~ai-649d4b92-bf34-405e-a712-53b95a15d13f_

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES - FRIDAY 29TH MARCH

BUSINESS EYE SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS LAUNCHED FOR 2024

The second annual Business Eye Sustainability Awards, in association with Strategic Power Connect, will take place at the Culloden Estate & Spa on the evening of Thursday, 9th May, 2024.

Local businesses, and business leaders, will be able to enter a comprehensive range of 16 categories, including awards aimed at sectors such as food & drink, hospitality & tourism, manufacturing and retail.

Top of the bill on the evening will be the announcement of Northern Ireland’s Sustainable Company Of The Year and Business Leader of the Year.

The awards were officially launched at the Culloden Estate & Spa in early February. Keynote sponsors of the Business Eye Sustainability Awards for the second year are Strategic Power Connect, one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of renewable energy solutions to large energy users. The awards are organised by the team at Business Eye, the driving force behind the annual AIB Business Eye Awards and the new Business Eye Family Business Awards.

“We hear so much today about how local businesses are reinventing how they do business to reflect the onus on each and every one of us to make our contribution to a more sustainable environment. Local companies are working hard to make a difference and these awards recognise those efforts and those achievements,” says Richard Buckley, Editor of Business Eye.

“Last year’s awards and the event itself exceeded all of our expectations in terms of entries and attendance on the night. This year, with sustainability firmly embedded on the corporate agenda, we’re confident that the momentum will continue.”

Liam Faulkner, CEO, Strategic Power Connect said,

“We are delighted to be the keynote sponsor of the Business Eye sustainability awards for a second year.  Strategic Power Connect are committed to supporting businesses in the north and south of Ireland, achieve their sustainability goals through renewable energy systems and solutions.

Partnering with Business Eye to recognise the best performing businesses in Northern Ireland is a perfect fit for us.  I believe the event will be the highlight of the 2024 NI event calendar and I look forward to reviewing the entries alongside other members of the judging panel.”

 

2023 Sustainability Awards

AWARD CATEGORIES

Sustainable Food and Drink Company of the Year

Open to NI-based food and drink manufacturers, processors and suppliers with sustainability incorporated into their production/supply processes and whose products reflect the sustainable ethos of the organisation.

Sponsored by: 

Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Business of The Year

This award is open to all types of business operating within the Hospitality & Tourism sector here in Northern Ireland, including hotels, pubs/restaurants and visitor attractions. Entrants must demonstrate how a commitment to sustainability forms part of their business model.

Sponsored by: Diageo

Sustainable Manufacturing Business of the Year

For manufacturers, embracing sustainability as an ethos can be more challenging than for businesses operating in other sectors. Entrants should be able to show how their manufacturing processes and systems have been adapted to improve the environmental impact of the organisation’s operations.

Sponsored by: Bank of Ireland

Sustainable Retail Business of the Year

Similar to the Sustainable Services Company of the Year category, but aimed exclusively at retail businesses of any size with sustainability at the heart of their operations.

Sponsored by: Maxol

Major Project of the Year

For a company that has undertaken a  major project that helps create a more sustainable future – an example might be converting to renewables for energy, building wind turbines for energy, a hydrogen production facility, a network of charging points or investment in sustainable infrastructure.

Sponsored by: 

Sustainable Business Leader of the Year

Aimed at owners and senior managers, the award will recognise a business leader who has led his or her organisation to real sustainability achievement, and whose leadership can serve as an example for other business owners and leaders to follow.

Sponsored by: Queens Business School

Sustainable Team of the Year

Many NI organisations now have their own sustainability units, teams committed to spotlighting the sustainability agenda in everything their organisation does. This award sets out to honour the best local sustainability team working within a local organisation.

Sponsored by: Honeycomb

Sustainable Company of the Year 2024

The headline award, presented to the Northern Ireland company, of any size and from any sector, which has demonstrated the most impressive and lasting commitment to sustainability across all of its activities and operations.

Sponsored by: Strategic Power Connect

Young Sustainability Champion Award

The award will be presented to a young business/organisation manager (30 years maximum at entry closing date) driving positive change towards sustainable/net zero targets within their own organisation and/or in the wider community.

Sponsored by: 

Green Building Award

For companies or organisations that have invested in created energy efficient, sustainable and low impact buildings. This could include materials used, renewable energy supply, water reduction, insulation, natural ventilation or ‘greening’ of the site.

Sponsored by: Alpha

Eco Developer of the Year

Open to developers and development companies in both the residential and commercial property sectors, this new award sets out to recognise the developers behind the growing number of innovative and sustainable low carbon, environmentally friendly buildings here in Northern Ireland.

Sponsored by: CBRE

Innovation in Sustainability Award

Open to all organisations based in Northern Ireland, this special award sets out to recognise genuine and tangible innovations which have produced real environmental and sustainability improvements and helped to change the way the organisation operates.

Sponsored by: 

Sustainable Packaging Award

Packaging has been singled out as an area where companies can do more to cut waste and encourage recycling. Whether using natural materials, reducing the quantity of materials or innovating the way out of using more, this rewards suppliers and retailers that have found a way to reduce unnecessary or environmentally damaging materials.

Sponsored by: 

Sustainable Transport Award

A major carbon emitter has been the transport sector, whether by road, sea or air. We are looking to celebrate companies that are actively seeking ways to reduce emissions and create carbon free methods of transportation for themselves or others, or implementing the infrastructure to do so (that is changing stations, EV fleet use etc). Innovation, scale and sustainability will all be considered in the submission.

Sponsored by: Fleet Financial

Campaign of the Year

Corporates have responsibilities to the wider public, and communication of how to improve customers’ and the public’s use of energy or awareness to more sustainable practices is vital. This award is for excellent communication to the public, through broadcast or social media campaigns, information on packaging or in partnership with a charity.

Sponsored by: 

Net Zero/Carbon Reduction Award

Carbon emissions remain the single most worrying element in climate change. This award will be made to the company that can demonstrate a convincing programme to reduce its carbon output and put in place systems that will continue to reduce emissions.

Sponsored by: Invest Northern Ireland