Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards equally important for big and small business – Dell EMC

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November awards launched at business breakfast today.

The Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards were given a resounding endorsement today as Dell EMC said that winning the 2016 Regional Business of the Year Award reflected the successes of its Limerick operations to a wide audience.

Addressing over 150 people at a business breakfast at the Castletroy Park Hotel this morning to launch this year’s awards, Dave Griffin, Business Development Director, Dell EMC Limerick said that the award came at a time of significant and positive change for the business and reaffirmed the role that the Limerick site plays within the wider business as well as the community.

“Last year Dell EMC was delighted to be named Business of the Year at the Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards. The awards present a great way to shine a spotlight on the business community in Limerick and the innovation taking place across the Mid-West.

“The recognition we received last year wasn’t just for the innovation and transformation that has taken place on our Dell EMC campus but it reflected the role we play in our community. Working in partnership with our colleagues from other great companies in the region, with the academic community including UL and LIT, and with the development organisations and representative groups, we are a force for innovation in Limerick. 

“Receiving this honour last year was extremely rewarding for the team that works at our campus here in Limerick, who were delighted to be recognised in this way. Globally we were able to showcase the recognition through the Dell EMC network and leverage the win to highlight the value of continued investment at the Limerick campus. I would encourage all companies – big and small – to enter these awards. They’re a great idea and well worth participating in,”
said Mr Griffin.

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Pictured at the business breakfast were, Lavina Ryan Duggan - VHI Healthcare, Professor Vincent Cunnane - President LIT,  Dr James Ring - CEO Limerick Chamber, Ken Johnson - President Limerick Chamber, Morris Carr - BDO, George Kennedy - HOMS, Cathal Tracey - Deloitte,  Mike Cantwell - Innovate Limerick, Catherine Duffy - Northern Trust, Conor O’Sullivan - AIB Business Banking, Kieran Martin - BOI, Karl Dowling - Action Point.

Also speaking at this morning’s event, Limerick Chamber President and Managing Partner of PwC Mid-West Ken Johnson said that the awards rightly allow for a celebration of business success in the region. “This time last year when we were here at the same event, the mood was slightly different as the Brexit result had just been voted in. The last 12 months has been dominated by discussion about Brexit, about the US and generally about uncertainty. This morning offers us an opportunity to reflect on not the uncertainties but on the successes of businesses within the region.

“In a regional context, it’s worth remembering that we have achieved significant success in terms of economic growth. In the last three years we have seen over 3,000 new FDI jobs created in the region and we have now seen the Mid-West region become the fastest growing outside of Dublin. That’s very positive in the context of the awards’ launch this morning as with that level of economic growth, all the new jobs being created and new businesses coming to the region, the awards are an opportunity for businesses to showcase what they have achieved.

“The feedback from finalists and winners over the last number of years has been extremely positive. They have seen it as an opportunity to showcase their businesses. It’s a format of independent validation that they can relay to their customers and there is also profile that they get as businesses from the awards.”

The awards sponsor this year again, for the seventh year running, is LIT and its President Dr. Vincent Cunnane said recognising success of business at all levels, which the awards do, is hugely important. “The culture of recognising success will help to underpin the recovery here and create a sustainable future. These awards are strategically important for all of us because they recognise success and I would urge all of you to encourage entries to these premier awards. You will be helping Limerick, the region and everyone therein,” he said.

Lavinia Ryan, Corporate Business Manager South, Midwest & Northwest Region for Vhi, sponsors of the launch as well as the ‘Best Employer: Talent Development & Workplace Wellness’ award said: “This is Vhi’s fourth year sponsoring the Limerick Chamber Business Awards launch, which is a celebration of pride across every industry of business, regardless of size of the organisation, throughout the Midwest. To be proud is very motivating and can be influential on all our decisions in life.”

Now in their seventh year, the Awards celebrate business success across all sectors and scales, from SME’s right up to multinationals. They are open to all businesses - not just Chamber members - in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, North Cork and North Kerry.

Two new categories have been added to the awards this year – ‘The Best Innovation (RD&I) of the Year Award’ and ‘Best Employer: Talent, Development & Workplace Wellness of the Year Award’, making it 14 categories in total for businesses to enter.

The 13 Categories for the 2017 Awards are:

  • Innovative Start-up of the Year, sponsored by LIT
  • Best SME the Year, sponsored by Bank of Ireland
  • Large Business of the Year, sponsored by HOMS Solicitors
  • CSR Best Contribution to the Community, sponsored by Deloitte
  • Best Community & Voluntary Sector Organisation, sponsored by Limerick City and County Council
  • Best Family Business, sponsored by AIB
  • Best Retail or Food Service, sponsored by BDO
  • Best Culture, Hospitality & Tourism, sponsored by Northern Trust
  • Best Business Services Provider, sponsored by Action Point
  • Best Innovation (RD&I) Award, sponsored by Innovate Limerick
  • Best Employer: Talent Development & Workplace Wellness, sponsored by Vhi
  • The Limerick Chamber Regional Business of the Year (chosen from the Winners of the above Categories), sponsored by LIT
  • Limerick Chamber President’s Award, as chosen by Limerick Chamber President

The closing date for entries is Monday 24th September 2017. Companies interested in entering the awards should visit www.limerickchamber.ie. The judging panel is drawn from the senior management teams of sponsors along with members of the Limerick Chamber board.

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