Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards Finalists Revealed
On Tuesday (October 12) Ennis Chamber announced the finalists across 11 categories for Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards 2021, plus the winner of the Best Voluntary /Community Group in Clare, which went to Ennis Tidy Towns.
(See full list of finalists included below).
Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards are now in their 11th year and event organisers, Ennis Chamber, have been overwhelmed by the response, especially given the challenging circumstances.
According to the independent judging panel, “Awards like the Clare Business Excellence and Resilience Awards are only just coming back after a forced hiatus and we congratulate Ennis Chamber and main sponsor Clare County Council on being among the first to put their annual business awards back in the calendar.
“Our mystery shoppers were particularly impressed by the excellent level of customer service on display, whether among retailers who had remained open throughout Covid lockdowns, or those more recently re-opened. It cannot be easy for any business to change their business model so significantly and yet retain a high level of service and outward friendliness which we witnessed consistently across County Clare.”
The judges who assessed the written submissions were equally impressed, commenting, “The standard of entries was very high throughout, we were particularly impressed by the resilience and fight evident in so many of these businesses. We were also impressed by their commitment to training, not just evident within the dedicated training category, but also referred to across many categories where entrants highlighted the benefit of training undertaken. Businesses determined to come out of Covid in the best shape possible availed of every appropriate opportunity presented to them including mentoring and business supports as well as training.”
They concluded, “If the entries from across county Co. Clare are a snapshot of the determination and resilience of businesses across Ireland, a post-Covid recovery is on the cards.”
Darragh McAllister, President, Ennis Chamber said, “Ennis Chamber is delighted with the volume and more importantly the quality of entries received this year. We didn’t know what to expect when we launched the awards in June, everyone was so fatigued by Covid, but the response has been fantastic.”
Margaret O’Brien, CEO, Ennis Chamber said, “We would like to thank all of the business who entered this year’s awards, we wish we had an award for every one of them, they deserve it for surviving such unprecedented times. More than any other year we salute our finalists, the competition was red hot this year. Being named a finalist is a great achievement.”
She added, “With just a couple of weeks to go, we look forward to the winners being revealed on Thursday October 28th at the awards ceremony to be held at glór, Ennis. MC on the night is comedian and author Colm O’Regan and we will broadcast the awards ceremony live.
We could not run the awards this year without the support of our category sponsors, we wish to thank them all sincerely. We also wish to acknowledge and thank Clare County Council for its continued support as the overall sponsor of Clare Business Excellence Awards.
Ennis Tidy Towns named ‘Best Voluntary/ Community Group
Apart from announcing finalists in 11 categories, Ennis Tidy Towns were named winners of ‘Best Voluntary/ Community Group’ category, sponsored by St Francis Credit Union.
According to the judges, “This voluntary group conducts itself with a level of professionalism typical of an ambitious business. A clear, dynamic strategy informs the work of Ennis Tidy Towns through grassroots community engagement, social inclusion and a respect for environment.”
The judges also commended Ennis Tidy Towns’ ability to deliver projects alone and in partnership and highlighted the group’s consistently high performance in the annual national Tidy Towns Competition, which they said took both ‘dedication and vision’.
Finally, the judges were hugely impressed by commitment of the Ennis Tidy Towns team throughout the Covid period, commenting, “While the national Tidy Towns competition could not go ahead due to Covid this didn’t stop Ennis Tidy Towns from meeting up and cleaning up when restrictions permitted, to ensure Ennis upheld its pristine clean standards.”
Ends
Finalists Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards 2021 are:
Business Supporting Community – sponsored by Essilor
· Clare FM
· EI Electronics
· Top Industrial
Best Green and Sustainable Practises – Sponsored by Rengen
· Palm Free Soap
· Falls hotel
· Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
· Burren Ecotourism Network
Best Micro Business – Sponsored by LEO Clare
· Wix and Wax
· Palm Free Soap
· Top Industrial
· CSGL Electrical Wholesalers
Best Tourism Experience
· Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
· Ollie’s Tours
· Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey Centre
· Doolin Ferry Company
Clare Professional Services Excellence Award – Sponsored by AIB
· Sherry FitzGerald McMahon
· Cashin Clancy Solicitors
· Cahir Environmental Services
Best Hospitality – Sponsored by Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau
· Lahinch Coast Hotel
· Mondo Coffee Shop (Ennis)
· Shannon Springs Hotel
Commitment to Training – sponsored by Regional Skills Mid-West
· Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty
· County Boutique
· Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
Customer Service Excellence – sponsored by McKeogh Gallagher Ryan
· Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty
· Lahinch Coast Hotel
· O’Connor’s Bakery, Ennis Shopping Centre
· Seoidin
Resilience Award
· Glór
· Western Herd (McHugh’s Bar)
· Julie Kilmartin Educational Services
· Palm Free Soap
Best use of Digital Marketing and Social Media – sponsored by Clare Echo
· Ollie’s Tours
· Hotel Woodstock
· Lyon’s Garages (Miltown Malbay)
· Doolin Ferry Company
Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Ability IT Solutions
· Gleeson Goldsmiths
· County Boutique
· Torpey
· O’Connor’s Bakery, Shannon
We have a winner…….
Best Voluntary & Community Group – sponsored by St Francis Credit Union
Ennis Tidy Towns
