Irish Enterprise Awards 2023
EU Business News is excited to announce the return of the Irish Enterprise Awards, which we have now been hosting for six consecutive years! The Irish business market is both dynamic and industrious, and the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023 will provide a platform for the country’s leading enterprises and entrepreneurs to showcase their success. Over the years Ireland has evolved to become one of the strongest economic powers in Europe, while also cementing its position as a central hub for innovation across the continent. As many countries continue to struggle financially post-pandemic, economic growth in Ireland has remained stable – consistently outpacing its European counterparts and staying well ahead of the Euro-Zone average in 2022 so far. Despite facing the same challenges as other neighbouring countries, including an ongoing cost of living crisis and volatile energy prices, Irish businesses have been able to thrive thanks in part to the strength of their exports industry, as well as investments from prominent global corporations. While many sectors are beginning to feel the pressure of inflation, workforce shortages, and supply chain issues, the outlook is still largely optimistic when it comes to future market expansion. In a recent survey of Enterprise Ireland companies, over 90 percent of respondents described their export sales as either “stable” or “increased” compared to last year. As a leading knowledge economy, the Irish corporate landscape has always had a strong foundation in technological advancement, with market growth closely linked to innovation across its key sectors. Ireland is at the forefront of the booming ICT industry, ranking as the second largest exporter of software and technology services globally. Some of the world’s largest tech companies base their operations here, with Irish capital Dublin hosting the likes of Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon to name a few. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.business-news.eu Irish Enterprise Awards 2023 AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. XpertDPO Ltd: Best Information Governance Service Provider 2023 6. Slidesystems: Leading High-End Sliding Wardrobe Systems Provider – County Cork 8. My Life Insurance: Most CustomerFocused Insurance Broker 2023 10. Xian Street Food Dublin Ireland: Best Commercial Property Maintenance & Construction Company - UK 12. Beyond Beauty Laser & Skin Clinic: Beauty & Skincare Clinic of the Year – Galway 14. Rathoe Community Childcare: Best Outdoor Childcare Service Provider - County Carlow 16. John Hurt Environmental: Most Trusted Drainage Contractor 2023 & Customer Service Excellence Award 2023 17. Digital Training Institute: Best Marketing Skills Educator 2023 18. Kanes Newline Motors: Most Trusted 4x4 Sales & Service Provider 2023 19. Euro Note Souvenir Ltd: Souvenir Supplier of the Year 2023 20. Hopkins Financial Consultants: Best Family-Owned Financial Advisory Firm – County Dublin 21. Mind Body Soul: Most Rejuvenating Spiritual Healing Service Provider – County Leitrim 22. JM Energy Savings Ltd: Best Solar PV Services Provider 2023 – South West Ireland 23. Infinity Bathrooms: Best Luxury Bathroom Showroom - Dublin 24. Planit: Planit Events Management & Integrated Marketing & Most Client-Focused Event Management Company 2023 25. D Pack Services Ltd: Leading Packaging Solutions Provider - County Limerick 26. Inspire 3D: Most Dedicated 3D Printer Supplier & Support Provider 2023 27. Just Lite Productions: Most Innovative Outdoor Event Production Company 2023 & Customer Service Excellence Award 2023 28. Millennium Machinery Ltd: Best Machine Tools Supplier 2023 29. Gate Automation Systems (Irl): Best Automatic Entry System Provider 2023 30. Phoenix Safety Solutions: Best First Aid & Safety Training Company 2023 31. MM Interior Design: Best Home & Commercial Interior Design Studio – Munster 32. Totalcare: Natural Beauty Company of the Year 2023 33. Talented Kids & MVW Talent Agency: Best All-Age Talent Agency 2023 34. P & G Cards Ltd: Best Greetings Card Manufacturer 2023 35. JK Home Improvements: Most Trusted Residential Contractor – Dublin & Customer Service Excellence Award 2023 36. Ballywire Media: Best Event Video Production Company – Dublin 37. MCR Group: Most Comprehensive Staffing Service Group 2023 38. Aterim Aerospace Aviation Limited: Best Aviation Talent Management Solutions Company 2023 39. The Brook Inn: Most Welcoming Gastropub 2023 - County Cork 40. Enviroleak: Oil Leak Specialists of the Year 2023 - Europe 41. Sligo Business Improvement District (BID): Leading Experts In Urban Place Management 2023 42. RP Consulting: Business Growth Consultant of the Year 2023: Robert Potter 43. PCI College: Not All Heroes Wear Capes Contents
4. “Our approach is that the data security function must align with, and be driven by, your business objectives. This is at the core of our ethos. XpertDPO can help you to transform the regulatory constraints of the GDPR and other relevant regulations into opportunities, ensuring that your compliance journey has a positive impact on your existing economic and organisational models.” Information Governance (IG) covers more than traditional records management. It incorporates information security and protection, compliance, data quality, data governance, electronic discovery, risk management, privacy, data storage and archiving, knowledge management, business operations and management, audit, analytics, IT management, master data management, enterprise architecture, business intelligence, big data, data science, and finance. The innovative XpertDPO strives to make IG simple, straightforward, and flexible, so that its clients can have an improved relationship with the data they process. Its CEO, Stuart Anderson, says, “Data protection, security and governance is at the core of our business. We look after the whole lifecycle of your data processing via our outsourced data protection officer service and our GDPR compliance services.” “Our ethos is that clients need to think of the data they hold as an asset. Most organisations don’t consider this and as such, do not place much value on the data that they have in their possession. We help organisations change their culture of compliance.” Helping organisations to understand, process, and protect