The finalists for the National Enterprise Awards have been announced today.  An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the National Enterprise Awards Final will take place virtually on the 11th February.  
 
Now in their 22nd year, the awards celebrate small businesses and includes awards that recognise excellence in exporting, sustainability and innovation along with 8 regional awards and an overall National Enterprise Awards winner. 

The Finalists, who will compete for a €50,000 prize fund, include businesses in Virtual Reality training (VRAI), Artisan pizza production (Pizza DaPiero), international TV and film design and production technology (Odyssey Studios), mobile canning (Bevcraft), e-learning and online management (Dulann), inflammation fighting ferments (Spoonful Botanical), online restaurant ordering and fulfilment (Armour Interactive), energy efficient building (Lidan Designs) and an international online college (5Global).
 
This year also sees the addition of two new award categories that reflect the challenging business conditions that companies have faced in 2020.  The Pivot Award will be presented to a company who has successfully pivoted their business in the face of challenging conditions in the last 12 months.  The Brexit Ready Award will be presented to a company who have excelled in their preparation for Brexit particularly where it would have created specific challenges for them as a business.   
 
Speaking this week, Chair of the National Enterprise Awards Committee with the Local Enterprise Offices, Breda Fox said, "It has been a challenging year for small businesses so this is a chance to highlight positive stories and businesses who have excelled in the face of unprecedented challenges. These businesses have been through a rigorous process of judging, auditing every aspect of their business and this in itself can be a huge benefit to them as they plan for the future."

Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English added, “Through the National Enterprise Awards we celebrate the very best in small local companies who are leading in their field of business expertise.  Over the past 20 years the awards have been the benchmark for excellence in micro-enterprise across the country.  Looking at the list of winners, finalists and participants through the years it is easy to be inspired by our talented businesses and people who are the backbone of outstanding Irish entrepreneurs, many of whom are trading successfully across the globe."

Source: www.businessworld.ie