Eastway Remote Monitoring Ltd scoops top prize as small business leaders honoured at Limerick final of National Enterprise Awards.
Eastway Remote Monitoring Ltd has been named as the overall winner of the Limerick Final of the National Enterprise Awards in the Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick today (Friday 09 March 2018).
The company, which was set up in October 2015, is run by Bernard Berkery and his daughter Elaine and son Kevin, and employs five people.
The business supplies an online machine monitoring system, the Eastway Safeguard, primarily to the manufacturing industry.
This includes the design, contract manufacture, assemble and sale of the product, as well as an on-going technical support service.
The system uses sensors and a small module installed locally on a client’s machine to autonomously collect, monitor and detect very early machine failure indicators.
This enables clients in the manufacturing industry to reduce their unforeseen production downtime and optimise their maintenance practices resulting in very significant costs reduction such as the cost of reduced production output due to machine failure during batch, product wastage, emergency repair costs and late delivery of product to customer.
Located in the National Technology Park in Plassey the company is planning to expand into international markets this year.
Speaking at the awards ceremony Elaine Berkery said: “We’re delighted, we’re a bit taken aback. We have received funding from LEO Limerick last year and found it beneficial. We feel the company has great potential and we hope this win will help us along the way.”
The National Enterprise Awards competition is organised by Ireland's network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) to give recognition to the contribution of micro enterprises to the national economy.
The full list of winners is:
- Overall Winner and LEO Limerick Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 - Eastway Remote Monitoring Ltd.
- Best Manufacturing Business - BeeActiv Ltd (Conan McDonnell)
- Best Service Business - Eastway Remote Monitoring Ltd. (Bernard, Elaine and Kevin Berkery)
- Business with Best Growth Potential - Kokoon Technology Ltd (Gerry Clancy)
- Innovation Award - JumpAGrade (Ethan O’Brien, Padraic Hogan and David Neville)
- Best Start-Up Business - Trackplan Software Ltd. (Mark Cochrane)
The judging panel consisted of: Judy Tighe, AIB Bank, Peter Doyle, Key Ingredients and Eamon Ryan, Head of Enterprise LEO Limerick.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Stephen Keary said: “Congratulations to the winners and indeed all of those companies shortlisted for this year’s Limerick final of the National Enterprise Awards. Micro enterprises play an important role in our economy, and it is important that these awards are here so they can be honoured.”
“All of those in the running should be very proud of what you have achieved and I urge you to continue to work and get bigger and stronger, so that your success can be Limerick’s success. To all of today’s winners, I say congratulations, your hard work is paying off, and to the Berkerys and Eastway Remote Monitoring the very best of luck in the future and in representing Limerick in the National Finals.”
Eamon Ryan, Head of Enterprise with LEO Limerick said: “The enterprise awards are a very important part of the LEO annual programme. Celebrating success is a great way of promoting enterprise awareness and highlighting the role that Local Enterprise Office can play in the development and growth of Limerick business. I would like to congratulate all of the entrants in this year’s competition on the development of their businesses and wish the Berkery family the very best of luck in the National Final.”
Eastway Remote Monitoring Ltd will now go forward to represent Limerick in the National Finals in Dublin on Thursday 24 May 2018.
Past winners of the national competition include DesignPro Ltd from Limerick, Irish Yogurts from West Cork, Hot Irishman Irish Coffee from Carlow, and Grouse Recording Studios from Westmeath. In 2016 Global Sauce from the Food Centre in Raheen won the Best Start Up Award in this competition.
The Local Enterprise Office Limerick supports start up and growing small business through its programme of advice, mentoring, training and financial support.
LEO Limerick is part of the Economic Development Directorate of Limerick City and County Council and is based at 7/8 Patrick Street, Limerick V94 XF67.
For more details about LEO Limerick and for information about business supports please visit www.localenterprise.ie/Limerick.