Best in Business Awards

Emerging New Business ENTRY FORM 2012

EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD This award recognises emerging new Small to Medium • 100 word summary profile of your company/ sized Enterprises (SME) with best growth potential. organisation. • Your electronic company logo (minimum quality Why Enter: 300dpi) for promotional purposes in the event If you are within two years of starting your business you are a finalist. and feel that you are going places we want to hear • The name of the person that will accept the from you. This is an opportunity to have your company award on your behalf should you be successful. assessed by a panel of experts well versed in the needs of start up business. Three finalists will be announced in this category in June 2012 with the award winner being announced at Judging Criteria for this category: the MidlandsIreland.ie Best in Business Awards mid This category aims to award emerging new SME’s summer ball, which will take place on Thursday 21st that have the potential to grow their companies into June 2012 in the Hodson Bay Hotel, , County successful organisations which will be innovative, Westmeath. create employment and have the ability to win business and display strategic advantage in today’s competitive BENEFITS OF WINNING: business environment. The benefits of being a finalist or a winner inthe Awards for Best in Business are extensive, in terms of Entry Requirements: business profile and in generating direct business and Award entrants must comply with the following customer confidence. criteria: • All small/medium businesses may enter who • Winners will receive a personalised plaque for operate from or are based in one of the four their company premises. Midlands Counties of Offaly, Westmeath, Laois • All finalists will receive a Certificate of Merit. and Longford. • All finalists will receive a profile onthe • Be within two years of starting your business MidlandsIreland.ie website, the six regional • Businesses/individuals can nominate themselves chambers websites and corresponding social or be nominated by other associated professionals media. (e.g. professional advisers, training providers, • The awards booklet will include profiles of all accountants etc.) category finalists with the sponsors logo. • Pre awards media coverage in many of the ENTRY PROCESS: Midlands regional papers, radio stations, Entry forms are available to download from www. chamber websites, chamber newsletters and midlandsireland.ie and your local chamber website. social media will highlight the finalists. Entries to the MidlandsIreland.ie Best in Business • Post awards coverage in many of the Midlands Awards will be accepted for five weeks via email from regional papers, the six regional chambers Monday 19th March 2012 to Friday 27th April 2012. websites, chamber newsletters and social media To enter, please complete part 1 questions 1 - 4 only. will include photos taken at the awards event Short listed candidates will be required to complete and a profile of the winner. part 2 questions 1 & 2. • Networking opportunities. • Recognition by other businesses at the exclusive Your entry will need to include: MidlandsIreland.ie Best in Business Awards • Your completed entry form, which must not 2012. exceed the word limit. 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) EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD Part 1

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)

EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD Part 2

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) EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD Part 2

(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) EMERGING NEW BUSINESS AWARD Part 2

2. Please supply figures for years 2010 - 2012 and forecast figures for 2013 in the following areas:(200 words) • Actual sales to date; including sales from January 2012 to April 2012 and forecast sales figures for the remainder of 2012 and 2013. • Export figures (if applicable) to date including exports from January 2012 to April 2012 and forecast export figures for the remainder of 2012 and 2013. • Numbers of direct employees (full and part time) to date including from January 2012 to April 2012 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: • The closing date for receipt of entries is 5pm on Friday 27th April, 2012 • Employees or representatives of MidlandsIreland, Midlands Regional Authority, Midlands Gateway Chamber, Athlone Chamber, Chamber, Chamber, Laois Chamber and Longford Chamber are not eligible for entry into the awards. • Sponsors are not eligible for entry into the awards. • Previous winners are not excluded from entering the following year’s competition. • Each categories eligibility criteria “Entry Requirements’ must be adhered to. • By entering the competition, you agree to be part of the publicity if you are a finalist in any category. • The judge’s decisions are final (and they cannot enter into discussion about the short-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:

• Midlands Gateway Chamber • Athlone Chamber • Tullamore & District Chamber • Mullingar Chamber • Laois Chamber • Longford Chamber

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: A graduate of Harvard Business School and Midlands Gateway Chamber Ambassador, 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, Dr. John Teeling (Chairperson) diamonds and zinc.

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 Business Woman of the Year 2008, Ireland’s Most Trusted Leader by the Great Places to 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. Danuta Gray

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 Senator Mary Ann O’Brien 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 Dates Competition closes Friday 27th April 2012 Finalists announced in June Mid Summers Awards Ball, Thursday 21st June 2012, Hodson Bay, Athlone,