring and congratulated the 12 finalists on their success. Gillian Horan, CEO of The Pudding Branding Agency, which specialises in brand strategy and design, was inspirational in telling her story of setting up a business and gave some great advice on branding for small businesses.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the top three businesses that will represent the Mid West in the National LDC Enterprise Awards in September. The three winners were Kaye Faulkener of Partners in HomeCare, Kevin Lynch of Airmid Natural Irish Skincare, and Laura Fitzgerald of Future Heroes Childcare.
Elaine Mac Grath, PAUL Partnership, said, “We are delighted and proud to have 3 great businesses representing the Mid West at the National Awards. We wish them, and all the finalists, the very best and we are confident that their businesses will continue to grow.”