Get your nominations in for Cavan’s premier business awards

Excitement is building as the business event of the year - the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards - finally opens for nominations. Twelve months on, the competition is underway to see who will succeed Lakeland Dairies as the overall winner at the prestigious event, which this year will benefit from the four star luxury afforded by new host sponsors, the Slieve Russell Hotel.
Despite the challenging trading climate, Cavan businesses of all sizes, right across the county, have continued to display their entrepreneurial verve and resourcefulness.
Success for some may be nurturing the shoots of a new enterprise, while for more established firms, it may be the professionalism or flexibility they have shown in negotiating a path to survive the worst recession in living memory. Others have achieved the minor miracle of bucking the national trend by achieving growth, expanding staff numbers and increasing revenues.
Attending last year’s awards night as guest of honour, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, recognised the strength in the local business community, and declared that Cavan was ready to meet the challenge of economic recovery.
“I believe that Cavan is well placed to be a big part of Ireland’s new, enterprise economy,” he enthused.
“I believe that Cavan should be on the radar for any new business looking to establish a high-skills enterprise base in Ireland.”
While recognising the past accomplishments of Cavan Fleadhs 2010-2012, Mr Kenny added that he was impressed by the excellent work undertaken locally in re-branding Cavan as a location of choice for modern enterprise and tourism. He admired the marketing campaign and launch of the ‘This is Cavan’ initiative, promoting the county as a hot destination for enterprise, tourism, culture and community.
“You have an excellent product here, one you have worked on, have pride and faith in it,” encouraged An Taoiseach.
Why not take Mr Kenny up in his challenge to have faith in your business, or a local business you admire and enter them in for the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards 2013. It’s a great chance to showcase the strides your business, or a local business, has made over the last 12 months.
“With the recognition of your business peers at the gala event of the year, invaluable promotion, and thousands of Euro worth of free advertising in The Anglo-Celt available to category winners, the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards 2013 truly is an opportunity not to be passed up,” said The Anglo-Celt sales manager, Yvonne Jackson.
A special supplement will be published and distributed by The Anglo-Celt in September, profiling three businesses short-listed from each of the eight categories. In addition, each category winner will receive a quarter page advert in The Anglo Celt plus a ‘button advert’ on our website, with worldwide reach, for a whole year. Meanwhile this year’s overall winner will benefit from a business profile, a full page, full colour advert in The Anglo-Celt, plus an advert on www.anglocelt.ie for a year.
“There’s no better way to highlight your company’s achievements, recognise the tireless endeavours of your staff and focus on future goals and strategies than taking part in this year’s Cavan Business and Tourism Awards,” insisted Ms Jackson.
Eight awards in total will be up for grabs at the gala night, namely: Emerging New Business; Food & Drink – Most Innovative Business; ?Service Industry – Customer Service Gold Award; Retailer of the Year; Cavan Innovator of the Year; Cavan International Personality of the Year; Tourism: Most Progressive Business of the Year; Overall Business / Business Person of the Year.
Submitting a nomination for the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards couldn’t be easier. Simply follow the instructions detailed in the entry form below.

New venue
For the first time ever the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards 2013 will depart from their traditional home in Cavan Town, reflecting the fact that the event acknowledges entrepreneurial achievements county-wide. Accordingly, this year’s Cavan Business and Tourism awards 2013 take place on Friday, October 4 in the luxurious surrounds of the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell. The choice of venue is quite appropriate given the ample success of West Cavan ventures in the 2012 awards ceremony.
Brigid Manley, sales and marketing manager, Slieve Russell Hotel, is anticipating a night of celebrations to be remembered.
“We are very pleased to announce that the Cavan Business and Tourism awards 2013 are being held at the Slieve Russell,” enthused Brigid.
“It will be great to see local businesses celebrate their achievements, and receive the recognition they deserve. We value the contributions that indigenous Cavan businesses bring to the regional economy in the form of employment and innovation.
“We are delighted to host this prestigious gala event and look forward to joining with the nominees and guests for this enjoyable evening where business excellence in Cavan will be celebrated.”