Companies to fly flag for Wexford

THREE local business owners will be chosen to represent the East Region at the inaugural National Local Development Enterprise Awards during a regional heat on July 11.

A group of shortlisted businesses from Wexford will come to The Riverside Park Hotel to find out whether they will be taking on the national final in Dublin this September. Each of the three finalists will also receive a prize of €1,000 each, along with a professional videography to showcase and promote their business on social media. This will be put on display at the National Awards Ceremony later in the year and can also be used on their business websites.

All of those shortlisted are businesses that have been supported by Wexford Local Development under the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (BTWEA) or Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA). Wexford Local Development will host the evening, which will begin at 6 p.m. sharp. While the main aim of the evening is to announce the three overall finalists, it will also serve as a networking evening and a chance to showcase the products and services offered by the businesses.

The new national award has been established to recognise people who have successfully set up their business and have grown the business and demonstrated potential for further growth. It is a brand new initiative in 2016 which seeks to recognise the success that these individuals have achieved both on a personal level and to our local economy. The overall winner of the National Local Development Enterprise Award announced on September 15 and will receive €3,000, while the runner up will receive €2,000 and the business in third place will receive €1,000.

Representing a wide range of services and products from all over County Wexford, the 20 shortlisted businesses include:

Alice J Kelly Millinery; Collette Murphy Portrait Artist; Glass 2 Sand; Gorey Institute of Beauty; Grainne Kenny Design; Irish Fairy and Folk Crafts; Joe Shannon Construction and Maintenance; Lyng International; Mairead McDaid Chartered Physiotherapy and Neurological Rehabilitation; Menapia Guitars; Pedal Revolution; Pure Soul Style; Scrap Metals Collected; Sean Cahill Lawnmower Sales and Repair; Tate Guerin Design; The Pram Doctor; The Red Door Coffee Shop and Deli; The Red Kettle; Time Walsh Counselling Psychotherapy and Training and Wexford Lavender Farm.

CEO of Wexford Local Development Brian Kehoe was involved with the selection process for the finalists. He said that all of them are bound to benefit from the upcoming event.

‘Being a finalist in the competition will get businesses recognition for their work,’ he said. ‘On the night they will have the opportunity to network and promote themselves. It is a public event and we have also sent out invitations to various guests around the county.’