data is the passion behind XpertDPO’s leadership, team, and mission. “We help clients to recognise that data and information, not just personal information, is the life blood of their organisations, and if they lose access to that data, via a cyber-attack or a natural disaster, then they really cannot continue operating,” adds Stuart. This shared vision between XpertDPO and its clients Best Information Governance Service Provider 2023 Information Governance is crucial for all business endeavours and management due to the fact that it encompasses so many areas of data. Our data, and the data of others, needs to be kept safe and aligned. This is where XpertDPO Ltd comes in. Here we talk to its CEO, Stuart Anderson, as it wins its title in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. Jan23183 just propels it even further in the best direction – towards unrivalled success and the unparalleled success of its clients. When it comes to IG, XpertDPO is not a one trick pony. It has the vast knowledge and experience to make a difference no matter what those needs are. Stuart tells us, “We also provide ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 31700 certification, SOC 2 Reporting and Vulnerability Assessments / Penetration Testing consultancy to our client base, offering a value based, pragmatic approach to achieving certification. We also specialise in offering Nominated European Representative Services to nonEU and non-UK based organisations.” Offering its services at a fixed, affordable price, Ireland finds itself getting up to speed on all rules and regulations, legalities, and business practices. Due to Ireland’s position as a technology capital, and its progressive nature, XpertDPO has found itself in a realm where it could get in touch with people from all around the area – people who want to raise their wisdom surrounding the subject, those who wish to expand their businesses, and individuals that are ready to connect. Making connections across Ireland, XpertDPO has built quite the repertoire with its clients. Stuart adds, “This is why it is important for us to continue to deliver excellence as reputation is everything and having a strong reputation is priceless.” Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without XpertDPO’s team of seasoned professionals. With decades of combined experience, the firm has all the relevant knowledge and skill to perform at its best all day, every day. Defining it, carving out a path to success, and making a positive impact on each client, Stuart enthuses, “Our unique selling point is our world class staff. We have built a team of information security and governance practitioners that deliver excellence!” Winning Best Information Governance Service Provider 2023 in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023 is a fantastic achievement, and we’re delighted to be able to share XpertDPO’s service with our readers. No matter how big or small our needs are, XpertDPO has a flexible, fixed-price solution to suit us all. This is what makes it award-winning, unique, and entirely brilliant. “As data security experts, XpertDPO can help you to transform the regulatory constraints of the GDPR into opportunities, ensuring that your compliance journey has a positive impact on your existing economic and organisational models.” A trend that XpertDPO’s team is seeing is that organisation’s compliance processes can be more about ticking boxes to ensure they are legally covered when saying their staff members are trained, however, not everyone truly understands how to put this into practice. XpertDPO knows exactly how to combat this problem. It offers existing and potential new clients the tools to stay on top of their game in such a seemingly shrouded segment of every single industry and sector there is. These processes are an absolute must, and we can rely on XpertDPO to keep us updated for now and the future to come. With further regards to the future, Stuart shares, “XpertDPO is continuing to grow, and we will be hiring additional staff throughout 2023. In February 2023, a new ISO Standard for Data Protection by Design will be implemented, and we will be providing consultancy services around this standard. We have also partnered with a consultancy agency based in Bahrain and, due to having a growing client base in the Middle East and the UAE, we will be opening a physical office in the region during 2023.” Find out more through XpertDPO Ltd’s website today, where you can explore the #AtoZofGDPR. Contact Details Contact: Stuart Anderson Company: XpertDPO Ltd Web Address: https://xpertdpo.com/
5. Best Information Governance Service Provider 2023
Jul22546 6. amily founded and owned company, Slidesystems, started in the European market in 1995, and it has now been working hard within the Irish market since 2007. With so many years of experience, Slidesystems has steadily become the place to go for all of our high quality wardrobe and storage needs. From kitchens to living rooms, children’s rooms to bedrooms, offices to understairs storage, and much more, Slidesystems provides its invaluable services that can’t be found anywhere else in County Cork. In such an important industry, Slidesystems makes each client happy. Its 100% customer satisfaction rate has propelled it forward in all it does. Always striving for absolute perfection is something that drives Slidesystems to its success, and it helps its customers to go for gold when it comes to designing and maintaining their homes. We all want to take pride in our homes and, when we have things to store, there’s nothing more frustrating than being surrounded by items that don’t have their own dedicated space. This becomes a problem of the past as Slidesystems introduces its innovative, beautifully designed storage solutions to us. For our bedrooms, Slidesystems offers the chance to fully transform your living space from a cluttered room to a safe haven. This room is not just a place where we rest, but it is a space where we can go to clear our minds and prepare for the next day ahead. We unwind here, we relax here, and we need a space that is as peaceful as possible – but how can we experience this with objects strewn across the floors and units that simply don’t offer enough space? We can discover cutting-edge interior designs that inspire us to have, and even create our own, dream