
It was a successful evening for Belfast businesses at the fourth annual Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards, known as the BEFTAs, which recently took place at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, hosted by television personality Marc Mallett.
There were wins for companies across Belfast including Diversity NI who came top in the ‘Community Contribution’ category and Modius who won ‘Healthcare Business of the Year’. The ‘Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year’ trophy went to the Belfast Tattoo, and Dunmurray based Uberfone was named ‘Independent Retailer of the Year’. ProAxsis won the award for ‘Innovative Business of the Year’ and Catalyst Inc won the ‘Small Business Marketing’ Award.
The technology category of the awards was dominated by Belfast based businesses with Allsop, Nimbus and the overall category winner Fathom, all from the city.
The awards which are organised by Business Eye magazine and supported by First Trust Bank, shine a light on Northern Ireland’s small business sector and recognised its top performers across 14 different categories, celebrating industry and business success as well as innovation, customer support and community contribution.
Speaking at the 2018 Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards, Head of Business Banking at First Trust Bank, Seamus McGuckin, said;
“Northern Ireland’s small business community, which together with medium businesses and self-employed people account for more than 75% of turnover across NI’s private sector, should be immensely proud. If it wasn’t for their contribution, Northern Ireland as a region and as an economy would not be fairing as well as it is in light of ongoing economic and political uncertainty. The innovation, dedication and creativity showcased by this year’s BEFTAs finalists and winners sets an example to our future business leaders and upcoming entrepreneurs and we are proud to shine a spotlight on their operations. While each business is different, all the winners share a number of common denominators – agility, resilience, innovation and a focus on open, honest customer service. I offer my congratulations to all the entrants and winners and look forward to seeing how their businesses develop over the coming years.”
Brenda Buckley, Commercial Director of Business Eye, added:
“Given the number of entries received for this year’s awards and the energy and atmosphere at the ceremony, it’s clear that the BEFTAs have truly cemented themselves as a must-do in Northern Ireland’s business community. We received very strong entries from a wide variety of companies based right across Northern Ireland. They are very much an integral part of the business calendar here, and we’ve every reason to believe that they will go from strength to strength.”
Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Award Winners:
Agri Food Business of the Year – Sponsored by Lockton
Highly Commended – Keenan Seafood
Award Winner – Clandeboye Estate Yoghurts
Community Contribution Award – Sponsored by Community Foundation NI
Highly Commended – Anaconda International
Award Winner – Diversity NI
Customer Focus Award – Sponsored by Nimbus
Highly Commended – McCalls of Lisburn
Highly Commended – Safe Gas (NI)
Award Winner – Larchfield Estate
Exporter of the Year – Sponsored by Ulster University Business School
Highly Commended – i3 Digital
Award Winner – Yelo
Healthcare Business of the Year – Sponsored by Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
Highly Commended – Milesian Manor Lifestyle Care Home
Award Winner – Modius
Hospitality & Tourism Business of the Year – Sponsored by Tourism NI
Highly Commended – Rayanne House, Holywood
Award Winner – Belfast Tattoo
Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Retail NI
Highly Commended – 88 Retail
Award Winner – Uberfone
Family Business of the Year – Sponsored by Harbinson Mulholland
Highly Commended – Killowen Contracts
Highly Commended – Cunningham Butchers
Award Winner – McCalls of Lisburn
Innovative Business of the Year – Sponsored by FSB
Highly Commended – KES Group
Highly Commended – Resonate Testing
Award Winner – Proaxsis
Manufacturing Business of the Year – Sponsored by First Trust Bank
Award Winner – Anaconda International
Small Business Marketing Award – Sponsored by CMI
Highly Commended – Fleet Financial
Award Winner – Catalyst Inc
Start-up Business of the Year – Sponsored by Business Eye
Highly Commended – Noisy Nuts & Snacks
Award Winner – Irish Black Butter Co.
BEFTA Future Star Award – Presented by Brenda Buckley, Business Eye
Benn Cudworth, GamingAddicts
Technology Business of the Year – Sponsored by MCS Recruitment
Highly Commended – Nimbus
Highly Commended – Allsop
Award Winner – Fathom
Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by First Trust
Highly Commended – Hagan Homes
Highly Commended – The Momentum Group
Award Winner – Ozaroo