GB Innovation in final of small business awards
ENNISKERRRY - BASED GB Innovation is one of 38 finalists selected in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2019.
GB Innovation, which specialises in industrial research and development, has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Small Business category.
‘The response to the awards programme serves as a reminder that Irish small companies are resilient, putting their best foot forward and seeking recognition for their efforts,’ said Sue O’Neill, SFA chair and chair of the judging panel. ‘I must say that given the quality of the businesses represented this year, entrepreneurship is alive and well in Ireland.’
The awards are now entering their 15th year and are a celebration of the achievements of the 245,000 small firms in Ireland, who collectively employ 700,000 people, half the private sector workforce.
The awards aim to promote excellence, achievement and innovation amongst small businesses in all sectors and parts of the country.
‘The companies that have been announced as finalists this year represent all that is good about small business,’ said Ms O’Neill.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, patron of the awards, said that the SME sector is ‘crucial to the success’ of the Irish economy and makes a huge contribution to jobs and economic growth.
‘Each of these jobs is the result of enterprising and determined people who have turned ideas into businesses, creating employment and injecting life into our cities, towns and villages. These owner managers and their employees work incredibly hard and make an important contribution to their local communities and our economy,’ he said.
The awards prize package for finalists includes participation in the SFA Business Connect event, a strategic management masterclass weekend, as well as broad-ranging national and local media coverage, all valued at €50,000.
The gala prize giving ceremony will take place in the RDS in February 2019. The category winners will be presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association for one year. The overall winner will also receive a bursary of €5,000 to present to a charity of their choice (funded by the 2013 Overall Winner, Bray-based Megazyme International Ireland).