16 September 2021 - The 18th Small Firms Association (SFA) National Small Business Awards 2022 have been officially launched by Awards Patron, An 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 16 September until 20 October 2021 to enter free of charge on www.sfaawards.ie
Speaking at the launch, An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said: “The SFA National Small Business Awards acknowledge and recognise the innovation, resilience, and talent demonstrated by these companies, and their importance to the future of the Irish economy. This is especially important as we re-open society and rebuild as we emerge from the pandemic. We need the agility, flexibility and adaptability of small business more than ever now."
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 the SFA Business Connect event, as well as broad-ranging national and local media coverage and a feature with the Irish Independent. Finalists also receive five complementary tickets to the gala prize giving ceremony which will take place in the RDS Concert Hall on 9th March 2022 when the category winners and overall winner will be announced. The category winners will be presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association.
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 Cisco
- Innovator of the Year –supported by NSAI
- Sustainability – supported by SBCI
- Workplace Wellbeing – supported by DeCare
- Small Business Exporter of the Year – supported by Enterprise Ireland
- Retail, a NEW category to the Awards for 2022 – supported by One4all Rewards.
In addition, the five best “Emerging New Businesses” - supported by .IE - (companies who are less than two years in existence) will be selected that have the potential to grow and have the ability to be an SFA National Small Business Award winner in the future.
Entrants may enter the category of their choices 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 270,000 small firms in Ireland, who collectively employ over 850,000 people, half the private sector workforce, and aim to promote excellence, achievement and innovation amongst small businesses in all sectors and parts of the country.”