A seaweed products manufacturing company from Quilty has been selected as one of the Finalists for the National Enterprise Awards that take place next month.
Wild Irish Seaweeds will represent Local Enterprise Office Clare at the prestigious awards that take place on the 1st June in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
The business produces seaweed products for a range of industries including food ingredients, cosmetic, nutraceuticals, retail, food service, horticulture, and agriculture. They have ranges of seaweed products for all these sectors exporting organic seaweed to 18 different countries.
This is the 23rd year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by Aqualicence, supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow.
This year the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from augmented reality tours and sensory friendly clothes designers to energy saving software platforms and agtech solutions farmers. The finalists also include a range of consumer products from chocolate and whiskey to artisan bakery products and a zero-waste food company.
Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Clare said: “The National Enterprise Awards is about recognising and celebrating the achievements of small businesses. It also reflects the contribution these businesses make to their local communities by providing employment and the role they play in the economic vibrancy of our County. It was great to see such diversity and success among all our finalists and my congratulations to the winners. I wish Wild Irish Seaweed every success in the national finals on June 1st”.
Local Enterprise Office Clare have had previous success at the awards with ABC Nutritionals, Callan Technology, Get the Shifts, Aaron Value Adding Services and McConnell Woollen Mills.
The Finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 25,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
