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Welcome to the
Carlow Business Awards for 2023!
The Carlow Business Awards are designed to shine a light on the very best businesses from right across Carlow town, county & its environs, and the awards are open to businesses of all shapes and size.
Businesses are permitted to enter a maximum of 2 categories and we are delighted to return this year, not just with our usual popular categories but also with the introduction of a number of new categories following a rigorous review of the awards in recent months
In an effort to recognise the many different sizes of business contributing to our local economy, companies now have three options for entering our overall awards including;
Outstanding Small Business of the Year
Outstanding Medium Business of the Year
Carlow Business of the Year
Some of our other new categories include….
Health & Wellbeing Award
International Business Award
Personal Services Award
Outstanding Contribution to Business Award
Our awards to acknowledge the fantastic standard of dining options across the county has now been split into two new categories;
Daytime Dining
Night-time Dining
The Chamber Business Awards are open to all businesses irrespective of whether the business is a member of County Carlow Chamber.
Full Details of all Categories and the specific Criteria can be found below and just scroll to the bottom of the page to complete your nominations
Nominations have now Closed for the Carlow Business Awards 2023
Carlow Business Awards 2023 Schedule
27th June – Launch of Carlow Business Awards 2023
31st July, 5.00pm – Nominations Closed
18th August, 5.00pm – Nomination Acceptance Process Closes
Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th September – Shortlisted Nominees will present to the Judges
Thursday 28th September – Carlow Business Awards 2023
For tickets telephone 059 913 2337 or email admin@carlowchamber.com
Categories and Criteria for Carlow Business Awards 2023
Award |
Criteria |
Status |
Special Requirement |
Judging |
Health & Wellbeing |
•Businesses who over the last 2 years have committed to putting in place policies and practices to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees •Demonstrate Team involvement in creating/implementing policies/practices. •Showcase outcomes from the implementation of practices •Highlight Innovative measures, policies, practices |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Business Supporting Community Award |
• Innovative ways of supporting community • Team and company involvement |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Food and Beverage Producers Award |
• Superior Quality using the best of new and traditional methods • Innovation in production and development |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Professional Services Award |
• Professional Services • Commitment to sustainable business practices • Excellence in customer service |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Research Innovation and Technology Award |
• Utilising and developing innovative technology • Show creativity & dynamism • Show show significant impact on product or process including lean initiatives • Continuous innovation • Competitive advantage |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Sustainable Initiatives |
•Ability to demonstrate progress with one or more of the SDG’s? •Actions & results to demonstrate progress •Must be a business •Supporting the circular economy philosophy |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Best Online Presence |
•Omnichannel presence •A bespoke online presence that delivers in a range of ways. •Website Purpose, •Simplicity, •Usability, •Functional, •Optimisation, •impact on the business and connection with brand and communication channels. |
Open To Public Nomination |
Submission and Audit by the Judges |
|
Emerging Business + 3yrs |
• Established within the last 3 years • Strategic approach to business • Prospects and plans for the future |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
International Business Award |
• Operating in International markets (Export/Import) of products / services • Demonstrated success in growing new markets • Ambassador for Carlow abroad |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Culture Heritage & Tourism |
•Demonstrate a festival, event, experience or tourist attraction •Must have a demonstrable impact on the local economy •Potential for future growth and development •High quality marketing that reflects well on Carlow |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Daytime Dining |
• Open to Licensed and unlicensed premises focused on catering to patrons daily to 5pm • Strong ethos and focus on supporting and promoting local • Offering demonstrates a fresh and quality approach. • Customer Service leader • Atmosphere, quality, choice |
Open To Public Nomination | Mystery Guest Audit | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September |
Night-time Dining |
• Open to Licensed and unlicensed premises focused on catering to patrons after 5pm • Strong ethos and focus on supporting and promoting local • Offering demonstrates a fresh and quality approach. • Customer Service leader • Atmosphere, quality, choice |
