Local businesses triumph at BEFTAs Awards
It was a successful evening for Newry businesses at the fourth annual Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards, known as the BEFTAs, which recently took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, hosted by television personality Marc Mallett.
The awards, which are organised by Business Eye magazine and supported by First Trust Bank, shine a light on Northern Ireland’s small business sector and recognised its top performers across 14 different categories, celebrating industry and business success as well as innovation, customer support and community contribution.
Kilkeel based Cunningham Butchers, and building and civil engineering company Killowen Contracts, were both Highly Commended in the competitive ‘Family Business of the Year’ category.
Resonate Testing, a commercial test house for organisations in need of certification services across all industrial sectors, was Highly Commended in the Innovative Business of the Year category.
The overall Small Business of the Year award was won by Ozaroo, an online retailer which has grown from a bedroom business to become a multichannel operation with a £9 million turnover, set up by Chris Martin while he was studying at the Queen’s University, Belfast.
Speaking at the 2018 Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards, Head of Business Banking at First Trust Bank, Seamus McGuckin, said, “Northern Ireland’s small business community, which together with medium businesses and self-employed people account for more than 75% of turnover across NI’s private sector, should be immensely proud.
“If it wasn’t for their contribution, Northern Ireland as a region and as an economy would not be fairing as well as it is in light of ongoing economic and political uncertainty.
“The innovation, dedication and creativity showcased by this year’s BEFTAs finalists and winners sets an example to our future business leaders and upcoming entrepreneurs and we are proud to shine a spotlight on their operations.
“While each business is different, all the winners share a number of common denominators – agility, resilience, innovation and a focus on open, honest customer service. I offer my congratulations to all the entrants and winners and look forward to seeing how their businesses develop over the coming years,” he added.
Brenda Buckley, Commercial Director of Business Eye, added, “Given the number of entries received for this year’s awards and the energy and atmosphere at the ceremony, it’s clear that the BEFTAs have truly cemented themselves as a must-do in Northern Ireland’s business community.
She added, “We received very strong entries from a wide variety of companies based right across Northern Ireland. They are very much an integral part of the business calendar here, and we’ve every reason to believe that they will go from strength to strength.”
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Posted by Newry Times News
on Jun 15 2018. Filed under Business, Community.
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