emerging new business -...

Best in Business Awards

Emerging New Business

EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARDThis award recognises emerging new Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SME) with best growth potential.

Why EntEr:If you are within two years of starting your business and feel that you are going places we want to hear from you. This is an opportunity to have your company assessed by a panel of experts well versed in the needs of start up business.

Judging CritEria for this CatEgory:This category aims to award emerging new SME’s that have the potential to grow their companies into successful organisations which will be innovative, create employment and have the ability to win business and display strategic advantage in today’s competitive business environment.

Entry rEquirEmEnts:Award entrants must comply with the following criteria:• All small/medium businesses may enter who

operate from or are based in one of the four Midlands Counties of Offaly, Westmeath, Laois and Longford.

• Be within two years of starting your business• Businesses/individuals can nominate themselves

or be nominated by other associated professionals (e.g. professional advisers, training providers, accountants etc.)

Entry ProCEss:Entry forms are available to download from www.midlandsireland.ie and your local chamber website. Entries to the midlandsIreland.ie Best in Business Awards will be accepted for five weeks via email from Monday 19th March 2012 to Friday 27th April 2012. To enter, please complete part 1 questions 1 - 4 only. Short listed candidates will be required to complete part 2 questions 1 & 2.

Your entry will need to include:• Your completed entry form, which must not

exceed the word limit.

• 100 word summary profile of your company/organisation.

• Your electronic company logo (minimum quality 300dpi) for promotional purposes in the event you are a finalist.

• The name of the person that will accept the award on your behalf should you be successful.

Three finalists will be announced in this category in June 2012 with the award winner being announced at the midlandsIreland.ie Best in Business Awards mid summer ball, which will take place on Thursday 21st June 2012 in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, County Westmeath. BEnEfits of Winning:The benefits of being a finalist or a winner in the Awards for Best in Business are extensive, in terms of business profile and in generating direct business and customer confidence.

• Winners will receive a personalised plaque for their company premises.

• All finalists will receive a Certificate of Merit.• All finalists will receive a profile on the

midlandsIreland.ie website, the six regional chambers websites and corresponding social media.

• The awards booklet will include profiles of all category finalists with the sponsors logo.

• Pre awards media coverage in many of the Midlands regional papers, radio stations, chamber websites, chamber newsletters and social media will highlight the finalists.

• Post awards coverage in many of the Midlands regional papers, the six regional chambers websites, chamber newsletters and social media will include photos taken at the awards event and a profile of the winner.

• Networking opportunities.• Recognition by other businesses at the exclusive

midlandsIreland.ie Best in Business Awards 2012.

ENTRY FORM 2012

EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD Part 1

nominee: (self-nominations are accepted)

Name of Individual:

Title:

Company/Organisation Name:

Address:

Phone/Mobile:

Email:

Type of Business or Activity:

1. Brief Background Information on Emerging New Business. (100 words)

2. Describe a challenge this business has overcome that is notable and extraordinary. (200 words)


3. What are the unique selling points of your business? (200 words)

4. Does your company have any intellectual property or product that is unique to you and protected by patent or copyright? (200 words)


1. Please supply a summary of information highlighting the strengths of the business in terms of: (a) How the emerging new business has the potential to grow into a successful, innovative organisation. 40% (350 words)


(b) How the emerging new business has the potential to create employment and has the ability to win business. 30% (200 words)

(c) How the emerging new business has the potential to display strategic advantage in today’s competitive business environment. 30% (200 words)


2. Please supply figures for years 2010 - 2012 and forecast figures for 2013 in the following areas: (200 words) • Actualsalestodate;includingsalesfromJanuary2012toApril2012andforecastsalesfiguresfor the remainder of 2012 and 2013. • Exportfigures(ifapplicable)todateincludingexportsfromJanuary2012toApril2012andforecast export figures for the remainder of 2012 and 2013. • Numbersofdirectemployees(fullandparttime)todateincludingfromJanuary2012toApril2012 and forecast employee figures for the remainder of 2012 and 2013.

2010 2011 2012 2013

actual sales

Export figures

no. of Employees

EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD

Who may we contact for additional information or clarification? (If different from above)

Name:

Title:

Address:

Phone/Mobile:

Email:

Please email completed forms to: Your local chamber - see email on back page.