spaces. Utilising the power of creativity, Slidesystems can produce storage units that blend with our taste and décor to ensure a seamless mesh between our current style and what we want our spaces to look like. Our kitchens and living room areas are the places that people see most when they come to our home, and they say a lot about us. How cluttered is our space? How does lack of storage space affect the rest of our operations, such as keeping things clean in our kitchens? This is where Slidesystems truly shines – in giving us the tools to make our spaces glimmer and glisten! Slidesystems promises free, no-obligation quotes to all of its customers – no matter the size of the project. Not only this, but Leading High-End Sliding Wardrobe Systems Provider – County Cork When looking for a wardrobe we may cast our eyes on a plethora of builds that work for a while before the hinges, doors, and structural integrity all go bad. Slidesystems does all it can to create products of the highest quality, so that we can all enjoy our wardrobes for many years to come. Here we talk to Co-Founder, Peter Brzostek, as it wins recognition within the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. F Contact: Peter Brzostek Company: Slidesystems Web Address: https://slidesystems.ie/ Jan23060
7. Slidesystems helps every step of the way to ensure complete satisfaction with the service, not just the finished product. Conducting itself with a flexible and respectful approach, each client can feel prioritised, for the best outcome of each project. The experienced team works hard to take on every part of the task, working with our ideas to create the space of our dreams. Slidesystems believes in using the most durable and best quality materials, such as tinted glass and mirrors, which can be more expensive, but they truly stand the test of time. Customers appreciate Slidesystems’ honesty and transparency with its pricing and workmanship, which goes to show the very passion behind the business – to produce the best storage spaces that won’t break in a short amount of time. The team cares deeply about their mission – to create storage spaces that allow people to live to their full potential. Dream spaces take work, and Slidesystems is not afraid to embark on the journey, so that we don’t have to worry about a thing. By supporting its customers, Slidesystems pours a lot of heart, enthusiasm, and honed skills into every job – in fact, every project is more than a job, it is an opportunity to change lives by breathing a fresh perspective into every property it can. Its customers are astonished every time, for example, Helen and Tony said, “We are so pleased with the sliding wardrobes that Slidesystems fitted for us. They are absolutely stunning and have transformed our bedroom beyond all our expectations. From the moment we walked into their showroom we have received fantastic customer service and advice that is second to none. Also, the workmanship was outstanding from Peter and the team. Thank you for the fantastic job, well done, and they will come highly recommended by us to everybody who asks us about our experience with Slidesystems.” Awarded with Leading High-End Sliding Wardrobe Systems Provider – County Cork, Slidesystems is picking up even more momentum within the trade. Slidesystems is gearing up to expand its offer for carpentry businesses, which will, inevitably, drive it towards being a leading supplier of materials and technologies for businesses on a global scale. Why not contact Slidesystems through its website for a free quote today! Slidesystems makes its clients happy! Leading High-End Sliding Wardrobe Systems Provider – County Cork
8. Jan23609 Most Customer-Focused Insurance Broker 2023 My Life Insurance (My Life) is a family brokerage firm which has been helping families protect themselves against the bad things that can happen in life for more than 40 years. Offering services such as protection insurance, retirement planning, and general financial advice, My Life’s mission is to be the broker of choice for people who want to protect their family, and the firm believes that it can offer a unique approach that helps it to deliver better outcomes to its clients. “Everyone has a doctor, a butcher, a barber, but they should have a go-to broker too!” explains Managing Director, Darragh O’Connor. “As a family-run entity, our core values are to treat every client like a member of our family too, and to treat everyone individually.” The O’Connor family has built the business and advise process on the following three pillars: personalised recommendations, lowest price guarantee, and long-term relationship building, which has stood it in good stead over the years, particularly through the Covid-19 pandemic. “We know every person and every family are unique in their own great way,” Darragh continues. “No two are the same. That is why we will not take a one size fits all approach if advising you. We will take the time to get to know what and who is important to you.” By helping clients to craft a personalised Family Protection Insurance Plan they can rest assured that their families will be taken care of should they die, get diagnosed with a serious illness or if they are unable to work due to long term illness. Likewise, My Life also aims to develop a relationship over time, touching base on an ongoing basis to make sure all of its clients’ plans are still suitable and fit their family needs. The company can manage all claims on its client’s behalf too, meaning it is a onestop-shop for all things ‘life insurance.’ Working with Ireland's leading life insurance companies, My Life Insurance is a brokerage firm with a difference. Treating its clients much like its extended family, the company is committed to ensuring peace of mind through its expert advice and policies. Darragh O’Connor tells us more as it celebrates a win in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. The team at My Life has a combined experience of more than 100 years’ of advising families how best to protect themselves and prides itself on the relationships it builds with clients. Darragh himself is a qualified Financial Advisor with many years’ worth of experience advising both personal and corporate clients in all areas of Personal Financial Planning. He has gained vast experience working for some the largest financial services providers in Ireland as well as specialist boutique advisory brokerages too. Recently, Darragh and his My Life family have noticed emerging trends of late, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic struck as people become more aware of their own mortality. “More people are becoming aware of just how precious and fragile life is,” he states. “And the fact that we might not be here when our family still needs us. They are much more savvy options when it comes to looking after their finances and protecting their families against the bad things that can happen.” Being based in Ireland, and Dublin in particular, is highly beneficial as it means that the firm can have multiple locations where team members can travel with ease to meet clients in various different offices. “With a great availability of workforce, and the Irish public generally being very easy going and willing to listen to people for advice, we are doing very well as a company,” elaborates Darragh. “Our company also has a very unique culture whereby we treat our staff as the most important entity in the company. Directors and business owners come second! That’s why the staff work a four day week while the owners don’t get away with that!” This refreshing approach to looking after its staff members sees My Life celebrating successes regularly and enforcing a ‘no Contact: Darragh O’Connor Company: My Life Insurance Web Address: www.mylifeinsurance.ie
Most Customer-Focused Insurance Broker 2023 ego culture’ which goes a long way when it comes to recruiting new staff. It is down to a mixture of these unique selling points that helps to differentiate My Life and sees it stand head and shoulders above its competitors. It also helped it to gain recognition in the Irish Enterprise Awards recently, where it came away with the prestigious title of Most Customer-Focused Insurance Broker 2023. This award is testament to the commitment and dedication that Darragh and the entire team show to their client base and is very well deserved. As the company looks to the future, Darragh has big plans ahead. “Our plan for 2023 is to double our workforce,” he enthuses. “We have a small and diverse team with 10 of us currently, from four different countries, and an even split of males and females. We would like to grow this in order to be able to offer our services to more customers and to help more people have complete peace of mind.” Referrals and recommendations are one of the best forms of marketing for My Life, and the firm has a long line of satisfied clients on its books. Here are what just a handful of them have to say about the help and advice they have received over the years. “My Life was so professional and informative on all the services available and listened to my current needs to identify best policy for me,” states F Fitzpatrick. “I would highly recommend them for any advice on life insurance. They really take the time to ensure you get best deal possible and won't stop until everything is in place.” Likewise, S McDonnagh experienced a similarly exemplary service from the My Life team and said: “They were absolutely amazing. When I first made my enquires, they were so helpful, and explained everything to me very clearly. My experience with My Life Insurance was very professional and updated me at every stage of my application. Prompt, efficient, lovely manner all throughout my application.”
10. First established in 2016 at number 9 Quay Street, Galway, Xi’an Street Food shares its immense love and passion for food with the people of Ireland. The firm’s mission is straightforward – to bring modern Asian cuisine to the Irish customer. “We here at Xi’An Street Food in Dublin believe in real food and also real flavours,” explains a spokesperson for the company. We understand that food should taste good and be good for you, so we use only the finest ingredients, including 100% Irish beef, Halal chicken and Halal beef, so that our food can be enjoyed by all.” All of Xi’an Street Food’s dishes are cooked to order with fresh ingredients and with no artificial flavouring. Customers will taste the difference in the dishes which combine a rich mix of herbs and spices, and no MSG! And it is thanks to its ethos of using only the very best food, along with its signature dishes, that has seen the restaurant go from strength-to-strength and allowed it to expand. A spokesperson says, “Due to the overwhelming popularity we have received over the last few years, we now have seven restaurants, and we are working on launching another branch soon. All our restaurants do delivery, takeaway and dine in as well, so there are many different options for the customer to enjoy our food.” Other than Xi’an Street Food, the company owns Renao Xian Bar and Restaurant which has a completely different concept. At Renao, the focus is on giving a world class dine-in experience with a huge emphasis on vegan options and hand-crafted cocktails alongside its usual specialities. There is also Retea, which is a bubble tea speciality place, which serves Jianbing too. Both are located in Galway. Differentiating from competitors, especially in such a fierce marketplace, can be tricky however Xi’an Street Food has a unique selling point to ensure that it stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is a deep understanding of what its customers like and need. “We have found a great balance between authenticity and modernity,” the spokesperson Best Street Food Restaurant – Dublin Bringing the food experience of the famous historical and cultural city of Xi’an in the east, to the vibrant city of Dublin in the west, Xi’an Street Food is leading the way in authentic Chinese dining. We profile the company, and the ethos which underpins its core values, in the wake of it being recognised in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. Jan23810 enthuses. “Our chefs have more than 20 years’ worth of experience and bring great knowledge and culinary skills to the table.” Speciality menu items include hand pulled noodles, which are made fresh every day, the spice bag with the firm’s secret Xi'an spice mix, and a variety of dishes from the Xi'an district in China. The love and passion that goes into creating such specialist dishes is clear. For instance, the hand pulled noodles are made from a dough that is rolled, twisted and stretched into