Aer Lingus has partnered with the Fingal Dublin Chamber and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal to launch the Aer Lingus TakeOff Foundation Start-Up Awards which will celebrate and support the talent of up-and-coming businesses based in the Fingal area on their journey to success.
The awards were launched this week at an Aer Lingus Social Media Masterclass for Start-Ups held in conjunction with Fingal Dublin Chamber and LEO Fingal that was attended by more than 100 business owners and start-ups.
This event provided start-ups from across Fingal with advice on how social media can be used to build business success, drive brand awareness, and to gain followers and new business in a really cost-effective way.
The new TakeOff Foundation Start-Up Awards will give three talented business owners the opportunity to expand their outreach to international markets for business purposes by mentoring up and coming businesses in the Fingal region and assisting with their flight needs and business profile.
The prize package received by each winning start-up will consist of an allocation of European and long-haul international flights, business mentoring with key staff across a range of Aer Lingus business departments, and exposure for each start-up within the airline’s Cara Magazine.
This initiative is targeted at start-ups based in Fingal that have been trading in the Irish market for the last 18 months at least, and for no more than three years. Successful candidates will be selected following a shortlisting phase and subsequent presentation to a judging panel consisting of representatives from Aer Lingus, LEO Fingal and the Fingal Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to supporting Irish business communities, the Aer Lingus TakeOff Foundation encompasses all Aer Lingus charity and corporate social responsibility activity including continued work with chosen charity partners UNICEF Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland, additional charity fundraising activities undertaken by Aer Lingus staff and volunteers, and support of the Arts in Ireland through the Aer Lingus Irish Filmmaker Competition
The opening date for entries is 12.02.18 and the closing date is 11.03.18.
Speaking about the launch of the awards, Aer Lingus Director of Communications, Declan Kearney said, "We have established the TakeOff Foundation Start-Up Awards to help business owners during this formative period to reach their full potential by tapping into international markets and business opportunities. Successful start-ups will ultimately benefit our local and national economies and will in time become frequent business flyers with Aer Lingus."
Interested candidates can apply via the following link: https://www.aerlingus.com/about-us/takeoff-foundation/start-up-awards
Source: www.businessworld.ie