JudgEs CommEnts & total marks

tErms and Conditions

By submitting an entry into the midlandsIreland.ie Best in Business Awards 2012, you agree to be bound by the

following terms and conditions:

• Theclosingdateforreceiptofentriesis5pmonFriday27thApril,2012

• EmployeesorrepresentativesofmidlandsIreland, Midlands Regional Authority, Midlands Gateway Chamber,

AthloneChamber,MullingarChamber,TullamoreChamber,LaoisChamberandLongfordChamberarenot

eligible for entry into the awards.

• Sponsorsarenoteligibleforentryintotheawards.

• Previouswinnersarenotexcludedfromenteringthefollowingyear’scompetition.

• Eachcategorieseligibilitycriteria“EntryRequirements’mustbeadheredto.

• Byenteringthecompetition,youagreetobepartofthepublicityifyouareafinalistinanycategory.

• Thejudge’sdecisionsarefinal(andtheycannotenterintodiscussionabouttheshort-listing).

EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD

adJudiCation ProCEss:

The first stage of judging is based on evaluations of the written applications, which must be submitted via email only. A shortlist of entrants (five for each category) is selected by a local panel of judges and chaired by Dr. Michael Brougham, Director, Midlands Region, Enterprise Ireland. The local panel of judges will consist of one representative from each of the following:

• MidlandsGatewayChamber• AthloneChamber• Tullamore&DistrictChamber• MullingarChamber• LaoisChamber• LongfordChamber

An external, independent panel of judges, chaired by Dr. John Teeling, will adjudicate the five finalists. This panel will decide upon the winner and runners up in each category, with the exception of the Retail Excellence Award, which is subject to public voting,

the panel includes:

DanutaGray

Dr. John Teeling (Chairperson)

Senator Mary Ann O’Brien

Ms Danuta Gray is Chairman of Telefonica O2 in Ireland having been the CEO from 2001-2010 with over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications and mobile phone sector. O2 Ireland was recognised over the years for its innovation in marketing and brand, as a great place to work and a leader in the field of corporate social responsibility. Danuta has been recognised as a business leader in a variety of awards including Irish BusinessWomanoftheYear2008,Ireland’sMostTrustedLeaderbytheGreatPlacesto Work Institute in 2010, Business and Finance Business Person of the Year 2010 and was awarded an Honorary Fellow of the National University of Ireland.

AgraduateofHarvardBusinessSchoolandMidlandsGatewayChamberAmbassador, Dr John Teeling has enjoyed a long and varied career establishing numerous companies. He formed Cooley Distillery in 1987 and reopened the Kilbeggan Distillery in 1989. Cooley has won over 300 international awards, including European Distiller of the year, 4 times, and World Distiller in 2008. The Kilbeggan 15 year old blend is one of the world’s best whiskeys. Dr. Teeling sold Cooley recently to US drinks company Beam in a deal worth around $95m (€71m), he currently runs 5 exploration companies in oil, gold, diamonds and zinc.

Senator Mary Ann O’Brien is one of the most widely recognised and successful female entrepreneurs to emerge in Ireland in the past twenty years. Having started Lily O’Brien’s chocolates in her small Kildare kitchen in 1992, she has grown the business into one of the country’s most recognised global brands. Mary Ann is also co-founder of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation which she set up in 1997 along with her husband Jonathan Irwin to provide home nursing care to young children in Ireland. Mary Ann was appointed to Seanad Eireann in May 2011, since then she has brought a fresh perspective to the workings of the house adopting a business approach to her legislative function.

Best in Business Awards

Contact us...

Nomination forms are available at

www.midlandsireland.ie

Or contact your local chamber for more details

Angela Rigney [email protected]

Siobhan Bigley [email protected]

Irina Krjacko [email protected]

Angie Daly [email protected]

Lisa Brady [email protected]

Joe Stewart [email protected]

kEy datEsCompetition closes friday 27th april 2012

finalists announced in June mid summers awards Ball, thursday 21st June 2012,

hodson Bay, athlone, County Westmeath

emerging new business -...

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