Three firms up for Irish Q Mark Awards

A FINAL call has been made for Kerry female entrepreneurs to apply for a place on the Acorns programme.

Interested parties until close of business on Thursday, September 22, to apply for a place on the six month part time development programme for aspiring rural female entrepreneurs.

Funded under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s CEDRA Rural Development and Innovation Fund, the initiative is focused on developing the potential of female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland who have recently started a business or who have taken steps towards setting up a business.

There is no charge for successful applicants and there are 56 places on this year’s programme.

Last year 44 entrepreneurs completed the pilot ACORNS programme, with all participants reporting that participation was of value to their business.

Eight businesses began to trade for the first time during the pilot scheme. Of the 35 trading, 86% increased their combined sales by 43 per cent during the pilot.

To be considered for this ACORNS scheme, applicants must have set up a new business – no earlier than June 29 2014 – which they either own or part-own, or who are actively planning a new venture and have a clear idea of what they want to achieve.

Applicants must also live in rural areas outside the city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

For more information on programme requirements and to submit an application for a place interested persons can log on to www.acorns.ie. THREE Kerry companies have been nominated for prizes at the Q Mark Awards.

Pearse and Fitzgibbon Solicitors in Listowel are nominated in the Best Solicitors Firm in Ireland category; Keane’s SuperValu in Killorglin is nominated for the Best Supermarket in Ireland for Hygiene and Food Safety and Heaphy’s Spar Express is nominated for the Best Forecourt Retailer for Hygiene and Food Safety.

The Q Mark is awarded only to companies who achieve the highest standards of quality and excellence, with The Q Mark criteria ensuring that companies exceed legal requirements rather than simply meeting them.

“To be nominated for a Q Mark Awards is an enormous achievement, particularly as the operating standards continue to increase year on year,” said Excellence Ireland Quality Association MD Irene Collins.