Innovation and the pursuit of excellence among the Clare business community was showcased in the entries for the FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards, organised in conjunction with Ennis Chamber and with The Clare Champion as media sponsors.

Many of the 27 shortlisted entries in nine separately sponsored categories are utilising state-of-the-art technology both in products and services. Some have already attracted overseas interest and have employment potential. A number companies involved in tourism also featured in the awards scheme, which culminated in a prize-giving function at the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis last Friday night.
The awards scheme, now in its second year, underlines the fact that despite the recession, people’s entrepreneurial spirit has not been dampened. There were almost 100 entries, which demonstrates there are plenty of business people out there who are either pursuing new enterprises or improving on well-established companies.
An interesting feature of the line-up of award nominees is that quite a number are family-run.
The judging was a completely independent process. The three finalists in each of the nine categories selected by consultants firm, Spotcheck. Some of the categories for the awards involved a ‘mystery shop’ where the businesses were visited in secret and assessed.
Ennis Chamber president John Dillane, commenting on the high level of interest in the competition, said, “This is testament to the good energy we have in the town of Ennis and County Clare.
“The entries for these awards have come from all corners of Clare and there is a fantastic spread of businesses from very young companies who are brave enough to put themselves forward to be judged, to long-established companies who are still in pursuit of excellence.”
Mr Dillane also remarked that such interest and positivity “is indicative of why this county is going to be one of the first out of the recession”.
The ability to identify and capitalise on environment-friendly business opportunities is the way of the future and one of the winners exemplified how this can be achieved.
“One of the things that Clare and the West of Ireland does to a world-standard is rain,” a spokesman for Enspire Rainwater Recovery System said.
A high-profile sporting venue has been examining the East Clare company’s rainwater recovery product for possible use at the venue. The product can help companies cut down on costs as well as helping to protect the environment, while with the possibility of household water charges in the future, the company has created a domestic prototype.
Another interesting winner in the area of technology was Ennis-based eirpoint®, which has a mobile solution allowing businesses to control and sell stock while on the move. The system has already been successfully used at the National Ploughing Championship and is about to be deployed in the UK.
Special guest at the award function, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan, highlighted the important role played by Ennis Chamber in supporting and promoting businesses in the area. He said it is something he would like to see replicated in his own county, Kerry.
It’s important that the talent and expertise unearthed through the FBD awards initiative is nurtured by the relevant State-funded support agencies as a means to slowly, but surely, rebuild our economy.

Eco-friendly tourism

IRELAND has always been synonymous with its green landscape but, unfortunately, bad practices in industry, farming and urban management over the years threatened our reputation.
Thankfully, more recently, with a greater awareness of the environment and advancements in green technology, there has been a change for the better. More and more enterprises are placing a greater emphasis on both green energy and energy conservation.
With the increasing level of awareness about protecting our environment, the potential to develop eco-friendly projects is virtually limitless.
Focusing on just one area of potential growth, Shannon Development believes there is plenty of scope to generate additional visitor numbers, revenue and jobs in rural areas through the development of eco-friendly tourism projects.
The tourism sector in the Shannon Region will have been buoyed to hear this positive note struck by Shannon Development CEO, Dr Vincent Cunnane at the ICER (Innovative Concept of Eco-Accommodation Approach in Rural Regions) international conference in Ennis on Wednesday.
Despite big numbers being reported at Clare’s main visitor attractions and natural beauty spots this year, the county’s tourism scene is still well off the pace compared to other areas of the country.
Shannon Development is partnering with six other European regional development agencies from France, Hungary, Spain, Finland, Malta and Slovenia in a project aimed at identifying best practice and policies for the development of eco-friendly tourism businesses in rural areas.
As part of the project, which will continue into next year, eventually leading to the publication of a Public Policy Recommendation Handbook, Shannon Development has selected the Burren as an international example of best practice for eco-tourism development. Eco tourism has been identified as one of the fastest-growing niche tourism sectors in Europe.
The Burren recently secured UNESCO Geopark Status, which gives the area a unique profile on an international platform and will assist in the marketing of the area as an eco-tourism destination.
Given that tourism is often the only means of generating economic activity in rural areas, the ICER project aims to advance policies, support programmes and grant schemes that will encourage eco-friendly tourism investment throughout the region.
The Irish tourism market is very dependent on the environmental quality of our product and market research indicates visitors are increasingly looking for a more natural tourism product, according to Dr Cunnane.
Given the diversity that Clare has to offer, from an Atlantic coastline to Ireland’s largest inland waterway, there’s no reason why the project shouldn’t spark individuals or communities into action to identify eco-tourism opportunities.