Last Thursday, 22nd June, the inaugural Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Business Awards recognised and rewarded industrious and innovative companies across the region with 16 hotly contested trophies.
These awards, in association with principal sponsor Almac, were presented at a gala black tie event at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre, attended by 250 business, industry and local council representatives.
Celebrating success across a wide range of corporate and consumer-focused categories, honours included Best New Business, Digital Innovation, Marketing, Excellence in Manufacturing, Family Business, Agri-Food and Eating Establishment.
Winners on the night included Homecare Independent Living, Happy Hills Day Nursery, Donaghy’s Shoes, Alana Interiors, The Jethro Centre, Sinton’s at the Bridge and Newforge House, among others.
Jourdan Baird from Portadown, 21, won the prestigious Sir Allen McClay Young Business Person Award, named in honour of Almac’s founder. Jourdan is responsible for doubling turnover and increasing online sales for her family’s equipment business, Craigmore, having been brought on initially to help with the website.
The 16 award winners represented all corners of the borough, coming from Armagh, Craigavon, Magheralin, Milford, Portadown, Scarva, Lurgan, Loughgall and Banbridge.
Newly appointed Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Gareth Wilson, said;
“On behalf of the council, I extend heartfelt congratulations to all our winners at what was a landmark event, not only for our borough but for Northern Ireland. These awards have brought our business expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and our commitment to succeed to the forefront of the corporate community far beyond the borough.
“It has been reassuring and encouraging to have these awards so well supported, both in the number of entries for each category and in the companies that came onboard as category sponsors, without whom this event could not have taken place.”
Last night’s awards were supported by corporations and organisations including the Almac Group, NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Armagh Business Centre, CIDO, Banbridge District Enterprise Ltd, Digital DNA, Bank of Ireland, GMcG Portadown, Ulster Carpets, Business Partnership Alliance, Southern Regional College, The Irish News, First Trust, Insight Social Enterprise Solutions and the council itself.
Roger Wilson, Chief Executive of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, said;
“The new ABC Business Awards have provided an unrivalled opportunity to showcase this borough’s exciting and energetic business community. As a council, we are committed to developing the economy and attracting inward investment, and this event raises our area’s profile on an international stage as we celebrate regionally and globally significant local businesses. I would like to congratulate the winners and commend all the finalists for getting behind these awards and look forward to other businesses and individuals who will be inspired by those we have recognised tonight.”
Kerry Lyle, Global Communications Manager for Principal Sponsor Almac, said;
“We are delighted to be principal partner for these inaugural awards and are thrilled that tonight’s event was such a success. It has been a privilege to be involved in these awards and to have so many local businesses of all sizes and sectors, whether hospitality or healthcare, come together in a celebration of the accomplishments that are so evident across the region.”
These Business Awards are a major first for the ABC Borough Council as it reflects the diverse local and regional businesses firmly located in the engine room of Northern Ireland’s economy, from the well-established to start ups, family owned and operated to corporate multinationals.
For more information on the awards and a full list of winners, awards and sponsors, visit www.abcbusinessawards.com.
Full List of Winners:
| Best New Business Award | Happy Hills Day Nursery |
| Excellence in Customer Service – Non Retail | CPS Property |
| Best Marketing Initiative Award | Donaghys Shoes |
| Excellence in Manufacturing Award – Joint Winner | Water Tecnik Ltd |
| Best Export Initiative Award | Mac Ivors Cider Co |
| Excellence in Manufacturing Award – Joint Winner | Moy Park |
| Sir Allen McClay Young Business Person Award | Jourdan Baird |
| Best Agri-Food Business Award | Gilfresh |
| Best Family Business Award | Alana Interiors |
| Best Social Enterprise Business Award | The Jethro Centre |
| Excellence in Customer Service – Retail | Perfect Day |
| Best Tourism Business Award – Joint Winner | Newforge House |
| Commitment to Responsible Business Award | Homecare Independent Living |
| Best Business Growth Award | Irwin M&E |
| Outstanding Woman in Business Award | Sharon Fleming |
| Best Digital Innovation Award | Healthcare Analytics |
| Best Eating Establishment Award – Joint Winner | Yellow Door Deli (Portadown) |
| Best Eating Establishment Award – Joint Winner | Sinton’s at the Bridge |
| Best Tourism Business Award – Joint Winner | Blackwell House |
See all the winners in the next issue of Ulster Life Magazine
Photo Credits. Press Eye – Belfast: Lord Mayor Alderman Gareth Wilson and Roger Wilson, CEO pictured with all the award winners at the inaugural Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Business Awards which recognised and rewarded industrious and innovative companies across the region with 16 hotly contested trophies.
These awards, in association with principal sponsor Almac, were presented at a gala black tie event at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre, attended by 250 business, industry and local council representatives.
