Armagh-based company Almac has been crowned the overall ‘Ulster Bank Business Achiever 2014’.The national final, which took place at the Mansion House in Dublin last night, toasted the cream of the crop in Irish business crowning ten finalists from Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht.
The awards, in association with Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland, saw a record number of entries this year as 627 businesses competed nationally, culminating in the announcement of the winners at a gala dinner tonight.
Headquartered in Craigavon, Almac is an established contract development and manufacturing organisation providing an extensive range of integrated services to over 600 companies globally within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Services include state-of-the-art drug discovery, world leading cancer diagnostics, research and development, manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, formulation development and the support of global clinical trials. Today the global organisation employs over 3,500 staff in a diverse range of activities.
Doug Cookson, vice president corporate marketing at Almac Group, said: “We are delighted to be named Overall Business Achiever in these prestigious awards, particularly when pitched against other outstanding companies across all of Ireland. This is a fantastic recognition of the hard work by all our global teams and dedicated employees, without whom this success would not be possible. Huge congratulations to everyone at Almac on making winning this coveted award possible – it is a true honour for all of us.”
Along with Almac, eight other leading businesses from across the country were named national winners in their individual award categories, along with the Business Women Can Special Recognition Award which went to Janet McCollum, CEO of Moy Park.
This year the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards national winners are as follows:
- Overall ‘Ulster Bank Business Achiever 2014’: Almac
- Business Women Can Special Recognition Award: Janet McCollum, CEO, Moy Park
- Woman Led Business: TVM
- Best Business Start Up: Smart Wall Paint
- Small Business Award: FCS Global
- Best Established SME: Reagecon Diagnostics Ltd
- Food and Drink: Avondale Foods
- Social Enterprise: The Food Hub
- International Business: Realex Payments
- Agri-business: Paul Brophy Produce
Speaking at the national final awards ceremony, Ellvena Graham, managing director of Small Medium Enterprise Banking at Ulster Bank said: “With this year’s record number of applicants Ulster Bank has seen first-hand the outstanding achievements and successes of Ireland’s Small Medium Enterprises. Through difficult financial times these companies have displayed innovation and entrepreneurship in their area of expertise. It gives us great pride at Ulster Bank to celebrate their accomplishments tonight. Our award winners are an inspiration to businesses throughout the island and I would like to congratulate them and wish them every success in the future.”
Almac will receive a publishing bursary with the Irish Independent, business mentoring, a full service communications workshop, as well as national and regional PR opportunities.