CONTENTS
Introduction to the awards from Patricia 02
Callan, director of the Small Firms Association COMMENT FROM THE CHAIR
Message from The Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD 02
Now in its fifth year, the SFA National
Small Business Awards are going from
A new feature of the awards — emerging 04
strength to strength and the quality of
new businesses
entries has remained impressive. I
would like to offer my congratulations
to everyone who has made it to the
finalist stage. This, in itself, is such
an achievement because the standard
of entries has been so high. As these
awards celebrate achievement, inno-
vation and excellence, all the compa-
nies who have made it to this stage
can be confident they have proven so
far that these attributes apply to their
Dr Aidan O’Boyle
organisation.
The pages of this magazine profile
As leading companies in the small busi-
many of the successes that have been
ness sector in Ireland, the businesses pro-
achieved to date in the small to medium-
filed here are working hard to promote
sized enterprise (SME) sector and — in
themselves, and are taking a real interest
these difficult times for business — it is
in the development of their company. As
very encouraging to read such positive
well as receiving media and public rela-
MANUFACTURING
stories and feel the passion these com-
05
tions benefits from becoming a finalist,
panies have for business.
We look at the dynamic and varied companies
all of these companies have also received
Companies such as these can be held
that made it to the shortlist this year
a training package prize, consisting of a
up as real examples of where Ireland’s
full-day, interactive media-training day
FOODANDDRINK
future economic growth will come
and a strategic management master-
12
from, and I hope these organisations
class, which took place over a weekend
Fresh and natural are the order of the day
will be given all the help they require
in January. I was delighted to hear posi-
with these growing companies
to remain innovative and to achieve
tive feedback, endorsing the fact that
the growth in future years to which
SERVICES
companies who engage in management
16
they aspire.
training will prosper.
Cutting-edge technology and cost efficiency
When referring to innovation amongst
I would like to thank our sponsors for
come into play for this category
SMEs it is important of course to differ-
their continued support in making the
entiate between research and develop-
entire awards programme possible and
OUTSTANDING SMALL 22
ment (R&D) and innovation. Amongst
I look forward to celebrating with you
BUSINESS
the 250,000 small businesses in Ireland,
tomorrow at the Gala Awards Ceremony
the reality is that a very small number
Hitting on a winning idea and having
in the Mansion House. The awards
are actually engaged in formal R&D, but
what it takes to make it work — characteristics
patron, The Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD,
all have a need to innovate. Such inno-
all of these companies share
will present the prizes. I wish you all the
vation is crucial for the future success of
best of luck tomorrow and in the future.
BEST IN HR
a company, whether it be innovation in
28
the way in which work is planned, the
Recognising people as an important asset
way in which products are processed and Best regards,
is part of these finalists’ culture
delivered or the way in which they are Dr Aidan O’Boyle,
INNOVATOR
brought to market. By reading the sto- Chairman of the SFA and the
32 ries here, you will see real evidence of
National Small Business
Thinking differently and/or globally has set this type of innovation in operation.
Awards judging panel
these firms apart, whether in the field of
medical devices or software development
ENVIRONMENTAL 36
Editor: Sorcha Corcoran
SUSTAINABILITY
Editorial and design:
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A new category this year, these finalists
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