Brian Gillan, Head of Retail & NI, AIB (left) and Business Eye's Brenda Buckley (right) are pictured presenting Emma Pollock, Chief Technology Officer, FinTrU with ‘Company of the Year’ Award at the AIB Business Eye Awards 2021.

AIB/BusinessEye Awards 2021 Winners

FinTrU Claims Second Top Company Title at AIB Business Eye Awards

Belfast and Londonderry~Derry based FinTrU has claimed the coveted ‘Company of the Year’ title at the 2021 AIB Business Eye Awards, the second time the firm has won the award.

After a year’s absence, Northern Ireland’s largest and longest running business awards made a welcome return to ICC Belfast with an audience of more than 600 people. The AIB Business Eye Awards recognise outstanding business and individual achievements across 16 different categories.

Sam Anderson, the US-based founder of IceMOS Technology – a high performance technology group with an operation on the outskirts of West Belfast – was named as this year’s ‘Business Personality of the Year’.

There was also a special Lifetime Achievement Award for local businessman and entrepreneur, Dr Terry Cross.  The former Managing Director of Delta Print & Packaging, Terry is now the driving force and investor behind County Down’s Hinch Distillery.

In other key award categories, the Q Radio Group was named as ‘Small Business of the Year’ while Belfast-based telecomms company Barclay Communications landed the ‘Family Business of the Year’ title.

AES Global, the Cookstown designer and manufacturer of remote access systems, took the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ category, while FD Technologies, one of our largest technology employers, was presented with the ‘Employer of the Year’ trophy.

This year’s event also included a number of awards aimed specifically at corporate and individual achievement and contribution during the Covid pandemic.

The Covid Response and Covid Innovation Awards on the night went to medical equipment specialists Hospital Services Ltd and Belfast audio visual firm NIAVAC respectively while Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of Retail NI, was honoured for his role in championing the retail cause throughout the pandemic.

“We were delighted to be able to bring the AIB Business Eye Awards back live to ICC Belfast after so many months of uncertainty, online awards ceremonies and a complete absence of any live business events for 18 months,” said Business Eye’s Brenda Buckley.

“We were particularly pleased to have a record-breaking number entries and to be able to welcome more than 600 guests to the venue, where we honoured some of the real high achievers and pace setters in the world of business here in Northern Ireland.”

AIB, a key supporter of the Northern Ireland business community, has partnered Business Eye on the awards for the past four years and was thrilled to celebrate local success. Brian Gillan, Head of Retail & NI, AIB said; “These awards act as a fantastic showcase of best-practice, leadership and innovation and given the challenges of the last year and more, it is quite inspirational to see the quality of work on display. We applaud all those shortlisted and of course the winners who through their success, will help encourage more organisations to develop, innovate and grow.” 

AIB Business Eye 2021- Awards and Winners list

 R&D Project of the Year Award

  • Foods Connected

 Family Business of the Year

  • Barclay Communications

 Covid Era Innovative Company of the Year

  • NIAVAC

 Employer of the Year Award

  • FD Technologies

 Tourism & Hospitality Award

  • Titanic Hotel Belfast

 Young Business Personality of the Year Award

  • Roger McCracken of Foods Connected

 Executive Support Professional Of The Year

  • Kerri Masterson

 Community/CSR Award

  • Hagan Homes

 Medium/Mid-Sized Business of the Year

  • Version 1

 Covid Era Response Company of the Year

  • Hospital Services

 Covid Hero award

  • Glyn Roberts, Retail NI

 Professional Services Firm of the Year

  • A&L Goodbody

 Manufacturer of the Year

  • AES Global

 Small Business of the Year

  • Q Radio

 Business Personality of the Year

  • Sam Anderson

 Retail Company of the Year

  • Lidl NI

 Company of the Year

  • FinTru

 Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Dr Terry Cross