Nenagh firm bids for glory
A Nenagh company is set to compete with the country’s best small businesses as one of the finalists for the National Enterprise Award taking place next week.
NutShed Ltd, which is run by Eliza and Evie Ward, will represent Local Enterprise Office Tipperary at the prestigious awards that take place on Thursday, May 23, in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
The Nenagh-based business was set up by the sisters in 2018. The company manufactures award-winning peanut butters as well as gluten, dairy free, refined sugar free plant-based treats and energy balls. Evie and Eliza Ward have grown their business from a humble market stall in 2014 to a thriving manufacturing business and brand supplying cafes, delis, salad bars, as well as independent retailers and high street stores such as Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Avoca and SuperValu.
Speaking ahead of the final, the sisters said: “We are delighted to represent LEO Tipperary in the final of such a key annual competition, we are privileged to be amount the top 31 businesses in Ireland to get here! The exposure alone from the contest will significantly increase awareness of our product and to win would help finance our goal of growing brand awareness and increasing sales by expanding into new overseas markets.”
This is the 24th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by Advanced Cosmetics, supported by Local Enterprise Office Mayo.
This year the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from transformational digitization software (DreamDev Technologies) and reduced mobility booking systems (PRM Assist) to luxury handmade chocolates (Grá Chocolates) and hand-crafted natural soap (The Black Stuff).
With Ireland’s success on the global film stage continuing the finalists also include a film production company that helped give Paul Mescal his break (Harp Media) and a prop and set design company who are working with some of the biggest international productions in Ireland providing bespoke props and set materials (Monarú).
Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Tipperary, Anthony Fitzgerald, said: “The National Enterprise Awards serve to highlight the very best businesses that the Local Enterprise Offices are working with across the country. The diversity of sectors and innovation shown again this year is outstanding and the winners will no doubt produce businesses destined for international success. These businesses have excelled in their areas and have the potential to follow in the footsteps of previous winners to become successful global companies.”
Local Enterprise Office Tipperary have been represented in recent years by firms including Premier Utilities T/a TruePOS, Premier Fire Products Ltd, T/a Waxies, Pergamino T/a The Old Barracks Coffee Roasters, Clonmel Covers Ltd and Horizon Offsite Ltd.
The finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 70,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie.