Businesses planning to enter the SCCUL Enterprise 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 5.30pm on Monday next November 18.
Launched last month, 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 Padraig O’Callaghan, Chairman SCCUL Enterprise Ltd.
"From our work with local companies in the Galway area we know that there is a tremendous amount of enterprise going on. SCCUL Enterprises Ltd recognise the huge work that small businesses are doing to get the economy going again and we want to support and encourage them in whatever way we can. They are true heroes and must be supported by all the agencies and banking institutions to realise their goals,” concluded Padraig O’ Callaghan.
Businesses throughout Galway city and county with a turnover ‘from zero to €1.5million’ are encouraged to enter in one of eight categories including business services, consumer goods and services, ICT, social enterprise, agriculture and food, cleantech, entertainment, media and leisure and med tech, pharma and biotechnology.
With the overall winner walking away with a cheque for €10,000 sponsored by St Columba’s Credit Union, winners in each of the eight categories will receive cash prizes of €1000 and advertising packages worth €1250. Category winners also receive a special hand commissioned trophy. Runners up in each category will receive a cash prize of €500 and an advertising package valued at €500.
The competition has a total prize package of over €50,000.
A special ‘one to watch’ prize will be awarded to entrants who impressed the adjudicators but were not successful in reaching the finals.
Founding RTE Dragon and business man Bobby Kerr will be joining the judging panel for this year's awards which includes some of the west of Ireland's leading business people. In “X factor” style, the judges of the eight categories will pitch their chosen finalists to the final judging panel after which each finalist will be interviewed.
The prize winners will be presented with their awards at a special SCCUL Enterprise Awards prize giving ceremony and business expo hosted by NUI Galway in the Bailey Allen Hall on Monday January 27 2014. All entrants to the awards are invited to exhibit free of charge at the Business Exposition which is Galway’s largest free business trade show and networking event for business owners, executives and budding entrepreneurs.
Dr. Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway said he was pleased to host the SCCUL Enterprise Awards Ceremony and Business Expo in NUI Galway.
“NUI Galway is delighted to host the SCCUL Enterprise Awards Ceremony and Business Expo in the Bailey Allen Hall. We look forward to working with SCCUL Enterprises to stage this unique event and to welcoming enterprising businesses to NUI Galway to exhibit at the Business Expo on January 27th next year.
The SCCUL Enterprise Awards, is an initiative of community based company SCCUL Enterprises Ltd aided by Ballybane Enterprise Centre, St. Columba’s Credit Union, Galway City Council.. The awards will take place at lunchtime following a business exposition showcasing the entrants in the county wide entrepreneurship competition.
Entries are accepted only on official entry forms which are available from Ballybane Enterprise Centre ( 091 386 004 ) or online on www.scculawards.ie .
