2018 is set to be a record-breaking year for the annual BEFTAs – the new name for the UTV Business Eye Awards – which have been revamped as a result of the partnership between Business Eye and lead sponsor, First Trust Bank.
The total number of entries for the 2018 Awards, across 18 categories, is by far the biggest volume received during the 14-year history of Northern Ireland’s leading business awards.
Across every category, the judging panel were faced with a difficult choice to make between high quality submissions according to Richard Buckley, Editor of Business Eye, who said; “The step up in both quantity and quality this year is dramatic. In some categories, our judging panel faced an almost impossible task to differentiate between exceptional entries from some of our very best home-grown businesses. The quality, and the quantity, of entries is reflected in the comprehensive shortlist for this year’s BEFTA Awards.”
The 2018 judging panel sat down at The Resolution Centre, a meeting facility based at The Boat on Belfast’s Donegall Quay, to make the tough calls for this year’s awards. The event will take place on Thursday, 22nd November, at ICC Belfast, the new name for the Belfast Waterfront Conference Centre.
Fellow judge, Ann McSorley, Head of Corporate at First Trust Bank added; “After supporting the small business awards for the past four years, acknowledging the best and brightest business owners and entrepreneurs from our small business community, it was only natural to join Business Eye in celebrating growth across our business community as a whole. The high calibre of entries from every sector and corner of Northern Ireland made for a lively and difficult discussions for the judges, but we were all left with a great sense of optimism after discovering undeniable levels of passion, innovation and growth locally. We offer our congratulations to all those who made it onto the shortlist and look forward to celebrating the leaders in our business community at the new-look BEFTA awards later this month.”
A limited number of tables are still available for what promises to be a sparkling awards event attended by upwards of 600 of the great and good from Northern Ireland’s business community. In addition to the awards, hosted by Marc Mallett, guests will be entertained on the night by Scotland’s Drums n’ Roses and Re-Take That, the UK and Ireland’s top Take That tribute band.
To book your table, visit www.businesseyeawards.co.uk/book-a-table
2018 BEFTA SHORTLIST
Agri Food Innovation Award
Keenan Seafood
Around Noon
Davison Canners
Business Personality of the Year
Tina McKenzie
Glyn Roberts
James Hagan
Mairead Mackle
Judith Totten
Peter Johnston
Community (CSR) Award
Power NI
Killowen Contracts
ArtsEkta
George Best Belfast City Airport
LIDL Northern Ireland
ATG Group
Homecare Independent Living
Musgrave NI
Waste Reduction Project of the Year
Titanic FX
Pritchitts
Carriages Bistro
ATG Group
Employer of the Year
One2One
The Momentum Group
Action Cancer
Fintru
Lidl NI
Pinsent Masons
Automated Intelligence
Axiom Global
Musgrave
Shredbank
Executive Support Professional of the Year
Kim McClelland, Momentum Group
Janine Smalls, HCIL
Fran Devenney, Pinsent Masons
Kathy Hanna, Oasis Travel
Tourism/Hospitality Project of the Year
Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast
Andras House Group
We Are Vertigo
Family Business of the Year
Mash Direct
Killowen Contracts
Mercury Security
MJ Kane & Co
Wilsons Auctions
ATG Group
TS Foods
Fast Growth Business of the Year
Selective Travel Management
FinTrU
Davison Canners
Frank & Honest Gourmet Coffee (Musgrave)
CTS Projects
Energystore
PAC (Process Automation & Calibration)
Technology Company of the Year
Henderson Technology
Audit Comply
Lava Group
First Derivatives
Continu
Automated Intelligence
Decision Time
Manufacturer of the Year
Nitronica
KES Group
Icemos Technology
Denroy Plastics
TS Foods
BMI Trailers
Woodland
Exporter of the Year
Salt DNA
Brookvent
Telestack
PWC Operate
Icemos Technology
Pure Fit Out
Medium/Mid-Sized Business of the Year
Killowen Contracts
Selective Travel Management
BMI Trailers
PKF-FPM Accountants
AMI
Willis Insurance & Risk Management
Professional Services Firm of the Year
Fairstone Financial Management NI
ASM
PKF- FPM
A&L Goodbody
The Momentum Group
Pinsent Masons
Lowry Grace Consulting
MCL Waste Management
Amplifi Solutions
Research & Development project of the Year
Bloc Blinds
Belfast City Centre Management
Obbi Solutions Ltd
ATG Services
Innovative Business of The Year
Salt DNA
Workpal
Inviz
CoreChex
Performance Alloys
Neurovalens
Wilsons Auctions
Upstream
Young Business Personality of the Year
Adam Gilmore, AG Electrical
Maire Claire Reid, TST Transport
Conor Cole, Cole Groundwork Contracts
Connor McCandless, Energystore
Andrew Davis, 77 Retail
Shauna Collins, Catalyst Inc
Chris Rankin, Precept IT
Paul Redpath, Catalyst 2
Gavin Halpin, Paper Owl Films
Company of the Year
Musgrave NI
Lidl NI
Novosco
Wilsons Auctions
PKF-FPM Accountants
FinTrU
Salt DNA
HCIL (Homecare Independent Living)
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