Search begins for next winner of Cork Company of the Year Award

Being recognised by their peers at the Cork Company of the Year Awards has opened new avenues and business for the winners, the launch of Cork Chamber’s annual awards heard yesterday.

Cork Chamber hopes to better the record number of entries it received for its annual awards last February when Tyco, now merged with Johnson Controls, was named ‘Overall Company of the Year’.

Now in its 20th year, the awards are open to businesses across all sectors and sizes, representing the best of what the region has to offer in the categories of Large, SME and Emerging.

This year’s special award category of Cork Non-Profit of the Year seeks to recognise an outstanding organisation which has demonstrated the greatest impact on Cork’s community and its residents.

Good to see @CorkChamber live-streaming: "Cork Company of the Year Awards" https://t.co/DIwQhDuuIK. Cc @Shirleyatsyspro @InHandGuides

— Paul O'Mahony (Cork) (@Omaniblog) October 3, 2016

Donal Sullivan, vice president and general manager of Tyco/Johnson Controls, said: “Winning the award has helped us in so many ways, helping us to attract talent, increasing awareness of our offering in the smart building space, and was also a helpful factor in our recently completed merger with Johnson Controls.

“Winning Cork Company of the Year has opened many doors for us.

“It’s a great competition, you will meet brilliant people in other companies and broaden your horizons about what it’s possible to do in Cork.”

Tyco wins top Cork Chamber's Company of the Year award, reports @peterodwyer1 https://t.co/pE79EFscD2 (RMC) pic.twitter.com/o4jKPQQ8Ep

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 6, 2016

Neil O’Driscoll of Platform Solutions, which won Emerging Company of the Year in 2016, at the launch of the 2017 awards yesterday it had provided wonderful networking opportunities.

He said: “We have travelled abroad but sometimes we neglect what we have on our own doorstep. Cork people are happy to connect. It’s about Cork people wanting to connect with other Cork people.”

President of Cork Chamber, Barrie O’Connell, said: “We are proud to work again with Vodafone Ireland whose strong partnership has helped us grow these awards and to also have the Irish Examiner as our media partners.

“Last year we had a record-breaking number of entrants and we encourage all businesses to be part of one of the most recognised, reputable business awards in the country.”

IOT Solution sales manager, Vodafone Ireland, Debbie Power, said some of the businesses emerging in Cork will be the lifeblood of our future economic prosperity.

The four award categories are Cork Large Company of the Year (more than 100 employees), Cork SME of the Year (fewer than 100), Emerging Cork Company of the Year (less than three years in business) and Cork Non-Profit of the Year.

The closing date for completed applications is November 2.

www.corkchamber.ie