Home Directory Small Firms Association Taoiseach Launches SFA National Small Business Awards 2023

Taoiseach Launches SFA National Small Business Awards 2023

The 19th Small Firms Association (SFA) National Small Business Awards 2023 have been officially launched by Awards Patron, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD.

The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of small businesses in Ireland and to recognise the vital contribution of the small business community to the Irish economy.

Small firms (employing less than 50 people) have from 9 September until 27 October 2022 to enter free of charge on www.sfaawards.ie.

Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said: “The SFA National Small Business Awards are as important as ever, as we face the challenges posed by Russia’s immoral invasion of Ukraine. The awards acknowledge innovation, resilience, strength and the importance of the small business sector to the Irish economy and, in particular, to the future of the Irish economy. Small firms have been central to Ireland’s pandemic recovery and the Government will continue to do everything it can to maintain their competitiveness.”

The Awards are free to enter and the prize package for ALL finalists is valued at €50,000. This includes a strategic management masterclass weekend, participation in SFA MentorsWork Programme as well as in the SFA Business Connect event in Aviva Stadium where they will be able to showcase their products and services to an audience of over 300 attendees.

It also includes broad-ranging national and local media coverage and each finalist company will feature in a special supplement in the Irish Independent on the day of the Gala Presentation of Prizes which takes place in RDS Concert Hall on Thursday, 9 March 2023 when the category winners and overall winner will be announced.  Finalists also receive five complementary tickets to this ceremony. The category winners will be presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association for one year.

The SFA National Business Awards are open to all companies in Ireland with up to 50 employees and the categories are:

  • Manufacturing - supported by permanent tsb
  • Food and Drink – supported by Bord Bia
  • Services – supported by Sage
  • Outstanding Small Business — up to five employees – supported by Cis
  • Innovator of the Year – supported by NSAI
  • Sustainability – supported by SBCI
  • Workplace Wellbeing – supported by DeCare
  • Exporter– supported by Enterprise Ireland
  • Retail - supported by One4all Rewards.

In addition, the five best “Emerging New Businesses”- (companies who are less than two years in existence) – supported by .IE will be selected. These are companies that have the potential to grow and have the ability to be an SFA National Small Business Award winner in the future. Management Training partner is Skillnet Ireland, and the media partner is Irish Independent.

Entrants may enter the category of their choice and have the option to enter more than one category but must complete a separate entry form for each one they chose. www.sfaawards.ie

Chair of the SFA, Graham Byrne said: “The SFA has a vision of an Ireland that has the most vibrant small business community in the world – supporting entrepreneurship, valuing small business and rewarding risk takers. The SFA National Small Business Awards are a celebration of the achievements of the 273,000 small firms in Ireland, who collectively employ almost half of the private sector workforce, and aim to promote excellence, achievement and innovation amongst small businesses in all sectors and across Ireland.”

13/09/2022