2010 County Enterprise Awards

Portarlington-based company, Polar Ice Ltd have been announced as Overall Winner in the 2010 Offaly County Enterprise Awards.

The annual Awards ceremony formed part of an evening of Ideas and Inspiration organised by Offaly County Enterprise Board on Wed 12th May. Business owners gathered in the Tullamore Court Hotel to attend the evening which comprised a keynote address by Terry Harmer of NLC Training Company, and the presentation of the 2010 County Enterprise Awards by County Manager, Mr Pat Gallagher.

The businesses were judged under a number of category headings and these were: Business Plan, Marketing Strength, Financial Strength, Use of Technology & Innovation, and Entrepreneurial Skills of Promoter.

The Category Winners each won an engraved glass trophy and a cheque for €750. The overall winner was presented with an engraved glass trophy, a perpetual trophy and a cheque for €1,500.The prize fund awarded on the night amounted to €7,000. The glass trophies were designed and manufactured by Offaly based artist Michelle O’Donnell of Glass Hammer Studios, Rhode.

Winner: Polar Ice Ltd
Polar Ice Ltd is a Portarlington-based company established by the three Powell Brothers. The company manufactures and distributes dry-ice products. Dry ice is the common name for solid carbon dioxide (CO2). It is used extensively as a refrigerant in chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. The company currently employs 6 full-time staff and has offices in Portarlington, Cork and Northern Ireland.

2nd Place: Maithú Ltd
This company specialises in developing bespoke software for mobile/web. They design and produce data rich websites, E-commerce sites and mobile phone applications with probably the most famous being Irish Translator application called Get the Focal. Maithú Ltd is run by three brothers from Shannonbridge – Michael, Kerrill and David Thornhill.

3rd Place: Shannonbridge Potteries
Shannonbridge Giftware Ltd T/a Shannonbridge Potteries commenced trading in 2000. The company produces decorated ceramics wholesale for a range of customers. The ability to innovate or diversify is essential for any company. Some years ago, Managing Director Charlie Hoysted saw how the traditional manufacturers were losing competitiveness and so began sourcing blankware in China and doing the decoration in his factory in Shannonbridge. That system enables the company to be design let and to change designs according to fashion trends. Today, his clients include well known names such as Avoca Handweavers, Kilkenny Design, Big Leap Designs, Foxford Woolen Mills etc

Merit Award: Grace’s Equestrian Services
Grace’s Equestrian Services offer a range of services to the local and national equestrian community including: stabling, livery, riding instruction, horse sales and arena hire. This business is run by husband and wife team John Joe and Jane Grace in Coniker, near Birr. Last year they added self-catering accommodation to their service range and this year have plans to develop a cross-country course and a mechanical horse walker on site.

Merit Award: Dezynamite
Dezynamite is a graphic design company set up by two brothers Seanie and Jesse Morris. The Tullamore based business specialises in Graphic, Print and Website Design, Corporate Identity, Printing, and Multimedia.

Best New Business: Hygiene Plus Solutions
This new company was set up by Robert Parkinson and William Harding in 2009. The company provides decontamination, refurbishment, repair of equipment used in the Health Sector – including beds, wheelchairs, crutches etc. The business is based in Tullamore and addresses an identified need in the market.

Runner-Up New Business Award: Paramount Conversions
Paramount Conversions Ltd specialises in vehicle conversions including: minibuses, crew vans, wheelchair accessible vehicles, mobile libraries etc. Aidan Farrell and Willie Daniels set up Paramount Conversions in Tullamore earlier this year. Both had worked in this sector for a considerable amount of time and bring business knowledge and skills to this venture.

International Services Award : Equipeople Ltd
Equipeople is an international recruitment and student placement company based near Portarlington. Companies that export or deal in Internationally Traded Services are hugely important to our economy. For micro-enterprise companies to do that, they need to find a niche and be very good at what they do. Equipeople Ltd was selected for this award.