Nearly 300 people were in attendance at the Laois Business Awards 2022 on Friday, 4th November 2022, which were hosted by Laois Chamber Alliance. The black tie event took place in The Heritage Killenard, event partners for the event, with a drink’s reception and magician welcoming attendees. Guests were also treated to a spectacular performance by talented musicians from Laois School of Music and Music Generation Laois Chamber Group, directed by Carl Rochford, who performed the Game of Thrones theme, Kashmir, and Palladio on the main stage.
The main sponsors for the event were Gas Networks Ireland, Laois County Council, and Local Enterprise Office Laois, with the night celebrating Laois business, recognising the innovation, talent, quality, and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses and people in Laois. Ronan Berry was master of ceremonies of the event, with the 11 award winners announced.
Nearly 800 nominations were received across the 11 categories. The independent judging panel was lead by Vincent Cleary, Managing Director of Glenisk, who was joined by Mary Rose Burke, Chief Executive of Dublin Chamber, Paddy Dunican, Managing Director of Kilbeggan Racecourse, and Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development and Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Carlow.
Speaking following the event, Caroline Hofman, CEO Laois Chamber Alliance said:
“On behalf of Laois Chamber Alliance, we would like to congratulate all of the finalists and award winners. We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to submit their nominations, and with nearly 800 nominations received, our judging panel had a tough task to whittle this down to the final shortlist. The standard of nominations received was so high, and I would like to thank our judging panel, our main sponsors, all of our category sponsors, and everyone who attended on the night and supported the event.
We have so many amazing businesses across all four corners of Laois, and the Laois Business Awards 2022 were an opportunity to celebrate these fantastic businesses and the wonderful entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and talent across the county.”
We are already looking forward to the 2023 event and hope to see you there!”
- Outstanding SME of the Year Award (1-50 employees) – Sponsored by The Heritage
Finalists:
Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
Cummins Motor Group
Hummingbird Interiors
SOLAS Eco Garden Shop
McElwee TotalHealth Pharmacies
TekEir
Winner: TekEir
Established in 2019 and employing 19 staff, TekEir have received the Business All-Stars Certificate of Accreditation. Based in Portarlington, TekEir is now an international company and has become very reputable within the On-Board Retail sector, working directly with the biggest airline industries in the world, designing and manufacturing customized sled solutions as well as recycling devices to create a sustainable and balanced model to protect our planet.
Tek Eir’s team of staff has grown exponentially over the last 2 years, where some industries found these unprecedented times a time of struggle, Tekeir found the light at the end of the tunnel to grow beyond its means and become a respected company worldwide.
- Outstanding Large Business of the Year (Over 50 employees) – Sponsored by South East Technological University
Finalists:
Enva
Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies
Midlands Park Hotel
The Portlaoise Plaza
Maldron Hotel Portlaoise
Winner: Enva
Across the group, Enva has a turnover of €355m and employ 1,600 employees. 380 of these employees are based in Ireland with 130 employed at their Portlaoise office. Enva’s operations began in Portlaoise in 1979, and this office is core to Enva’s service delivery and its waste oil processing, working with over 20,000 customers to recover a broad range of hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials.
Enva describe their growth as being down to their dedicated and talented team. Portlaoise and the surrounding area has an educated and experienced workforce that has helped drive innovation and growth. Their team is passionate about sustainability, possessing a depth of knowledge and experience to nurture innovative environmental management solutions.
- Start Up/Emerging New Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Laois
Finalists:
Pippa’s Parlour
Sásta Skin Health
Salutem Insights
SOLAS Eco Garden Shop
Temptation Pâtisserie
Winner: SOLAS Eco Garden Centre
Established in May 2021 and now employing 39 staff, in the past year SOLAS Eco Garden Centre has been visited by Bobby Kerr, Conor Pope, Diarmuid Gavin, Robbie Keane, The French Embassy, Frank McNally to name but a few.
