Tipperary Business Awards announce that closing date for entries is Tuesday, July 31

Following on from the fantastic success of the 2017 County Tipperary Business awards, County Tipperary Chamber with the co-operation of Chambers in Clonmel, Cahir, Thurles, Cashel, Nenagh and Tipperary Town as well as the Mid-Western Business Network are running the event again in 2018.

The awards are for all businesses in the county of Tipperary and applicants do not have to be a Chamber Member.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday, July 31.

The event will comprise of a Black Tie Gala Dinner at the 4☆ Clonmel Park Hotel on 19th October, where the shining lights of Tipperary business will be presented with awards in front of an audience of their peers.

There will be fourteen awards: Best Start-Up, Best SME, Best Family Business, Best Large Business, Best Use of Social Media In Business, Best CSR/Contribution to the Community, Best Services Provider Business, Best Sports/Arts/Culture, Best Food and Agricultural, Best Employer: Talent Development, Training & Wellness, Best In Retail and Best Tourism & Hospitality.

There will be a Best Business of the Year and a Presidential Award for outstanding achievement. Master of ceremonies will be Fran Curry of Tipp FM.

The awards showcases the very best business talent throughout County Tipperary. Businesses of all sizes operating in a vast array of industries will have an opportunity to display their story and be recognised for their positive contribution to the successful growth of Tipperary as a commerce hub.

On a recent visit to LIT Questum Acceleration Centre in Clonmel, Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D., commented that the County Tipperary Business Awards offer an opportunity to “recognise enterprise excellence, innovation capability and exporting capability, … all of which are key to our success as a country”.

Reflecting the close collaboration of County Tipperary Chamber with LIT in the county, he offered that “it is really important that Chambers recognise that by joining with Institutes of Technology, you can create a new dynamic” for business.

County Tipperary Chamber President, T.J. Kinsella says “We were astounded at the level of the positive reaction to the inaugural County Tipperary Business Awards in 2017. The participation from businesses across the county was phenomenal, representing the range of skills and capabilities that exist in our region.

“The standard across all categories was extremely high and I think this was wonderfully represented by our shortlisted nominees and eventual award winners. Every single one of those is an outstanding ambassador for Tipperary business. We look forward to continued collaboration with partner organizations, our sponsors, and even more businesses across the county to make the 2018 edition even stronger than before.”

Last year's winners were -

Best Start-Up - Brodeen Fabrications ✦

Best SME - Acorn Regulatory ✦

Best Family Business - Cashel Blue Cheese ✦

Best Large Business - ABP ✦

Best Social Media - Tadgh O’Flynn Jewellers ✦

Best CSR - CAMIDA ✦

Best Services Provider - Home Instead ✦

Best Sports/Arts/Culture - Tipperary Racecourse ✦

Best Food and Agricultural - Cashel Blue Cheese ✦

Best In Retail, Best Tourism & Hospitality: Crocanoir and The Fayre ✦

Best Training & Development Employer - SURECOM ✦

Best Business of the Year - ABP Foods ✦

Presidential Award for outstanding achievement - John Magnier of Coolmore