NORTHERN IRELAND RISING STARS 2017
Northern Ireland’ s RISING STARS 2017
An astonishing array of talent and expertise representative of some of Northern Ireland’ s most impressive smaller businesses celebrated the Northern Ireland Rising Stars 2017 Awards at the Malone Lodge Hotel in Belfast in April.
After a rigorous judging process, the winners were announced and celebrated.
With businesses from across Northern Ireland competing for the Winner and Highly Commended Awards, the tension was high throughout the event.
Finally, the wait was over, and the finalists paid close attention as the winners were announced in the Charity and NotforProfit; Micro Business; Professional Services; Small Business, and StartUp Business of the Year Categories.
Against a backdrop of stars and glittering lights the winners who received their Awards were:
Charity & Not For Profit Business of the Year 2017 Winner: Kinship Care Highly Commended: Townsend Enterprise Park
Micro Bsiness of the Year 2017 Winner: ND Events Highly Commended: Heavenly Tasty Organic
Professional Services Business of the
Year 2017 Winner: Clearbox Communications Highly Commended: Selective Travel
Small Business of the Year 2017 Winner: Flint Studios Highly Commended: Loudmouth Media
StartUp Business of the Year 2017 Winner: Sonya Cassidy PR Highly Commended: We Are Digital
Gavin Walker, publisher of Business First who organised the Awards, said:“ These Awards recognise the smaller indigenous Northern Ireland companies who are working hard to shine in what are very difficult economic times.
“ With the uncertainty of Brexit and the obvious downturn in the economy, we wanted to find a way to celebrate the local businesses that are making a difference in their community and their sector.
“ The Judges were so impressed in the calibre of nominations that they decided to award both a Winner and a Highly Commended in each category. But as one of them said at the Judges Meeting,‘ I would really like to present an award to all of the nominees in their own way, each of them is definitely a Rising Star’.”
Colin Mullan from Awards principle sponsor, Find InsuranceNI
Townsend Enterprise Park is Highly Commended Charity / Not for Profit Business of the Year 2017. The Award was presented by Jenny Belshaw Business First.
Clearbox Communications is the Professional Business of the Year 2017. The Award was presented by Lara Cairns of Find InsuranceNI.
Kinship care is the Charity / Not for Profit Business of the Year 2017 The Award was presented by Jenny Belshaw Business First.
62 www. businessfirstonline. co. uk