The inaugural Cork County Council ‘Best in Cork’ Awards have launched, with the aim of recognising the vital contributions businesses and tourism providers make to the county, while acknowledging the efforts being made to promote a sustainable future.
The Best in Cork Awards will celebrate the resilience and innovative nature of businesses in the county. They are free to enter and applications are now open, with businesses of all sizes and sectors encouraged to enter.
There is a strong focus on sustainability across all award categories. A key consideration for the judges will be the measures businesses have introduced to save energy, reduce waste and become more environmentally conscious. The awards are divided into different categories: Best Start-Up (established within past 2 years)*; Best Small Business (less than 10 staff)*; Best Medium Size Business (less than 80 staff)*; Best Large Business (over 80 staff)*; Best Connection to Community; Best Green Innovation (Business); Best Green Innovation (Tourism); Best Tourist Attraction (Free admission); Best Tourist Attraction (Admission charge): * indicates that these categories have a preliminary round of judging at Divisional level.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
At the launch this week, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said, “Businesses are the lifeblood of our towns, villages and communities in County Cork providing vital jobs, services and products. There are incredible businesses with fascinating stories waiting to be told and we want to celebrate them.
“We’re looking for businesses of all sizes to enter whether you’re a sole trader, a family business that’s been in operation for generations, a brand new business or a large multinational. Each one is in the running to be crowned ‘Mayor of the County of Cork’s Best Overall Business’. Together, all of these businesses make our county such an incredible place to live, work and to visit.”
The finalists will be chosen from across the county by an independent panel of judges, with the Mayor of the County of Cork selecting the Best Overall Business from among the nine category winners at the awards ceremony. There will also be divisional awards for Best Start-Up, Best Small, Medium and Large Size Business. The winners in each of the divisions of North Cork, West Cork and East Cork will be announced at special lunches in December.
The awards will culminate with a gala ceremony at Vertigo, Cork County Hall on Thursday, January 25th when Mayor O’Flynn will announce the Mayor’s Best Overall Business.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS
The deadline for businesses to submit an application for Best Start-Up, Best Small, Best Medium and Best Large Business is 5pm on Sunday, October 15th. Entries for the remaining categories will be accepted until Sunday, November 12th. To enter visit www.corkcoco.ie.