long strips, exactly the way it was traditionally done in Xi’an city (used to be called Chang’An) more than 4,000 years ago. While labour intensive, the finesse and technique in the preparation style of these hand pulled noodles, handmade dumplings, roujiamo, jianbing and traditional Chinese dishes, is what also sets the company apart. The Xi’an meat burger (known as roujiamo) is like a hamburger but with a much longer history. Roujiamo is possibly the world’s oldest sandwich, or hamburger, since this bread dates back to the Qin Dynasty and the meat to the Zhou Dynasty. There are just two elements - baked leavened bread and shredded braised meat. “A good Chinese burger (jiamo) should always be baked using a traditional furnace instead of the more common electric oven,” continues the spokesperson. “Lean pork is braised for hours then hand-shredded and, finally, pocketed in the bread.” Another popular menu item is Biang Biang noodles, which is a very popular dish in the Shaanxi province. This is where it all began! Biang Biang noodles are named after the unique sound made as the large belt-like noodle dough is slapped against the counter when they are being pulled. The result is an extremely long, thick noodle topped with chili, pork and vegetables such as carrots, greens and potato. “Don’t forget to bring your camera as it is likely to be the longest noodle you’ll ever have! This is like food theatre, as you can watch the food being prepared!” Due to Ireland’s large student population, and also in part thanks to the Covid-19 lockdowns, there is a really strong dinein and takeaway culture in the country - this is particularly helpful for Xi’an Street Food as its main target audience is young professionals and students. More customers are also opening up to trying different options, often going beyond their comfort zones, means that Xi’an Street Food is able to really stretch its legs and excel. This gives it the flexibility to introduce newer items onto the menu that would traditionally have been popular in China, and which are picking up in the western world now. The spokesperson tells us more, “In the last few years, the awareness and popularity of traditional Chinese food items, like bubble tea, roujiamo, jianbing to name a few, has been on the rise,” he states. “We are constantly trialling new items on the menu and customers are more and more curious to try them.” Internal culture is of the utmost importance at Xi’an Street Food and the firm is careful to hire its chefs directly from China, for a truly authentic experience. The restaurant organises their relocation and takes care of all official steps in order to provide top notch food and experience, using quality ingredients, to its customers. “The great skill set that we have in our kitchen also sets us apart,” says the spokesperson. “Our floor staff are also meticulously trained to be highly observant, have an eye for attention to detail, and care deeply for the customer. Our company ethos is simple - always do what's best for the customer!” And it is thanks to this core value that is so intrinsically ingrained in the dedicated team at Xi’an Street Food that the firm recently gained recognition in the Irish Enterprise Awards and was named Best Street Food Restaurant – Dublin. This highly coveted, and very well-deserved accolade is testament to the hard work put in by the owners, managers, and all the staff who help to create an authentic eating experience. Company: Xian Street Food Dublin Ireland Contact: Kee Chen Web Address: www.xianstreetfooddublin.ie/
11.
Jul22546 12. stablished in 2002, nestled in the heart of Claregalway village only 10 minutes from Galway city, Beyond Beauty Laser & Skin Clinic (Beyond Beauty) prides itself on being one of the area’s premier beauty clinics, providing its clients with some of the most advanced treatments available. With a core philosophy to bring clients the very best of treatments, infused with enthusiasm and experience, Owner Karen Broderick dedicates her time to ensuring others can be body confident and happy in their own skin. Although only very young when opening the salon, 19 to be precise, Karen believes that business was always in her genetic makeup, with both her Mum and grandfather before her being successful entrepreneurs. “It’s all I ever wanted - something to build myself from scratch and be able to do things my way,” Karen enthuses. “My aim was to be able to advance in treatments within the industry, taking chances with new innovative treatments, and to excel in my career.” Qualifying as a beauty therapist at the age of 17, Karen worked extremely hard to gain as much experience as possible in a short space of time so she could reach her ambitious goal of having her very own salon. And it seems all of this hard work paid off, for Beyond Beauty opened its doors in December 2002 and, although the early days were difficult, Karen stuck by her main ethos that her clients were given 100% of her time and never felt rushed. “I never wanted to be running from room to room not fully concentrating on my treatments,” she explains, elaborating on what helps to make Beyond Beauty stand out from its competitors. “Everyone would be treated the same whether they spent €8 a month or €500 a week!” Karen, however, was not alone and her Mum was a great support to her in the early days – always positive and enthusiastic while Karen worked hard to build up a good, strong reputation, and to advance her skills and ultimately her business. In 2005, she took the plunge to train in permanent cosmetics and headed to Tracey Simpson of Natural Enhancement based in London, who mentored Karen in what was essentially a groundbreaking new treatment. “Permanent cosmetics were something that really wasn’t very popular yet, but I knew it would take Ireland by storm, which Beauty & Skincare Clinic of the Year – Galway Through hard work in the face of adversity, one young woman’s dream came to realisation in the form of Beyond Beauty Laser & Skin Clinic. We discuss the turbulent yet ultimately rewarding journey from start-up enterprise to flourishing business with Karen Broderick as she celebrates success in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. it did! But this in turn gave me a love for aesthetics and more advanced treatments.” Forced to relocate in 2007, Karen and her two full-time therapists took