Galway businesses planning to enter the inaugural SCCUL Entrepreneur of the Year awards are being urged to submit their entries as soon as possible.
The deadline for entries to the awards which celebrate entrepreneurship and reward local enterprise is next Monday, October 4.
Launched last week, the competition is already attracting a strong level of interest from businesses intent on claiming the €10,000 cash top prize.
"We've heard from some really interesting businesses and organisations already, and we know the judges are looking forward to going through the entries," said Jim Naughton, chairman SCCUL Enterprise Ltd.
"From our work with local companies in the Galway area we know that there is a tremendous amount of entrepreneurship going on. The SCCUL Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is the perfect way to highlight and reward that work, which is so important to a vibrant and successful economy in Galway."
Entries are being encouraged for the following categories: Retail, services, technology, industry, and social entrepreneurship.
Judging the awards are some of Galway’s leading business people. They include Anthony Ryan from Anthony Ryan’s Ltd, one of Galway’s longest established businesses; John Farragher of medical devices company Cambus Medical; and Michael Earls, a finalist in last year’s Ernst and Young Entrepreneur competition.
They will be joined by Carmel Brennan, head of Department of Accounting and Information Systems GMIT, Eileen Dunleavy, business manager St Columba’s Credit Union, Colm Feeney of SSL Logistics, the Jona Group’s John Grealish, Phyllis McNamara of Cobwebs, and Declan O’Connor from BQAI.
Entrants must be able to demonstrate sustainable performance with respect to their business sectors. In assessing the applications, the judges will be looking for evidence of strategic business planning, marketing planning, and the efficient and innovative use of operations and processes. In addition they will also be evaluating the societal impact of the applicants’ business.
Applications can be submitted online at www.bbec.ie . Application forms are also available from Ballybane Enterprise Centre or by emailing [email protected].
