Biggest night in Limerick's business calendar as Chamber Regional Awards take place

THE BIGGEST event in Limerick’s business calendar is set to take place this Friday evening.

The Limerick Strand Hotel will once again play host to the Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards, a black-tie event set to draw more than 400 industrial and political leaders.

It will double up as the annual dinner of Chamber president Mairead Connolly, and is expected to get under way at 7.30pm on November 14.

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Supported by Limerick Live, which is the media partner, the event will celebrate the outstanding achievements of companies and organisations on Shannonside, as well as Clare and Tipperary.

The awards will see businesses – from innovative start-ups to established industry leaders – recognised across eight categories, culminating in the announcement of the overall business of the year.

This category is sponsored by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).

Chamber president Ms Connolly, a tax partner at PwC Limerick will also give out a special lifetime achievement award on the night.

No fewer than 22 local companies have been shortlisted for the eight category awards on offer.

They will all hope to follow in the footsteps of Rathkeale med-tech firm DesignPro Automation, which won overall business of the year this time last year.

This year’s shortlist has once again been put together by an independent judging panel, chaired by Tomás Sercovich, Business in the Community Ireland, and comprising respected industry figures Seán Lally, Hotel Woodstock, Liam Woulfe, Grassland Agro, Louise O’Reilly, Business to Arts, Vicki O’Toole, Tola Consultancy and Paul Shelly, an independent non-executive director.

Limerick Chamber chief executive Michelle Gallagher said: “The calibre of entries this year has been phenomenal, reflecting the ambition and resilience of the Mid-West business community. Every entrant – shortlisted or not – demonstrates the spirit that drives our region forward.

“We are proud to celebrate them through these awards.”

Shortlisted companies are as follows:

Best Emerging Business:
Cucine Lube Ireland, Kella Leadership, Treaty Software

Best Small to Medium Sized Enterprise:
DSM (Data Storage and Management), O’Mahony’s Booksellers Ltd, PAQ IT Solutions

Best Employer - People and Culture Excellence Award:
BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI), Cook Medical, Flexsource CPL

Community Impact Award:
BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI), Dell Technologies, WebDevBuilders Ltd

Sustainability and Environmental Leadership Award:
Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Ireland, Limerick Strand Hotel, MasterChefs

Customer Experience Excellence Award – Retail and Hospitality:
Cornstore, Durty Nelly’s, University Concert Hall

Innovation and Digital Transformation Award:
BD Research Centre Ireland, North, Wrxflo

Best Not-for-Profit Impact Award:
Children’s Grief Centre, Dóchas Midwest Autism Support, Our Lady of Lourdes Community Services Group

Stay with www.limericklive.ie through Friday and Saturday for information on the awards winners.