.
Eileen Collery, Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Programme Manager andDavid Merriman, Head of Enterprise Development at Bank of Ireland (both centre) are pictured alongside Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprising Town Awards judges (L-R) Jacqui Gollogly, Tom Hayes, Tom Dowling, Kate O’Donnell, Tom Coughlan, Tim O’Neill and Eddie Breen.
TRALEE will compete in the Bank of Ireland National Enterprising Town Competition with a total prize fund of €110,000.
Bank of Ireland’s national competition to find the country’s most enterprising town is set to reach its climax, with 78 entries from 31 local/city authority areas vying to be crowned Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprising Town Winner 2017.
By entering the National Enterprising Town Awards Competition, each town/city village/urban area has an opportunity to focus on the strengths of their town and to present their town in the best possible light with a common voice.
Continued below…
.
In Kerry, Listowel and Tralee are competing in various categories which will include regional runner-up, regional winner, city award, merit awards, national category winners and the overall national winner.
With a total prize fund of €110,000, over 30 cash prizes will be awarded to various winners.
The overall winning town, city village or urban area will be awarded total prize money of €23,000, a trophy and the prestigious title of Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprising Town 2017.
The judging panel will visit each of the local organising committees from late August through to mid-October with the winners announced at an awards ceremony in November. The judges will consider a range of factors which demonstrate enterprising spirit and success including;
· The Enterprising Town – local enterprise initiatives, business groups, innovations in the community and social enterprises;
· Attractiveness of the town – welcome signage, appearance, parking and accessibility;
· Partnerships and reaching out – collaboration with local councils and agencies, joint initiatives between businesses, diaspora engagement and twinning;
· Town leadership and vision – innovative forward thinking and planning to support enterprise development;
· Community support – support for local businesses’ key services and culture, sports, heritage, environment;
· Awards or recognitions that the town or city village/area has achieved.
Frank Shaw, Bank of Ireland, Head of County Kerry said; “As Ireland’s Enterprise Bank, we recognise that SME’s, start-ups and community organisations are a significant driver of the overall prosperity of the city or county. Local business owners and community groups want to see their town doing well, and there is nothing like a bit of healthy competition to motivate people to put their best foot forward. We want to recognise and reward those places where small businesses and community groups are working together with their local council and state agencies to promote enterprise in their area.”
Prize Fund
Overall National Winner (1) — €15,000
City Award (1) — €5,000
Regional Runner-Up — 12 x €2,000 Awards — €24,000
Regional Winners — 12 x €3,000 Awards — €36,000
National Category Winners — 3 x €5,000 Awards — €15,000
Merit Awards — Judges discretion — up to €15,000 in total
