Stage 1
Entries are now closed for the West Cork Business and Tourism Awards 2023
STAGE 2
Shortlist of Finalists
The judges will review all submissions and a shortlist of three finalists per category will be agreed.
November 2023
STAGE 3
Pitch Night
Finalists are then invited to a pitch night on December 5th, hosted by OfficeMaster in the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen. This is your opportunity to showcase your business via a three minute pitch. From this, the judges will decide the ultimate winners for each category.
STAGE 4
Special supplement
Following the pitch night, The Southern Star will publish a special supplement within the newspaper and online at southernstar.ie that profiles each of the category finalists’ businesses.
January 2024
STAGE 5
The West Cork Business & Tourism Awards Gala Luncheon
Each finalist will receive two complimentary tickets to the West Cork Gala Awards luncheon, which will be held on Friday, February 2nd 2024 in The West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen, where the winners of each category will be announced.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES YOU CAN CONTACT The Southern Star Customer Service Dept on 028 21200 or email awards@southernstar.ie
Please note: The decision of the judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The awards categories
West Cork's Best Customer Service
Sponsored by Blackwater Motors
Ireland is renowned for its ‘Cead Mile Failte’ - ‘One Hundred Thousand welcomes’. Businesses pride themselves on reviews and testimonials of a job well done. We are on the search for West Cork’s best customer service. If your business delights its customers time after time and offers the best welcome and best service then we want to hear from you. Use examples of when your business has delivered exceptional customer service. Include details of awards, ratings, media coverage, reviews or testimonials you have received.
Best New Business
Sponsored by Collins Brooks & Associates
Starting a business can be exciting and challenging. This award acknowledges new businesses and entrepreneurs that have shown potential to create employment and maximise opportunities in their sector. We want to hear from business owners who have established a new business of any size, in the last 3 years.
Best Small Business
Sponsored by Office Master
This category is open to any business with less than 20 employees, including solo-preneurs. This business can operate from a home office or trade from a business premises.
The business set up can be a sole trader, partnership or limited company and can operate in any sector. We’re looking for examples of how the business has developed and gone from strength to strength in recent years.
Best Medium/Large Business
Sponsored by Lilly Ireland
This category is for the best medium or large sized business in West Cork. A business that prides itself on providing employment, from 20 people right up to 250 employees. This business can operate in any sector.
We’re looking for examples of how the business has evolved, grown and gone from strength to strength in recent years.
Best Use of Creative Marketing
Sponsored by Masterkabin
We recognise the results that well thought out and well executed advertising/promotional/marketing initiatives can deliver. We’re looking for West Cork’s best marketing campaign or initiative. This doesn’t have to be a huge ‘song and dance’! It can be something as simple as an online video that went viral to a carefully planned out advertising campaign across various channels. It could be a clever podcast that attracted customers or a piece of ‘guerilla’ marketing designed to grab awareness or PR coverage. We are looking for businesses who have gained attention for their business by thinking outside the box.
Best Tourism Experience
Sponsored by Cork Airport
West Cork is renowned for the experience we offer to tourists and locals alike. With its stunning scenery, skilled craftspeople and talented food producers, visitors are spoilt for choice. Tourism experiences showcase what West Cork has to offer and we are looking for the ‘best in the West!’ If you operate a tourism business that offers a superb tourism experience in West Cork, this category is for you.
West Cork Young Businessperson of the Year
Sponsored by Access Credit Union
Young entrepreneurs are a key part of Ireland’s future. This category supports and champions West Cork’s young, dynamic and creative business men and women. If you are a business owner or business operator/manager under the age of 35 and your business has been in operation for a minimum of 1 year this is your opportunity to showcase your business skills.
Best Family Business
Sponsored by Cork County Council
We are looking for West Cork’s best family-owned and run businesses. Recognising family-run enterprises that are embedded in their local community, whether it’s a small corner shop or a large business exporting across the globe, all family businesses have a story of how it all started, often spanning many generations.
SPECIAL AWARDS
West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Business of the Year
The special Fáilte Ireland Award for the ‘West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Business of the Year’, will be awarded by the judges to a tourism business they feel specifically brings the Wild Atlantic Way regional experience brand to life. The winning tourism business will offer an authentic experience and continually innovate their tourism offering in a sustainable way to attract more visitors to West Cork throughout the year.
West Cork Business Ambassador
The award for West Cork Business Ambassador is awarded to an individual whom the judges feel has made a significant and extraordinary contribution to business life in West Cork.
Previous winners include:
Colette Twomey, Clonakilty Food Co, 2018
John Field, Fields SuperValu, Skibbereen, 2019
Brigitte Wagner Halswick, Rowa Pharmaceuticals, Bantry, 2022
Overall West Cork Business of the Year 2023
The judges will choose an overall winning business from the eight category winners, that has demonstrated excellence, innovation, and a commitment to the local community. The recipient of the Best Overall West Cork Business of the Year award will be announced and honoured during the prestigious ceremony.
Previous winners include:
Rowa Pharmaceuticals, Bantry, 2018
Keohane Seafoods, Bantry, 2019
Global Shares, Clonakilty, 2022