The National Enterprise Awards competition is organised annually by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO ) network to acknowledge the achievements of the small business sector.
The competition is sponsored nationally by the network of Local Enterprise Offices and is the only national competition specifically for the micro-enterprise sector. It is hosted on an annual basis to acknowledge the achievements of small enterprise and their valuable contribution to the local economy.
The competition is open to Westmeath businesses operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors who have received financial assistance from the LEO Westmeath.
To enter, businesses must have ten or less full-time employees as of 31/12/2022. Companies that have received support by way of feasibility studies or R&D assistance from other agencies are not excluded. Previous Westmeath county finalists are eligible to enter.
This year’s competition is now open for entries with a closing date for completed applications of Friday, February 16.
Entries will be judged in accordance to marketing strengths, financial strength, innovation & technology, entrepreneurial skills and business plan. Completed application forms together with a Business Plan and the most recent financial statements must be submitted for adjudication
The winner will be announced and presented at the County Westmeath final of the competition, to be held at a lunchtime reception on Wednesday, March 6, in the Sheraton Hotel Athlone.
Previous winners of the County Enterprise Awards include Watt Footprint Ltd, Strikebox Innovations Ltd, Bevcraft Group.
The overall winner will go forward to represent County Westmeath at the National Finals to be held in the Mansion House, Dublin, on May 23, where there are further prizes to be won.
The overall county winner will receive a prize fund of €5,000 as well as the opportunity to represent Westmeath in the National Final and be in with a chance to win a part of the €50,000 National prize fund.
