Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Engenuity Engineering Cluster Midlands is one of two national winners for the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2020.

This morning, Enterprise Ireland, in conjunction with The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, announced the two winners who will represent Ireland at the event.

The awards aim to reward innovative initiatives from public bodies and public-private partnerships which support entrepreneurship, and small and medium sized enterprises.

The two national award winners put forward for the European level of the competition for consideration by the European Enterprise Promotion Awards jury are:

1)

Engenuity Engineering Cluster Midlands submitted by LEO Westmeath for ‘Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills’ category.

This project focused on management development, innovation skills training and networking with 20 engineering firms based in the midlands.

Participating companies have seen increased turnover and a growth in exports.

Some 70% of participating companies have created new jobs.

This progress is now being built on with further supports to target sales, marketing and internationalization skills based on gap analysis performed during the initial phase of the project.

2)

Business Support Funds submitted by LEO South Dublin for ‘Improving the Business Environment’ category.

The Business Support Funds are a unique South Dublin County Council And Local Enterprise Office South Dublin initiative designed to address key issues in industrial areas of the county.

The fund supports physical improvement works and encourages occupiers to improve the investment potential of industrial estates / units. Particular emphasis is placed on those industrial estates experiencing high levels of obsolescence, dereliction and vacancy.

The initiative also helps existing small-scale businesses and start-up businesses to utilise previously vacant units.

The jury will select a European shortlist from the national winners, which will be announced in September.

The shortlisted projects will go on to compete at the finals which will take place as part of the SME Assembly in November 2020 in Berlin, Germany.

Richard Murphy, manager LEO Support, Policy and Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland, who is a judge for the national competition on behalf of Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be working on this event with the European Commission.

“I warmly congratulate our two national award winners for projects which are shining examples of excellence in promoting SMEs and entrepreneurship in a tough economic climate in Ireland.

“There are a lot of innovative projects in Ireland and it’s important that we recognise the organisations which actively encourage entrepreneurial spirit.”