A big part of what SOLAS does is promote other local business, crafts and creativity. SOLAS has provided a platform for local organic growers, producers and smaller start ups to start selling their produce. In their first year, they have added over 50 food producers and 200 crafts people to their markets. One of their key objectives is to become a top food and gardening destination in Ireland.
In a short 18 months, David Maher and John Carey have turned a disused industrial site into a space for families and friends to meet, a place to showcase local talent and creativity, an artistic hub to amaze and inspire, and a shopping experience that offers value, range and expertise.
- Business Supporting Community Award – Sponsored by Permanent TSB
Finalists:
Bloom HQ
Coco’s Quik Pick
McElwee TotalHealth Pharmacies
People First Credit Union
Solas Eco Garden Shop
Winner: Bloom HQ
Located in Mountrath, Bloom HQ is a co-working space aimed at bringing business back into the heart of rural community. Why work in congested cities where access to education and housing is a challenge? Bloom HQ believe in quality of life – Ditch the commute, work and live local.
Since opening in 2019, BloomHQ has created numerous opportunities for the community of Mountrath and beyond to thrive in the areas of health and well being, education, business development and culture. BloomHQ have worked with the LOETB to offer free community based education programmes. In addition, they have hosted numerous free and discounted fitness and health and well being programmes for disadvantaged members of the community and those with additional needs. BloomHQ is a footprint of how social enterprises should engage with their local community.
- Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality – Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland
Finalists:
Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
Glamping Under the Stars
Maldron Hotel Portlaoise
Midland Escape
Midlands Park Hotel
Square Coffee
Winner: Glamping Under the Stars
Glamping Under the Stars have created a glamping destination unlike any other in the country. They have recently opened a second glamping site – their Mountain glampsite ‘hobbit village’ – and this has doubled their capacity, offering a high end luxury glamping experience to families and groups.
They were named as one of the ‘Top Ten Best Camping & Glamping Destinations in Ireland’ 2022 in the Irish Independent Reader Travel Awards.
Glamping Under the Stars also work hard to prioritise environmentally responsible business practises, allocating large areas of land on each glampsite as wildflower meadows in order to create natural habitat and promote biodiversity. They also avoid single use plastic, and recycle 90% of all waste generated at their site. As a low impact business, all of their new accommodations and facilities are constructed from super-energy efficient building materials.
- Excellence in Retail – Sponsored by Gerry Browne Jewellers
Finalists:
Adora & Co. Portlaoise
Coco’s Quik Pick
DS Sports
Fruit N’ Nut Health Store
Mueller & O’Connell Bakery
Winner: DS Sports
Since the founding of DS Sports in 2014, they have evolved from a GAA Gloves and socks company to a business which supplies sportswear to teams, clubs and the general public not only in Laois and Ireland, but also across the world. They now employee 12 staff.
Although during Covid their business took a huge hit with the majority of their target market being withheld from playing sports, they used this time wisely to improve their retail systems. They pushed the boundaries of their E-Commerce platform, which was a huge success. In the meantime, they also built their very first physical shop in Emo which is open to the public.
DS Sports work incredibly hard with existing and new suppliers to create new product ranges, using different materials which are more sustainable. Another move they are making to reduce their carbon footprint is the process of creating their own jersey manufacturing plant in Emo, which will help reduce their carbon footprint and also reduce lead times from 4 weeks down to as little as 3 days.
- Excellence in Innovation – Sponsored by Mulhall’s SuperValu, Portlaoise
Finalists:
Enva
Laois Sports Partnership
Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies
Sásta Skin Health
Solas Eco Garden Shop
Winner: Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies
Midland Steel have invented, developed, and patented the fastest steel fixing process in the world with its product, FASTER Fix. The benefits of this include 75% less labour onsite, 25% preliminary savings on cost, and 12% less carbon emissions in their delivery and placement process, contributing significantly to a better future in construction
They have delivered to Ireland’s largest private investment project, Intel, with 26,000 tonnes of steel over an 18 month period from their Mountmellick depot. They have reduced their programme of works by 3 months using FASTER Fix, as well as offsite rebar which was detailed and modelled using BIM.