the opportunity to expand, and she decided that her next venture would be in another pioneering treatment, this time laser hair removal, however little did Karen know that this would be the procedure to really put her salon on the map! “I opened a brand new state of the art clinic in its new location, and then disaster struck as we entered recession!” she exclaims. “We had lost so much footfall and I had to make some tough decisions. I would either need to close my doors or relocate again and I really struggled with this choice as I had invested so much in my current premises.” Fate, however, had other ideas for the young, dynamic businesswoman as a unit became available in the heart of Claregalway village on the main road which couldn’t have been more perfect for Karen. Previously operating as a clothes shop, there were items in the unit that Karen was able to repurpose in order to save on expenses, and in April 2009 she re-opened with a brand new business name too and Beyond Beauty Laser & Skin Clinic was born! Now, the salon has gone from strength-to-strength in the last 14 years, not simply due to being located in a fantastic and lucrative catchment area, but also due to Karen’s hard work, perseverance, and determination to succeed. Despite her flourishing venture, Karen experienced some difficult times between 2018 and 2020 as her beloved Mum, who she describes as her “best friend, business mentor and confidante” passed away following a devastating cancer diagnosis, then 13 months later, her Father also lost his life suddenly due to a heart attack. “I was devastated and can honestly say I needed those pandemic lockdowns as I really don’t know how I would have got through trying to run my business wholeheartedly as I was ultimately heartbroken,” she says. “However, after once being told I would never have children, I now have two little girls and a soon-to-be husband which became my saviour and my new driving force.” With a renewed outlook on life, Karen decided that Beyond Beauty would take a new direction and really concentrate and focus on offering skin treatments. When she re-opened after E Contact: Karen Broderick Company: Beyond Beauty Laser & Skin Clinic Web Address: https://beyondbeauty.ie/ Feb23034
13. the lockdowns, Karen introduced Image Skincare which she says became a complete game changer. “I had purchased a new machine in November 2019 ‘Venus Versa’ by Venus Concepts, but due to lockdowns it really wasn’t until 2021 that we got to progress with this, introducing treatments such as radio frequency skin tightening for face and body, IPL skin rejuvenation and Nano Fractional Skin resurfacing. Later that year we introduced Dermalux LED Phototherapy followed by the amazing Hydrafacial. All of a sudden, we were really gaining a reputation for skin results as well as hair removal which was exciting!” And business is booming, with new treatments and procedures being researched and added all the time. In 2022, Beyond Beauty was the very first clinic in Ireland to introduce the Brand-New Candela GentleMax Pro Plus. This would mean that Karen could now treat all skin types for permanent hair reduction, as well as laser skin treatments for redness reduction and rosacea, pigmentation reduction, thread vein and leg vein reduction and wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. Recently, as recognition of her tireless dedication, commitment and hard work, Karen and Beyond Beauty achieved the prestigious title of Beauty & Skincare Clinic of the Year – Galway in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. Understandably thrilled by this accolade, Karen is quick to point out that she could not have done it without the help of her loyal staff members. “There is no ‘I’ in team and none of this progression would be possible without my amazing team,” she enthuses. “They work so hard each and every day and continue to astonish me with their amazing work ethic and constant drive for results and to be the best at what they do. Because of this, and our loyal customers we have been able to bring all of these amazing new treatments to the clinic and 2023.” And the future does indeed look bright for Karen and Beyond Beauty. Her vision to become an aesthetic clinic is well on its way to fruition! “I’m delighted to receive this award and all I can say is that the best is yet to come so watch this space. We are super excited for our next addition!” Contact: Karen Broderick Company: Beyond Beauty Laser & Skin Clinic Web Address: https://beyondbeauty.ie/ Beauty & Skincare Clinic of the Year – Galway
14. Best Outdoor Childcare Service Provider - County Carlow Jan23631 Rathoe Community Childcare is a not-for-profit community based childcare facility, located in the village of Rathoe directly across from Scoil Phadraig’s National school. Governed by a local voluntary committee, the facility was originally established in 2006 as an after-school service in the local Rathoe Parish Hall and has since grown into a purpose-built pre-school and afterschool service for the local community and surrounding areas. With a goal to provide the children and families of the local community with a professional, high-quality, and low-cost service, the centre is committed to promoting equal opportunities for all children and families. It gives the children within the service a safe and friendly environment where they make friends, grow in confidence, and explore the world around them. As a rural service, Rathoe Community Childcare is very fortunate to be surrounded everyday by the magnificent views and the many benefits that nature has to offer. This unique natural outdoor facility and seamless approach sets it firmly apart from many other childcare facilities within the area. Parents understand the physical and mental benefits of nature and the outdoors, which is why the centre continues to be the first choice for childcare. “Outdoor play, and its connection to nature, is at the very core of the centre’s everyday Providing quality childcare, with an emphasis on nature and outdoor play, Rathoe Community Childcare offers the local area a service which is second-to-none. We find out more as the organisation is named in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. teaching,” further explains Manager Barbara Byrne. “We are passionate about the importance of the outdoors and the many benefits