The Wexford Business Awards 2017 took place last Friday 26 May and it was a sell-out event, with almost 500 guests attending the stylish black tie awards ceremony dinner at The Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford. Sponsored by Wexford County Council, the EPA, South East Radio and Wexford People and supported by many national, regional and local organisations, this event is the largest of its kind in the county. View the photographs from the evening HERE, captured by Joeleen Codd Photography.
Special guests included Brendan Howlin, Leader of the Labour Party, Councillor Paddy Kavanagh, Chairman of Wexford County Council, Mayor of Wexford Councillor Frank Staples, Tom Enright, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Tony Larkin, Director of Services Wexford County Council and Brendan McDonald, Regional Manager IDA Ireland.
MC on the night was Hector Ó hEochagáin the very funny and talented Irish television and radio presenter from Navan. Hector didn’t disappoint and his good humour and wit was a perfect fit for what was an occasion of great celebration for the business community of Wexford and beyond.
Karl Fitzpatrick, President of Wexford Chamber, said “I am delighted to see the exceptional calibre of businesses, business people, organisations and civic-minded people who are winners in our 9th Wexford Chamber Business Awards. It is indeed a pleasure to applaud their success because it is they that give Wexford the ability to compete on the national and international business platform. Tonight is all about recognition” continued Karl. “Recognition of people and organisations that have made an exceptional contribution to their businesses and in turn to Wexford. The winner of this year’s Wexford Chamber President’s Award, Des Pettit of the Pettitt Group, is certainly a worthy winner of this award.”
Award winners also included the Irish National Heritage Park who won the Energising Wexford Award Maura Bell, commenting on the evening, said “We are only delighted with ourselves!! Great teamwork and wonderful for the Irish National Heritage Park to be recognised in. this way by Wexford Chamber and thank you to Madeleine and all her team for organising such a fantastic event.”
Another winner on the night was Fergus Flanagan Architects Ltd. Fergus and his team took the coveted Customer Service Award and was honoured to win amongst such a high calibre of other short listed organisations, Fergus said “We are still genuinely in shock. The competition in this category was extremely tough and we did not expect to win. Thank you for this award and it will have pride of place in our office.”
Nolan Transport, having won both the Large Company of the Year Award and the Export & Logistics Award, also took the coveted Business of the Year Award 2017. Kevin Fitzharris, Ireland and UK Business Development Manager with the Company, accepted the Award on behalf of Team Nolan. Kevin said “We have developed into one of Europe’s leading transport companies, this acknowledgement by Wexford Chamber means a lot to all at Nolan Transport.
Madeleine Quirke, CEO of Wexford Chamber, said “Results speak for themselves! I believe that Wexford has a fantastic decade of growth ahead of it and will attract substantial investment in all areas. Business, tourism and education here in Wexford is up there with the very best locations in the world.”
“The judging panel commented on the exceptional quality of this year’s entries. Decisions were sometimes very hard to get agreement on and, in some case, joint runner-up positions were awarded. These companies are all winners, they put the heart and soul into Wexford and they are simply the best” added Madeleine.
Tom Enright, Chief Executive, Wexford County Council, said “I sense a lot of positive energy and change in Wexford at present and our ability to think more strategically is seeing us all looking for new opportunities. I would like to congratulate all of the winners and I would like to commend the exemplary work done by Wexford Chamber in all that they do to encourage and support the business community here in Wexford.”
Winners & Runners-Up
- Wexford Chamber’s President’s Award sponsored by Monart Destination Spa
- Winner: Des Pettitt
- Energising Wexford Award sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland
- Winner: The Irish National Heritage Park
- Runner Up: Kia Ora Mini Farm
- Wexford Tourism Award – Success and Innovation sponsored by Rosslare Europort
- Winner: Wexford Spiegeltent Festival
- Runner Up: Marlfield House Hotel and The Duck Terrace Restaurant
- Wexford Operational Excellence Award sponsored by Datapac
- Winner: Mary Barry’s Seafood Bar & Restaurant
- Runner Up: Dulann Limited
- Wexford eCommerce Award sponsored by AIB Bank Wexford
- Winner: Dulann Limited
- Runner Up: Lantern Events
- Wexford Retail Excellence Award sponsored by Zurich Insurance
- Winner: Greenacres
- Runner Up: Pettitts SuperValu, Saint Aidans
- Wexford Investing in the Professions Award sponsored by Wright Insurance Brokers
- Winner: Baker Tilly Hughes Blake
- Runner Up: Fortune’s Pharmacy
- Wexford Large Company of the Year sponsored by PwC
- Winner: Nolan Transport
- Joint Runner Up: Pettitt Group
- Joint Runner Up: Griffin Group
- Wexford SME of the Year Award sponsored by Waters Technologies Ireland Ltd
- Winner: The OmniPro Group
- Runner Up: Halo TIles & Bathrooms, Tom Doyle Supplies
- Wexford Export & Logistics Award sponsored by Rosslare Europort
- Winner: Nolan Transport
- Joint Runner Up: Scurri
- Joint Runner Up: Rochefreight Ireland Limited
- Wexford Social Media/Digital Marketing Award sponsored by Wexford People
- Winner: Tweeting Goddess
- Joint Runner Up: Graphedia Limited
- Joint Runner Up: Powerhouse PR
- Wexford Customer Service Excellence Award sponsored by Danone Nutricia
- Winner: FERGUS FLANAGAN ARCHITECTS LTD
- Runner Up: Clayton Whites Hotel
- Wexford Corporate Social Responsibility Award sponsored by BNY Mellon
- Winner: Datapac
- Joint Runner Up: Graphedia Limited
- Joint Runner Up: Wexford MarineWatch
- Wexford R & D Innovation Award sponsored by Carlow IT Wexford Campus
- Winner: CRI WEXFORD
- Runner Up: Future Nutrition
- Wexford Start-up Business of the Year Award sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Wexford
- Winner: Summit Scaffolding Limited
- Runner Up: Talbot Suites at Stonebridge
- Wexford Community Award sponsored by Wexford Local Development
- Winner: Wexford Community Services Council
- Runner Up: Kilmuckridge Community & Family Resource Centre
- Wexford Overall Business of the Year Award sponsored by Wexford County Council
- Winner: Nolan Transport