The Small Firms Association (SFA) National Small Business Awards 2020 have been officially launched by Awards Patron, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD.
The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of small business in Ireland and to recognise the vital contribution of the small business community to the Irish economy.
The Awards are free to enter and the prize package for ALL finalists is valued at €50,000. It includes a strategic management masterclass weekend, participation in the SFA Business Connect event, a feature in a special awards supplement inserted in the Irish Independent, as well as broad-ranging national and local media coverage.
Finalists also receive five complementary tickets to the gala prize giving ceremony which will take place in the RDS on March 2020 where the category winners and overall winner will be announced.
The category winners will be presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association. The overall winner will also receive a bursary of €5,000 to present to a charity of their choice (funded by the 2013 Overall Winner, Megazyme International Ireland).
The competition is open to all companies in Ireland with up to 50 employees and the categories are:
· Manufacturing - supported by NSAI
· Food and Drink – supported by Bord Bia
· Services – supported by Vodafone
· Outstanding Small Business - up to five employees – supported by One4All
· Innovator of the Year –supported by Permanent TSB
· Workplace Wellbeing – supported by DeCare Dental
· Small Business Exporter of the Year – supported by Enterprise Ireland
In addition, the five best “Emerging New Businesses” - supported by IE Domain Registry - (companies who are less than two years in existence) will be selected where they have the potential to grow and the ability to be an SFA National Small Business Award winner in the future.
Speaking at the launch, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, "Small and medium businesses make a huge contribution to the Irish economy and the SFA awards are a fabulous and timely opportunity to recognise the talent and innovation in the Irish SME sector."
Small firms (employing less than 50 people) have from 5 September until 18 October 2019 to enter free of charge on www.sfa.ie/awards.
