Irish Exporters Association Launches 17th Export Industry Awards

From Friday, 5^th May companies will be able to submit their online application at https://irishexporters.ie/export-industry-awards/ compete across 11 export industry related categories and be in with a chance to be announced Exporter of the Year 2017 at a Gala Dinner and Awards night on the 17th November at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin in the company of over 500 senior industry professionals.

The Alumni programme will this year grow to 110 companies and include Exporter of the Year 2016 The Chanelle Group and new category winners such as eShopWorld, Keogh’s Crisps, Green Isle Foods, Dawn Farms and ChannelSight.

Programme of events:

• 3^rd May – Information Seminar, Dublin
  This Seminar will educate and inform exporters of the opportunities and challenges in preparing for Brexit and Ireland’s competitive advantage as a country to do business with. Event open to all.
• 5^th May – Applications Open.
  Companies can apply for the 17^th Export Industry Awards at https://irishexporters.ie/export-industry-awards
• 22^nd May – Alumni Seminar & Networking Event, Galway
  This event is the first of two private Seminars for Awards Alumni and will focus on Change Management.
• 30^th May – Information Seminar, Cork
  This Seminar will educate and inform exporters of the opportunities and challenges in preparing for Brexit and Ireland’s competitive advantage as a country to do business with. Event open to all.
• 31^st August – Closing Date for Applications
• 14^th September – Alumni Seminar & Networking Event, Dublin (Greater)
  This event is the second of two private Seminars for Awards Alumni and will focus on Change Management.
• 4^th October – UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Masterclass for Alumni
• 17^th November – Export Industry Awards, Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin

Simon McKeever, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association commented: “The Export Industry Awards have been recognising the tremendous achievements of companies working in the industry for 16 years. Given the uncertainties that are facing Irish exporters with our biggest trading partner leaving the EU and the current uncertain geopolitical environment, it is more important than ever to acknowledge the vital importance of the export industry to the Irish economy and recognise the organisations that support the sector. We are delighted to work with Platinum sponsors Bank of Ireland, Etihad Airways, KPMG and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School on the Export Industry Awards and Alumni Programme and our aim is to facilitate and grow a community for Export Industry Award winners, our leaders in the industry, to not only learn from each other and experts in the sector, but to tackle barriers head on and to prepare the necessary plans to successfully grow and develop their businesses overseas and scale up and down as they manage their business. Last year was the first year of the Alumni Programme and it proved to be a resounding success so this year we have made it bigger and better!”

Beatrice Cosgrove, General Manager for Etihad Airways, commented: “We are delighted to be involved with the awards again. With our second daily service from Dublin having returned at the start of April, the airline is able to offer exporters even greater options for connecting their goods and services to growing markets across the globe. Our dedicated cargo division operates to over 120 destinations via the Abu Dhabi hub and provides a mixture of freighter and bellyhold capacity that can cater to all customers operating in the Irish market. In the last year alone we have carried over 600,000 tonnes of cargo globally making us one of the world’s most successful air cargo operations.”

Speaking about the sponsorship, John Moclair, Head of Global Customer Group with Bank of Ireland Global Markets, said: “We are once again delighted to support the Irish Exporters Association Export Industry Awards and Alumni Programme in 2017. The initiative is going from strength to strength and we encountered exceptional talent, drive and focus in last year’s competition. We are very excited about meeting and mentoring the growing number of ambitious exporting companies engaging with the programme in 2017. The Bank has a strong tradition of supporting the best and brightest and our extensive experience, expertise and supports for exporting companies across global markets makes the Export Awards a perfect fit for Ireland’s leading bank. We are very much looking forward to a great partnership with the IEA and its many members that will compete for awards in the months ahead and we wish all involved the best of luck.”

Shaun Murphy, Managing Partner, KPMG in Ireland commented: “Exports represent the primary engine for Ireland’s continued growth and prosperity and, more than ever, are essential to the development of the economy, both north and south of the border. Exporting encourages innovation, supports employment and builds economies of scale and we are delighted to support these awards.”

Caroline Kinsella, Head of Business Development, UCD Smurfit Executive Development said: “At UCD Smurfit School our mission is to re-imagine business better together. Success in international markets will help secure the long-term, sustainable growth of a business. But good preparation is essential to successfully manage the risks, particularly when exporting for the first time. Through UCD Smurfit Executive Development activity and our UCD Business Alumni worldwide network, we are supporting the successful international expansion of numerous Irish companies by providing them and their executives with knowledge and networking opportunities. We look forward to continuing to support Irish exporters in the years ahead.”

About the Alumni Programme and Information Seminars

Created in 2016 and designed in conjunction with Bank of Ireland, Etihad, KPMG and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, the Export Industry Awards Alumni Programme is open to past category winners and former shortlisted Export Industry Award winners. Two half day Seminars will take place in May in Dublin and September in Galway and will focus on Change Management. Companies in the Alumni programme will also be invited to attend a full day Masterclass organised by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in October.

In addition, two Information Seminars will take place in Dublin and Cork this May to raise awareness of the Export Industry Awards, the application process, access to expertise from Bank of Ireland, Etihad Airways, KPMG, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and the IEA as we collectively aim to educate and inform exporters of the opportunities and challenges in preparing for Brexit and focus on Ireland’s competitive advantage as a country to do business with. This event is open to all exporters.

About the Export Industry Awards

The Irish Exporters Association’s Export Industry Awards in its 17th year is the premier event for recognising the achievements of Irish Exporters. The event is supported by a number of corporate and industry sponsors: Bank of Ireland, Etihad Airways, KPMG and UCD Smurfit School of Business, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Maritime Development Office with more to be confirmed. It is important that we highlight the exporting companies who have excelled in their sector despite some difficult trading conditions and to highlight exporters who have been fundamental to Ireland’s success. Over 500 export industry professionals will attend this black tie event. The award categories cover the emerging exporters to established indigenous exporters of manufactured goods, services, software and onward to the multinational companies.