Local Enterprise Awards shine spotlight on small business

Plenty of creativity, excitement and innovation was to be seen at the first-ever Local Enterprise Village awards at this year’s National Ploughing Championships. Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices, a total of 84 small companies showcased their products and services, with the awards presented by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD. Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Kieran Comerford said: “The Local Enterprise Village awards were set up to celebrate small businesses and recognise their incredible achievements. The awards are to reward small companies under various categories and to encourage development of small enterprises.”

Emerald Oils

Vision display award

Tipperary tillage farmer Michael Corbett was awarded the Visual Display award for his luxurious golden selection of rapeseed oils. Michael is the third generation of farmers on his family farm and grows 50 acres of rapeseed oil to complete his goal of bringing the “soil to oil”. Emerald Oils is a family-run business started in September 2014. Michael and his wife Sarah are involved in all aspects of the work, from growing to distributing the final product.

The category was judged by Irish Country Living editor Mairead Lavery, who selected Emerald Oils as the winning small business for the Visual Display award, winning a prize of €500.

“We were delighted to win the Visual Display award. I think the decorated stand and packaging, the beautiful aromas and the wonderful nutty taste were core to why Emerald Oils won the award,” says Michael.

“We are the only producer of rapeseed oil in Munster and have goals to sell Emerald Oils both nationally and internationally. We also have plans to diversify our oils and create an infused oil range for that extra twist.”

Supported by Local Enterprise Office Tipperary

The Irish Workshop

Consumer service award

Owner of The Irish Workshop and former Rose of Tralee Charmaine Kenny won the Consumer Service award for her online business venture in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The Irish Workshop was set up in 2015 and is an online marketing and technology company that connects Irish art and craft makers on one individual website to facilitate international purchasing.

The business was set up to promote the unique talent of Irish craft makers and to sell craft products with an Irish narrative to both Irish and international customers.

There has been a huge response to the website from the US and UK, with 70% of sales from international customers.

“Currently we have 100 Irish craft makers who have signed up with The Irish Workshop website to sell jewellery, art, knitwear and craft. The business is growing from strength to strength and my goal is to double the amount of signed-up craft makers to 200,” says Charmaine.

“Winning the Consumer Service award was very exciting and I was thrilled to receive it. The Ploughing Championships were an excellent opportunity and many people expressed huge interest in conveniently purchasing their Christmas shopping from the website.”

Supported by Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

Green Earth Organics

Consumer product award

Kenneth Keavey, owner of Galway firm Green Earth Organics, took home the Consumer Product award. Established in 2006, the company delivers a range of organic fruit and vegetables to consumers all over Ireland. Muriel Joyce, an employee of Green Earth Organics was representing the company over the course of the National Ploughing Championships and accepted the award on their behalf.

“We were delighted to win the consumer product category and it was a huge surprise for us. The business is completely customer focused, ensuring we send out only fresh and quality organic fruit and vegetables nationwide,” says Kenneth.

The business, which was originally started on a quarter of an acre, has grown to be a 35 acre mixed organic farm, which employs 21 people across Green Earth Organic offices in Galway and Dublin. With a greater emphasis being placed on healthy eating, Green Earth Organics have ambitious objectives to further grow their business.

“We hope to double the business within the next three years and invest in a new packaging facility to meet future demand. Families are becoming more health conscious about what they eat and the origins of their food. By delivering weekly boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables, I believe it encourages families to use and consume more organic products,” says Kenneth.

Supported by Local Enterprise

Office Galway

SUIP Manufacturing

Vision award

Sligo inventor Pius McCloat was awarded the Vision award for his innovative and practical SUIP sprayer invention.

The SUIP sprayer conversion kit is attached to the rear of a ride-on lawnmower to spray large or small areas with speed and efficiency.

Pius started manufacturing and selling SUIP sprayers from his house in Drumard, Co Sligo, in September 2015.

His wife Elizabeth is also involved in the venture and manages the promotion of SUIP manufacturing. “I wanted to make a sprayer that is simple and effective to use, so that people can spray without having to lift heavy knapsacks,” says Pius, who grew up on a dairy farm and works in engineering. “The opportunity to showcase and educate the public about the SUIP sprayer at the Ploughing Championships was an incredible opportunity. Spectators saw firsthand the benefits of the SUIP sprayer and the quality of the product.”

With the positive interest and demand, Pius is expecting his business to increase significantly in the near future.

“I would hope that my product can reshape the future of spraying and that everyone will be using the SUIP sprayer for all their spraying needs.”

Supported by Local Enterprise

Office Sligo

Celtic Gent

Vision award

Based in Fingal, owner of Celtic Gent Cathy Coghlan received the Vision award for her family business. The business was started in 2014 and makes beautifully fitted men’s tweed jackets and waistcoats, ladies’ tweed capes and gilets and tweed teddy bears.

“We started this business because we wanted to celebrate Irish history and heritage in our designs, making something that is truly stylish and contemporary, which would connect Celtic men and women all over the world,” says Cathy.

“Currently Celtic Gent employs eight people, and we have further plans to develop and expand our colourful collection range and to expand our export market.”

Celtic Gent clothing range for men and women can be found in department stores nationwide and can be purchased online. There has been strong online demand, with the majority of sales coming from international customers on Celtic Gent’s website.

“We are very delighted to be given the opportunity to showcase our products at the Ploughing Championships. Being involved with our local enterprise office has been hugely helpful. They have so much advice and help to give and it’s a wonderful resource,” says Cathy.

Supported by Local Enterprise

Office Fingal

Scotts Irish Cider

Food and drink award

Dun Laoghaire dry-stock farmer Jonathan Scott secured the top prize in the Food and Drink category for his unique-tasting Scotts Irish Cider range, which he started in 2013 with his mother Maureen and sister Louise.

The Cavan-based business currently sells three varieties of artisan cider – dry, medium and their new summer medium – and retails in off-licences and select SuperValu stores. The family hopes to double the business size and sales by this time next year and is planning to release a new apple juice and mulled cider by Christmas, with the long-term plan of blending new ciders and diversifying into draft cider.

Winning the Food and Drink award and being giving the opportunity to showcase Scotts Irish Cider was a huge opportunity, says Jonathan.

“The products are natural ciders, gluten-free and have no artificial colouring or flavours. The apples are locally sourced from Irish orchards and are pressed to allow natural fermented flavours to develop.”

Supported by Local Enterprise Office Cavan