it has for children’s physical development, mental health and wellbeing.” As well as Barbara, the centre’s highly trained staff support the children’s choice to play indoors or outdoors with both environments fully equipped to optimise their learning and development. “At the heart of our thinking is that all children have a natural affinity for play,” Barbara continues. “We do not have to teach children how to play, they are biologically designed to do so. Natural play stresses the importance of physicality, movement and is vital for children’s health and development. Children have an essential need for sensory stimulation and movement, and we believe that this is best found in a natural outdoor environment.” Recently, Rathoe Community Childcare was recognised in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023 and bestowed with the title of Best Outdoor Childcare Service Provider - County Carlow. Now, as the future beckons, Barbara and the dedicated team continue to showcase the unique outdoor facility to a wider community and continue to inspire meaningful play experiences, offering children valuable learning opportunities in order to nurture their independence, selfesteem, social skills, resilience and create a long-lasting love for nature and the outdoors in a secure, inclusive, and fun environment. Contact: Barbara Byrne Company: Rathoe Community Childcare Web Address: www.rathoecommunitychildcare.com
16. Most Trusted Drainage Contractor 2023 & Customer Service Excellence Award 2023 John Hurt Environmental Services is an experienced and trusted drainage contractor with years of expertise who uses cutting-edge equipment to deliver high-quality work to residential, commercial, and industrial clients. The business is committed to assuring customer satisfaction and ensure that their services are always centered on the needs of the clients. With over 20 years of experience, John Hurt Environmental Services provide a range of solutions including drain unblocking, drain cleaning, pipe repairs, drain CCTV inspections, and more. Operating in the northeast of Ireland, the company understands that issues can occur at any time, so it offers 24/7 service on a daily basis, 365 days a year, responding promptly to emergency callouts. With a reputation for maintaining outstanding customer service, the team at John Hurt Environmental Services have been trained to meet all Water Research Commission standards, meaning the company can guarantee the quality of its work. Keeping up to date with the standards of the drainage industry, John Hurt Environmental Services is a member of the National Association of Drainage Contractors. The company is continuously researching new technology that could improve its services, working hard to get ahead of its competitors by ensuring its service is cutting edge. For example, it has invested in hot wash jetting systems that reach temperatures of 90 degrees. This ensures the effective removal of infectious residues in pipework, which cold water jetting systems fail to do. At John Hurt Environmental Services, the customer is at the centre of every decision it makes relating to its products and services. The company is dedicated to customer satisfaction, aiming to build strong relationships with its clients to foster loyalty and trust. An important part of making sure that customers receive exceptional service is increasing reactivity to callouts. The company aims to respond quickly to customers’ drainage problems, continually working to improve its reaction time from callout to callout. John Hurt Environmental Services is currently investing in three new vehicles, which it expects will help cut down customers’ wait time. The company hopes that this investment will enable it to attend a site within hours of receiving the call. In terms of customer service, John Hurt Environmental Services stands out from its competitors because of the way it interacts with its customers. The company has key account managers, meaning all calls from customers have one contact point where calls are directed to the same team member. This allows customers to continue where they left off from their last communication, saving them from having to repeat information. Additionally, customers speak to the company’s highly experienced, fully trained service engineers who are able to advise on the best solution to resolve their issue. Customers of John Hurt Environmental Services trust that they will receive the best advice and service possible. As a result, it’s no surprise that the company has won awards year on year for its customer service and loyalty to its clients. Thanks to its unparalleled standard of excellence in everything it does, focusing on identifying opportunities to have a meaningful impact on its customers, John Hurt Environmental Services has won both Most Trusted Drainage Contractor and the Customer Service Excellence Award in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023. Customers expect the best from its services and John Hurt Environmental Services never fails to deliver, priding itself on its ability to provide complete and utter satisfaction to its customers. Moving forwards, the company continues to keep ahead of its competitors, delivering unrivalled drainage solutions throughout the northeast of Ireland. Contact: John Hurt Company: John Hurt Environmental Web Address: johnhurtenvironmental.com Jan23608
Jul22493 17. Jul22493 Based in the West of Ireland, the Digital Training Institute is a niche digital marketing consulting and training agency that design and deliver bespoke accredited training programmes. It works with the government and public sector as well as the commercial radio sector. Its expertise in public sector marketing is unrivalled in the marketing sphere, which makes it the go-to marketing agency to work with. Designing each programme that suits the needs of its niche clients has allowed the Irish agency to scale its business across the world – reaching new markets due to the specialist nature of the courses that it provides. The Founder of the agency, Joanne Sweeney, conducts primary research into the use of social media by digital marketing in Ireland, USA, and Australia. She hosts the Public Sector Digital Marketing Summit as well as the awardwinning podcast – the Public Sector Marketing Show. The podcast has received Bronze for