Open To Public Nomination | Mystery Guest Audit | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September |
Personal Services |
• Open to Businesses in providing Personal Services e.g. Hairdressers, Barbers, Beauticians etc •Strong Customer Service • Focus on the future • Customer review / feedback • Service offering & flexibility of service. |
Open To Public Nomination | Mystery Guest Audit | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September |
Best Presented Premises/Shop Front – Carlow Town |
•Presentation of the Premises and the proximity of area of the premises •Floral Displays where present, well maintained and presented •Well-presented window display, •Design consideration of signage and associated frontage (signs should be simple and easy to understand, look attractive and made from durable, high quality materials), •Entrance – inviting, clean & attractive, •Maintenance of the premises including repairs & maintenance •Presentation and maintenance of Parking area where provided |
Open To Public Nomination | Mystery Guest Audit & Images required to Support Judging | |
Best Presented Premises/Shop Front – Tullow & Carlow North |
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Best Presented Premises/Shop Front – Muine Bheag & Carlow South |
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Customer Service Award |
• Equality / Diversity and Inclusion • Proactive approach to provision of Information • Customer Complaints and Communications • Languages used in support of delivering A+ Cust Service • Use of Emerging Technologies to ensure maximum access and choice |
Open To Public Nomination | Mystery Guest Audit | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September |
Retailer of the Year |
• Ambitious and energetic vision for business • Sustainability • Brand presence across platforms • Customer journey • Layout & Merchandising • Presentation |
Open To Public Nomination | Mystery Guest Audit | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September |
Outstanding Contribution to Business |
•An individual from Co Carlow or its environs who have made an outstanding contribution in business or society within Ireland or abroad • Someone who has made an outstanding contribution in their field of expertise or has achieved great success |
Open To Public Nomination | ||
Carlow’s Lifetime Achievement Award |
•Presented to a pillar of the Carlow business community, a person who has led and inspired others •Who has spent a lifetime in business – in good times and bad •Will have had a key impact in his/her sector, will have been the key driving force in that business •Will have shown outstanding leadership qualities, developed and achieved clear business goals •They will have made a significant difference in their community and sector; their commitment will have been more than simply doing a job. •They will have gone above and beyond what was expected of them. |
Not open to Public Nomination | ||
Carlow Ambassador of the Year |
•Someone who has promoted brand Carlow in a positive light •Individual or business •This award is open to all who have put the Carlow name out there |
Not open to Public Nomination | ||
Presidents Award |
•Where an individual / organisation/business in any capacity is recognized by the Chamber President as a stellar performer that has contributed to Carlow, the President may elect to recognize them with the President’s Award. | Not open to Public Nomination | ||
Family Business of the Year |
•Show evidence of multi generational and or multiple family members employed within the business •Family owned and operated •Management structure & governance •Based in Co Carlow & environs for a min of seven years (identify as Carlow) •Strong story •Growth – Revenue / local job creation / retention / development •Strong succession plans •Innovation •Community / Giving back |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Outstanding Small Business of the Year |
•Business with <10 employed including owner •Based in Co Carlow & environs for a min of five years (identify as Carlow) •Growth – Revenue / local job creation / retention / development •Achievements & track record of delivery •Innovation •Sustainability / Green economy •Community (giving back) |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Outstanding Medium Business of the Year |
•Business with <50 employed including owner •Based in Co Carlow & environs for a min of five years (identify as Carlow) •Growth – Revenue / local job creation / retention / development •Achievements & track record of delivery •Innovation •Sustainability / Green economy •Community (giving back) |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September | |
Carlow Business of the year |
•Business with >50 employed including owner •Based in Co Carlow & environs for a min of seven years (identify as Carlow) •Growth – Revenue / local job creation / retention / development •Achievements & track record of delivery •Innovation •Sustainability / Green economy •Community (giving back) |
Open To Public Nomination | Presentation to the Judges. Presentations will take place on 6th & 7th September |
