Business awards praise Down District companies

30 May 2012

DOWN District’s top businesses were honoured at the Beyond Business Awards gala dinner at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle last weekend.

The prestigious event saw the best local businesses and entrepreneurs celebrate hard won achievements from a variety of sectors and sizes across the district.

Guests, who included over 200 business leaders, entrepreneurs and supporters, were welcomed by Down Council chairman Dermot Curran, with the awards compered by BBC Newsline’s Sarah Travers.

Councillor Curran said the awards are a celebration of the very best in local business. He described them as a “unique opportunity” to recognise the hard of many people to achieve commercial success.

He continued: “During my term as council chairman I had the pleasure of working with many of our local businesses and entrepreneurs up for an award this year.

“They all have one thing in common: a relentless capacity to focus on results. It is from that effort and endeavour that great things emerge, including new ideas, products and jobs.”

Councillor Curran said he was greatly impressed with the indigenous vision, commitment and competitiveness of those businesses to stimulate the relationships between economic development and cultural resources.

Mr. Mark Bleakney, Southern Regional Manager at Invest Northern Ireland, the key funder of the Beyond Business Awards, congratulated the shortlisted finalists and winners for their “achievements and true commitment to developing the local economy in Down District.”

He said Invest NI is committed to working with Down Council to ensure the Beyond Business Awards continue to go from strength to strength.

He added: “We believe these awards remain a core part of developing the local economy and honouring local business achievements.

“We are really proud to support this. Many congratulations to the winners and to those who made the shortlist; your inclusion in the awards is well deserved and reflects your achievements and commitment to the local economy.”

The Dundrum Inn, which last week won a prestigious Taste of Northern Ireland award, took the top accolade in the Customer Service Excellence category.

Downpatrick’s Wildflower Boutique won the Best Kept Business Premises award, while the Training and People Development award, sponsored by the South Eastern Regional College, was won by Crossgar Foodservice.

The Best Export Business award sponsored by Invest NI was won by Alternative Heat Ltd, while Crossgar’s Sign 2 Music won the top award in the Best Use of Social Media and Online Technologies category.

The Ballymote Community Project Ltd won the Best Community/Social Enterprise award, while NI Bootcamp, located in the heart of the Mournes, won the Best New Business category, sponsored by Down Business Centre.

Downpatrick’s Platinum Recruitment won the Best Marketing Campaign award sponsored by McCadden, while Mange Tout’s Laura McGreevy won the prestigious Employee of the Year award.

The Best Small Business award went to Boatcovers Ireland, while Stephen Mayne, of Mayne Communications, won the Dermot Curran Young Achiever award.

The council chairman’s Special Recognition Award went to Charlene Molloy, who works at Henderson’s Spar in Ardglass. Last week, Charlene also won a prestigious CAPPA award.

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