Northern Ireland’s Business Heroes Honoured At AIB Business Eye Awards
Conor McGrath, Managing Director, AIB Group (UK) p.l.c. (left) and Brenda Buckley (third right) present the AIB Business Eye Company of the Year award to the team from Lidl: Michael Orr, Donal Fahey, Geri Wright, Gordon Cruikshanks, Keith Lamont, Kirsty Cole, Sarah McKenna, Jamie O’Rourke and Lucy Dougan.
Retail giants Lidl Northern Ireland, Federation of Small Businesses Chair Alan Lowry and two of the legends of the transport and tourism sectors here were among the big individual and company winners honoured at the 20th AIB Business Eye Awards, held at ICC Belfast last night (Thursday, 22nd October).
More than 500 business guests attended Northern Ireland’s leading business awards, as they marked their 20th anniversary.
Visit Belfast Chief Executive Gerry Lennon and Stena Line’s Paul Grant were the dual winners of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Awards, while Alan Lowry was named as this year’s Business Personality of the Year. The Company of the Year title went to Lidl.
This year’s Family Business of the Year title went to sixth generation family business Openfolde, the holding company of Germinal, one of the UK market leaders in the seeds sector. Logistics and cold storage specialists Derry Group Ireland was chosen by the judges as the Sustainable Company of the Year.
Construction giants Heron Brothers was named as this year’s Employer of the Year, while another major retail group, Musgrave Northern Ireland, claimed two awards on the night. Belfast City Airport took the CSR Award, while the Diversity & Inclusion Award went to Henderson Group, one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers.
Manufacturer of the Year was Strabane-based McColgan’s Quality Foods while Lough Erne Resort was the winner of the Tourism & Hospitality Award.
“If these awards are a barometer of the local economy and business performance, then we’re in a better place than some seem to think,” said Business Eye’s Richard Buckley. “We had another record entry, some of the best quality entries we’ve ever had, and the audience at the event was larger than it has been since well before the pandemic.
“Business here always faces headwinds, and the forthcoming Budget could add to the burden that local businesses face. But the AIB Business Eye Awards are a night for celebration of business success. And there is plenty of that around Northern Ireland. The winners we’ve honoured at the awards reflect the very best of business achievement here in Northern Ireland.”
Conor McGrath, Managing Director of AIB Group (UK) Plc, congratulated all the winners on their awards success.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Company of the Year
Northern Ireland’s overall company of the year in the opinion of the judging panel. Companies can be of any size/scale, number of employees, and must be able to exhibit exceptional performance, especially but not exclusively during the 12 month period to 30th May 2026.
Sponsored by: AIB
Young Business Personality of the Year
The category is open to senior managers and leaders in businesses and organisations across the private, public and voluntary sectors under the age of 40, whose leadership and achievement can be clearly demonstrated.
Sponsored by: Ulster University
Tourism & Hospitality Award
The company or organisation making the most valuable contribution to the continued development of tourism & hospitality here in Northern Ireland. Possible entrants might include hotels/hotel groups, other forms of accommodation, tourism development organisations, restaurants, travel facilities, etc.
Sponsored by: Visit Belfast
Employer of the Year
This category sets out to recognise those local organisations exhibiting best practice in terms of people management. The judging panel will look for clear evidence of class-leading initiatives designed to make the organisation a better and more caring employer.
Sponsored by: Foot Anstey
Medium/Mid-Sized Business of the Year
This category will recognise a leading player in the 50-250 employee sector of the Northern Ireland economy, a key sector which includes a number of our leading private sector companies. As with Company of the Year, entrants must demonstrate exceptional performance across the board.
Sponsored By: 4c Executive Placement
Innovative Company of The Year
Open to any Northern Ireland-based company of any size able to demonstrate evidence of significant innovation in products, services or processes resulting in demonstrable gains for the business as a whole.
Sponsored by: Queen’s University Business School
Family Business of the Year
The Northern Ireland economy includes a high proportion of family-owned enterprises. This category sets out to recognise the very best. Open to all family-owned enterprises based in Northern Ireland, irrespective of size, scale or sector of operation.
Sponsored by: HM Chartered Accountants
Community (CSR) Award
Corporate social responsibility plays an important role for NI companies and this specialist category sets out to recognise an organisation from the private, public or voluntary sectors making a clear and impactful contribution to its local community as a whole.
Sponsored by: Business Eye
Construction & Property Company of the Year
The construction or property organisation making the most significant contribution to the wider economy through the development of innovative, sustainable and relevant project(s) across any sector, including both residential and commercial development.
Sponsored by: Alpha
Manufacturer of the Year
A very important category, this one is open to all manufacturing organisations, of any size and scale, operating in Northern Ireland. The judging panel will look for evidence of innovation, attention to detail, state of the art engineering and product market success.
Sponsored by: Kenect Recruitment NI
Sustainable Company of the Year
Once again open to a Northern Ireland-based organisation of any size, this award will recognise an organisation which has made significant and demonstrable progress towards becoming more sustainable and contributing to the wider environmental goal.
Sponsored by: Maxol
Business Personality of the Year
The keynote award will honour Northern Ireland’s outstanding business personality over the past 12 months, an individual whose leadership achievements have contributed to business success and to the wider local economy.
Sponsored by: Ardmore Group
Lifetime of Achievement Award
A premier award on the night, this special award will be presented to an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution not just to their own business or sector, but also to the Northern Ireland business community and economy as a whole.
Sponsored by: Morrow Communications
Fast Growth Business of the Year
This award will be presented to the local company able to demonstrate significant growth – in terms of turnover and/or employment – over the last 12 to 18 months dating back from the closing date for entries.
Sponsored by: Bauer Media Group
Outstanding Leadership & Management Award
This award is aimed at individuals in senior management and leadership positions who have achieved significant results for their organisation as a result of their leadcership.
Sponsored by: UpStream
Diversity & inclusion Award
With diversity and inclusion firmly on the corporate agenda today, this new award will identify a local company which has diversity and inclusion at the heart of its recruitment and human resource management policies.
Sponsored by: AIB
Small Business of The Year
The organisation with 50 employees or less which, in the opinion of the judges, exemplifies best practice and achievement across the board. Evidence of growth and development, clear vision and strategy to deliver growth, commitment to superior customer service, demonstration of innovation across the business.
Sponsored by: NI Chamber
Professional Services Firm of the Year
This category sets out to honour Northern Ireland’s leading accountancy, legal or other professional services firm working with and providing key advice to clients in the local business community.
Sponsored by: Lockton
Marketing Campaign of the Year
This award recognises an outstanding marketing campaign delivered by a Northern Ireland-based organisation within the past 12 months. The winning campaign will demonstrate creativity, strategic thinking, effective execution, and measurable results.
Sponsored by: Fleet Financial