Midland Steel also supplied Fast Track hospital buildings during the Covid-19 pandemic – Thurles Hospital, UHL & Croom hospital. These projects had extremely tight deadlines and were only possible to meet using the FASTER Fix product.
- Best Online Presence and Social Media Award – Sponsored by McKeon Stone
Finalists:
Gló Design
Hummingbird Interiors
Kelly Lou Cakes
LaoisToday
Leaving Cert Guidance
Winner: Kelly Lou Cakes
Kelly Lou Cakes continually strive to keep their social media channels active and interactive with their followers. Social media often only shows the edited picture perfect side, and while they love to show off their beautiful cakes and finished designs, the stunning wedding venues they visit and cool festivals, it’s not all glamorous and they aren’t not afraid to show the “real” side of bakery life and running your own business… the crazy early mornings, long nights, endless hours in a delivery van, and taking down marquees in the lashing rain after a festival.
Social media plays a huge role in their business. It is their main source of contact with their customers and followers, as well as their main marketing platform.
- Excellence in Sustainability & Climate Action – Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland
Finalists:
Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
Enva
Glamping Under the Stars
Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies
Solas Eco Garden Shop
Winner: Ballykilcavan Farm & Brewery
Winners of the Best Small to Medium Sustainable Business in the 2022 PwC Sunday Business Post sustainability awards and the Sustainability Award in the 2022 Small Firms Association awards, Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery have a holistic approach to sustainability, integrating it into all parts of their business. They are independently audited as part of their Origin Green membership, and have been awarded Gold status this year.
They have reduced their energy use by 23% and water use by 4% since the start of 2020. They have also switched their energy use to 100% renewable, and have installed a solar panel array which will soon be upgraded to a larger system.
All of their beers are made with water and barley from the farm, with consequent low food miles. Organic waste from the brewery is ploughed back into their barley fields to recycle the nutrients. They have also introduced a deposit scheme on reusable beer cups at every festival they attend, and replaced plastic pallet wrap and box tape with compostable alternatives.
- Spirit of Laois Award – In Memory of Albert FitzGerald
Finalists:
Gerry Browne
Karen McHugh
Mountmellick Neighbourhood Watch
Portlaoise Family Resource Centre
This is a non-business award, giving recognition to those whose good deeds may have gone unnoticed. This award is designed to recognise and celebrate the success of Community and Voluntary individuals, organisations and groups in county Laois. Often working behind the scenes, providing their time and efforts to help their fellow citizens. The award was presented by Albert’s son, Stephen FitzGerald.
Winner: Karen McHugh
Karen McHugh is the Chairperson of the Laois Integration Network. Those who nominated her for this award say that for many years, Karen has been an inspirational part of our community and deserves to be recognised for all of her hard work.
Karen takes everything in her stride and does so all in a voluntary capacity. She makes a fundamental impact in the community, and touches and inspires every person that she meets to work harder, to support those less privileged than ourselves, and to make a positive, ever-lasting impact in our society. We can only describe Karen as the glue that keeps our whole community of Laois together and she is the only reason why the Laois Integration Network is so successful.
- Laois Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Laois Chamber Alliance
Finalists:
Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
DS Sports
Enva
Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies
Solas Eco Garden Shop
TekEir
Winner: Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies
Midland Steel has been a local employer in Laois since 1998, now employing 85 staff. Establishing their business in Mountmellick, they have strived to generate local employment, be sustainable and support the local economy. They have carried out extensive high profile projects in both the UK and Ireland.
Midland Steel have shown consistent innovation, sustainability, and growth in their field. Their recent achievements include the delivery of 26,000 tonnes of steel to Ireland’s largest private investment project, Intel. They have also received two Rosette levels in their industry standard certifications on sustainability, as well as installing the Western World’s first Robotic Cell in their Mountmellick depot. This was a substantial achievement to move their business forward.
Developing their new innovative Faster Fix Principle has brought them onto the international stage, delivering future jobs for Laois and allowing Midland Steel to grow internationally
They have also expanded internationally to Scandinavia and the USA, among other markets.
-ENDS-
