SFA National Small Business Awards 2019 Small Firms Association, 84-86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 605 1500; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.sfa.ie #SFAAwards2019 SPONSORS PARTNERS CONTENTS Introduction from Sven Spollen-Behrens, SFA director 4 Paul Healy, chief executive, Skillnet Ireland 4 INSIGHTS Comment from the chair Michael Dawson, founder and CEO, One4All 5 I am delighted to offer my congratulations to all the 2019 OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS finalists in the SFA National Small Passion, drive and a keen focus on innovation 6 Business Awards programme. Now in their fifteenth year, these awards INSIGHTS celebrate achievement, innovation and Gillian Willis, small business manager, Bord Bia 9 excellence amongst small firms. It is these very qualities that are evident in the companies featured in this special FOOD AND DRINK awards supplement. Staying ahead of the curve with consumer trends 10 All the companies presented here are amongst the best in Irish small INSIGHTS business. These companies, each of Padraig Sheerin, head of SME at Three Ireland 13 which employs fewer than 50 people, represent a wide range of business sectors, right throughout Ireland. From SERVICES reading their success stories you will A relentless desire to put the customer first 14 no doubt be inspired by their drive, constant innovation and commitment INSIGHTS to growth. Patrick Farrell, retail banking director at Permanent TSB 17 The people involved here are truly representative of the diversity of entrepreneurship in Ireland, from new INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR high-tech companies to established and Identifying problems and unmet needs 18 traditional, family-run businesses. Given the right environment, these companies INSIGHTS will play a significant part in delivering and services in the Awards Village at Colin Bebbington, retail director at Bord Gáis Energy 21 the additional 25,500 jobs that the SFA Business Connect at the Aviva Small Firms Association expects Stadium, which brought together over to be created by small businesses 350 companies at a networking event MANUFACTURING in 2019. These companies will also between large and small businesses. New product development at its best 22 provide much encouragement to others In conclusion, I would like to thank who are thinking about taking the our sponsors and judges for their INSIGHTS entrepreneurial leap. continued support in making the Andrea Carroll, SME programme manager, SEAI 24 As we face into uncertainty and entire awards programme possible. unknown challenges it is encouraging Our sponsors are: Three, Bord Bia, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY to see such innovation in our Permanent TSB, One4All, Enterprise Taking the environment into account 25 small businesses. Innovation will Ireland, IE Domain Registry, Skillnet be a key contributor to achieving Ireland, the Sustainable Energy competitiveness post Brexit, when Authority of Ireland, and Bord Gáis INSIGHTS potentially we will be competing on Energy. David Curtin, chief executive, IE Domain Registry 27 a very different stage. It will be so Our very hard-working judges include: important to harness the energy, agility Mairead Cirillo of Environmental EMERGING NEW BUSINESS and determination of the businesses Business Advice; Paula Fitzsimons of Five small businesses with great ideas 28 we read about in this supplement. They Fitzsimons Consulting; Barry McCleary need to be supported by creating a of Megazyme International; Donal business environment that values small O’Donovan from the Irish Independent; INSIGHTS business, fosters entrepreneurship and Brian O’Kane of Oaktree Press; Fergus McMahon, department manager for exporter rewards risk takers. Professor Frank Roche, chairman of development at Enterprise Ireland 30 The businesses profiled here have Dublin Business Innovation Centre; availed of a fantastic programme to Tara Lillywhite-Torpey, EY Ireland, EXPORTER OF THE YEAR date as part of the SFA National Small Geraldine Lavin, 3rd i and Ken Going the extra mile internationally 31 Business Awards. As well as receiving Germaine, Germaine Business Planning. extensive media and PR benefits I wish all the finalist companies the from becoming a finalist, all of these best of luck tonight at the Gala Final companies have availed of a subsidised and in the future. Editor: Sorcha Corcoran training package and a strategic Design: Robert Armstrong, INM Design Studio, Belfast Telegraph House, management masterclass weekend. Sue O’Neill Clarendon Dock, 33 Clarendon Road, Belfast, BT1 3BG They have all showcased their products SFA chair Published by Independent Newspapers Ltd, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 SPONSORS PARTNERS WWW.SFA.IE/AWARDS SFA NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | 