Now is the time to enter your business in the Louth Business awards 2022. There are 23 categories of awards this year, giving you a fantastic selection to choose from. We would encourage you to enter up to four different categories.
The Business Awards are an excellent opportunity to show-case your business and give it the recognition it warrants. The awards attract a record attendance of over 600 guests on the night. This year’s awards are booked for Saturday 22nd October 2022 in the Carrickdale Hotel. There will be excellent media exposure in the run up to the event and it is now the social highlight of the Dundalk business community.
The awards are an excellent opportunity to showcase your business to customers and suppliers. They also help to raise your profile, attracting potential new customers, suppliers and investors. The awards offer excellent PR & marketing exposure. The awards night helps to boost staff morale and is a great networking opportunity.
There are 23 categories to choose from and you can enter up to four. You can enter below.
Note: There is a separate, additional form for Retailers, Bars, Restaurants, Eating Establishments, Pubs, Beauticians, Hairdressers – it can be obtained from Brenda in Dundalk Chamber of Commerce on Tel: 042 9336343 or email her to brenda@dundalk.ie
There is no charge to enter the awards and closing date for entries is Friday the 29th July 2022. Shortlist will be published on Monday 29th August. Awards on Saturday 22nd October 2022.
The Judges
Mario McBlain – DkIT
Aidan Browne – Regional Development Centre
Local Enterprise Office
ASM Accountants
Bank of Ireland
Dundalk Credit Union
AIB Bank
Award Categories
You may enter up to four of the following categories. Click the title of a category for further information.
Best Shop Front Both Interior & Exterior
This award recognises excellence in exterior and interior premises in terms of visual impact for customers. Window displays, floral displays, cleanliness and overall appearance will be taken in to consideration (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by Net1.ie.
Best Customer Service Independent Retailer
This is for retailers with one shop and recognises what your business offers to the customer that separates you from your competitors, giving the best customer experience along with commitment to offering the highest level of service to each and every customer (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by The Argus.
Best Customer Service Multiple Retailer
This award is open to all retailers who have 2 shops or more nationwide. In order for you to succeed you must highlight what separates you from your competitors (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by The Carrickdale Hotel.
Best Cafe
This is open to all businesses in the above sector who offer best food, service and value for money (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by AV Direct.
Best Dining Experience
This includes Restaurants, Gastro Pubs and Hotels offering the best food, service and value for money (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by Dundalk Stadium.
Best Bar/Hotel
Open to all licensed Bars and Hotels that offer exceptional ambiance, service along with cleanliness, hygiene, exterior and interior décor (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by Diageo.
Best Hair and Beauty Award
This award is open to all relevant businesses in these sectors who have demonstrated strategic growth, innovative entrepreneurship and sustainability with a strong focus on excellent customer care and satisfaction (Mystery Shopped). Sponsored by L’Oreal.
Tourism Award - Attraction & Activities
Open to all businesses operating in the Tourism attractions/activities sectors. This award recognises a significant contribution of a company/organization in increasing the number of visitors to Louth through developing marketing, selling and delivering an improved visitor experience. Businesses eligible may include but are not limited to tourism attraction providers (public and/or private providers), tourism activities/adventure, event providers within the county. Sponsored by Shop Local Dundalk.
Franchisee of the Year Award
This award honours an outstanding top performing franchise owner/operator in terms of business success and customer service. Sponsored by Value Centre Cash & Carry.
Community Group Award
This award recognises the success of local Community & Voluntary enterprises. Nominees will be organisations who have made significant and sustained contribution to their community. Often working behind the scenes, these organizations provide their time and efforts to help their fellow citizens. Sponsored by Dundalk Credit Union.
Start Up Business of the Year
Open to all businesses with 5 or less employees in any sector who have demonstrated growth potential and sustainability. Sponsored by AIB.
Best Emerging Business (6-20 Employees)
Open to all non retail businesses with 6-20 employees. The winner will have displayed strategic approach to business, successful implementation and will have good prospects for the future. Sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Louth.
Best Training Initiative
This award recognises a company or organization which has implemented the most effective training programme for its employees in support of the company’s objectives. Sponsored by Dundalk Skillnet.
Best Family Business Award
Open to all family owned and run businesses who are at least second generation or more and can demonstrate the future sustainability of the business. Sponsored by Prometric.
Professional Services Award
. The award recognises excellence in customer service, product knowledge and commitment to developing sustainable business practices across the full range of activities. Nominees will come from professions such as estate agents, architects, insurance companies, travel agents, solicitors, dental and medical providers, accountants, banks and financial advisers. Sponsored by Permanent TSB
Employee of the Year
Businesses are often recognised for their friendly and helpful staff/employees that go above and beyond in carrying out their duties whether in customer facing or support roles. This award will recognise that individual with assessment based on various criteria including interview with the employee, report from Manager/Supervisor. This person will be nominated by their Manager. Sponsored by Recruit Island.
Best Exporter of the Year
For a Company engaged in manufacturing / international traded services who has increased export sales, increased job numbers and secured new overseas markets. Sponsored by Enterprise Ireland.
Best Place to Work Award
Open to all businesses regardless of size, industry, sector or turnover. What does your company offer employees that competitors don’t that make your place of work the best in the Louth for e.g. work life balance, perks, health promotion, fun days etc. Judges will consider programmes, policies and practices that have been put in place. The winner will be able to demonstrate how they are achieving the organisational goals through people doing their personal best and working together as a team. Sponsored by Recruitment Plus.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
This award recognises the achievement of an individual who has been instrumental to the success of a business. Entrants for this award may have exploited an opportunity to develop a successful business from scratch or radically improved the performance of an existing business. Entrants must be able to demonstrate the realisation of their entrepreneurial vision and have a clear plan in place to achieve sustained growth in the future. Sponsored by Regional Development Centre at DkIT.
Environmentally Friendly Business Award
Entrants to this award must be able to demonstrate a significant proactive commitment to implementing environmentally sustainable business processes. These may include energy efficiency, green procurement, cleaner production and pollution prevention. Sponsored by Oriel Hub.
Innovation in Business Award
This award is aimed at celebrating any business that has designed, implemented and managed an effective infrastructure spanning all business and/or manufacturing processes to result in significant and sustainable success. Your company may have achieved significant success with a particular product, process or service innovation that has brought about significant performance improvements in the past 12 months. Sponsored by Bank of Ireland.
Business of the Year
This award goes to a business with 21 plus employees that has achieved outstanding growth including sales turnover and employee numbers. The winner has successfully achieved corporate goals and visons through research & development, genuine innovation, a successful export marketing strategy and expansion in local & overseas markets. Sponsored by Vhi Healthcare.
Lifetime Award for Contribution to Louth
For an individual (active or retired) who has made an outstanding contribution to the business life of Louth in every way, demonstrating social/community leadership within our county. This person can be currently active or retired. Sponsored by PayPal.
If you would like to nominate your own or another business for an award in one or more of these categories, please click the below button and follow the instructions.
The region offers unrivalled access to talent and infrastructure. There are 2.25 million people within 60 minutes of Dundalk & Drogheda, over one-third of the population of the island. Read more about the M1 Corridor at http://m1corridor.ie.
Dundalk has an extremely active Chamber of Commerce. Dundalk’s business network and business voice consist of 200 members representing all business sectors in the town. Chamber members meet monthly with a view to promoting economic development throughout Dundalk.
Management
Sean Farrell (President) Una McGoey (Vice President)