Best Marketing Podcast at the 2022 Irish Podcast Awards, suggesting Joanne’s passion for the subject. She has also published industry books to further educate people regarding marketing in the public sector. Joanna considers herself to be a lifelong learner and likes to keep to up to date with the latest knowledge and skills in the digital marketing field due to the fluctuating nature of the industry. Through weekly social media and digital marketing trainings, Joanna likes to maintain her digital marketing knowledge and further conducts weekly desk research and interviews with industry and public sector experts to solidify her knowledge for her books, podcasts and blogs. In order to stay ahead of the curve in the digital marketing industry, the business has taken a stride towards short-form video content on social media. It has also started to embrace and invest in digital news production as news becomes social allowing it to stay relevant in this fastdeveloping industry. The Digital Training Institute leads by value. Although a small team, the business prides itself for their excellent customer service skills and go beyond the needs of the many clients The team knows where they can potentially go when given the right amount of attention. They make sure to set their own high standards, so they are met with nothing less than that while producing the work that they do for themselves and more so for the clients they work for. They make sure to complete the difficult work such as the industry reports, publications, podcasts, and books so that their client is free from the overwhelming aspects of these tasks. They can then continue to focus on their own individual obligations. Growth is immensely valued at the Digital Training Institute – and so is building trust, which is why the business provides its community with free content. This is so that it can help people with knowledge that can immediately be applied in their industries. The business offers a range of free resources from monthly webinars to blogs and podcasts, weekly newsletters, guides, and career guidance calls with Joanne Sweeney herself, and the business is dedicated to supporting everyone around it. In terms of the future, this digital marketing agency is committed to diversifying in order to respond to the needs of the market. It will provide new and alternate courses to satisfy these needs. Moreover, the business is looking forward to continued global growth and is prepared to provide its innovative services to government agencies across the world. Best Marketing Skills Educator 2023 Jan23068 Contact: Joanne Sweeney Company: Digital Training Institute Web Address: www.publicsectormarketingpros.com or www.digitaltraining.ie
18. Jan23809 Offering sales, repair, parts and accessories for every 4x4 on the market, Kanes Newline Motors excels not only in the quality of its workmanship, but also in its customer-centric approach. After speaking to David Kane, we profile the firm and highlight the services it provides to its loyal customer base. Based in County Longford, second generation family run business Kanes Newline Motors (Kanes) is a one-stopshop for all 4x4 needs and requirements. As a father and son duo, with its own dedicated workshop, parts department and sales team, the firm has been competently operating for more than 35 years. Kanes’ clients come from all over Ireland and are in all different trades. The company specialises in modifying 4x4s, repairing them, getting them ready for their yearly tests, and replacing tyres and parts when needed. “If it can be done to a vehicle, then we do it!” enthuses David, the firm’s second generation and one half of the operational team. “We have vehicles in stock and for sale, ranging from the 90s right up to brand new.” The firm’s core value is customer service, and David elaborates on what this means to him as a company owner. “It is easy to sell the vehicle but if the customer has a problem after the sale, then that's where you see the true nature of the dealer,” he tells us. “Customer satisfaction is our main priority. Our goal is to continue to grow and keep learning to adapt with the times.” Being a two-man band means that all of the company’s clients are dealing directly with the company owners. This ensures that they get the very best service, with attention to detail, and the personal touch as well. Not to mention the benefit of David and his father’s invaluable knowledge and expertise learned from many years in the trade. Over the last few years, David and his father have seen many changes in the industry – with Brexit and Covid resulting in lots of extra paperwork and increased difficulty in sourcing good quality stock. “Customers today are looking for high spec vehicles with lots of extras such as bars, alloys and wind deflectors,” David says. “Therefore we have diversified to meet this need and are stocking all the accessories on site. “Due to the price of diesel we have also seen a big increase in the sale of smaller engine 4x4s, such as the 2.0 VW Amarok. Plus, we have the capability of doing ECU tuning to give better MPG to vehicles to counteract this.” Recently, Kanes Newline Motors was recognised in the Irish Enterprise Awards 2023 for the strong emphasis it places on its customers and was named Most Trusted 4x4 Sales & Service Provider 2023. Understandably delighted, David tells us just how much the staff play a part in the company’s success. “As we are a family business we have a family ethos,” he says. “Our staff are all part of our extended family and are more than just numbers. Everyone has a say in how the business can be changed or benefitted. We have a canteen where everyone eats lunch together, along with regular work nights out. “Our business is only as successful as our employees, so their work environment is of massive importance.” Now, as the future beckons, Kanes Newline Motors is committed to continuing to provide and sell top quality 4x4 vehicles and would also like to grow the business. “Each and every customer is important to us,” he finishes. “We want to personally thank them for choosing us as their supplier and helping us to achieve another fantastic award.” Most Trusted 4x4 Sales & Service Provider 2023 Contact: David Kane Company: Kanes Newline Motors Web Address: www.newlinemotors.ie
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