3 INTRODUCTION DRIVE AND PERSEVERANCE The importance of small businesses to the Irish economy continues to be reflected in the SFA National Small Business Awards, writes Sven Spollen- Behrens, director of the Small Firms Association reland is a nation of small businesses final relationship between the EU and UK and small firms with fewer than 50 will look like. employees account for 98% of the Despite ongoing uncertainty, two thirds Itotal number of businesses in Ireland of SFA member companies plan to take employing one in every two private sector on additional staff and we estimate that workers. They are present in every village, together small businesses will create town and city in the country. We have 25,500 jobs in 2019. These jobs will be in a seen this through the SFA National Small wide variety of sectors, giving a boost to Business Awards this year, with entrants villages, towns and cities across Ireland. from all over the country competing in the awards and showing what a range of diverse and interesting businesses can be “Despite ongoing found all across Ireland. 2018 was a challenging but successful uncertainty, two year for small businesses. According to the latest Small Business Sentiment thirds of SFA Sven Spollen-Behrens, director of the Small Firms Association Survey, difficulties attracting staff, Brexit member companies and increasing business costs are the Concrete steps are needed from wide variety of backgrounds, sectors and main obstacles affecting small firms plan to take on government to realise the potential of our parts of the country. They all demonstrate in 2019. Our members see domestic small business sector and enhance job that with a clear business vision, a economic growth, which is forecasted additional staff creation permanently. The SFA is calling sense of optimism, passion, drive and to be close to 4.1% in 2019, as the biggest for the introduction and implementation perseverance, success is possible. opportunity for their business in the and we estimate of a national Small Business Strategy I want to congratulate all the finalists coming year. for Ireland. This initiative is calling on today. Regardless of the outcome this However, small business owners’ that together small government to target the development of evening, you are all winners and deserve intention to invest in their businesses businesses will small business across all regions with just every success; the quality and standard of declined over recent months. In the as much energy and strategic focus as it all finalists is really second to none. run-up to Brexit it is to be expected create 25,500 jobs has put on attracting FDI from the 1950s that small firms will be more cautious to the present day. To find out who the winners are and to regarding investment decisions until in 2019” The finalists in this year’s SFA National view highlights from the Gala Final, log on there is more certainty about what the Small Business Awards come from a to www.sfa.ie/awards. PROMOTING PRODUCTIVITY Paul Healy, chief executive of Skillnet Ireland, “Training or on- highlights the vital need for small businesses to focus the-job learning is on training and development in the face of rapid vital for smaller technological change businesses reating a culture of up-skilling dedicated to the promotion and in readying and lifelong learning is an facilitation of workforce learning in themselves for important part of the solution Ireland. We believe that maintaining a Cto stagnating productivity highly skilled workforce is essential to our the changes and within small firms. Responsible for 70% national competitiveness. Our business is of all employment, small businesses to ensure that your business has the skills having the ability are the backbone of the Irish economy, it needs to thrive. and management development and The most important aspect of Skillnet to embrace new up-skilling are key to helping them to Ireland is that it is a bottom-up, industry- remain competitive. led programme. The 17,000 companies technologies” Some core competencies and skills nationwide that we support are taking every business should have include control of the skills agenda themselves. membership base and distilling those strategic planning and efficient They are deciding on the challenges and into a compelling skills offering. operational management – both of which opportunities they face and using Skillnet The main message we want to give to are critical in terms of enabling digital Ireland funding to allow them to embrace Paul Healy, chief executive, Skillnet owners of small firms is to engage with transformation. Technological disruption these fully through the training and Ireland their Skillnet. This will give them the is happening at a pace never seen before up-skilling of their employees. opportunity to shape