A
DUBLIN 15 firm has beaten off stiff competition from companies across the
country to make it to the final eight of this year’s National Enterprise
Awards.
Blanchardstown
based FleetConnect, set up in 2008 by Patrick Cotter and supported by Fingal
County Enterprise Board, provides passenger wi-fi services for several major
transport companies including Bus Eireann, Irish Rail, Translink, Aircoach and
GoBus.
The
local company scooped the Fingal Enterprise Award at an awards ceremony in
September, during Fingal Enterprise Week. The company then had to undergo a
rigorous judging process, before reaching the final shortlist in the national
section of the competition.
Mr
Cotter and his team are now preparing for the National Enterprise Awards in
Dublin Castle, which take place in front of 200 invited guests on Thursday,
November 24. Organised by county and city enterprise boards from around the
country, the scheme recognises and rewards the achievements of small
businesses.
Oisin
Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal County Enterprise Board, congratulated FleetConnect on
reaching the final eight.
“Yet
again, a Fingal company has achieved success on the national stage,
? he said.
“The
company’s success is beacon of light for other small businesses in the region
and they are the ideal ambassadors for Fingal enterprise.
?
Fingal
has an excellent track record for producing winners at the National Enterprise
Awards, with local firms having previously been crowned overall winners in 2005
and 2008 (Simtech Aviation Limited in 2008 and IFS Ltd in 2005).
FleetConnect
will be up against companies from Cavan, Cork West, Donegal, Mayo, Limerick
County, Westmeath and Wexford, which were all nominated by their respective
county and city enterprise boards for the finals.
The
National Enterprise Awards will be hosted by RTE’s Bryan Dobson while Minister
for Small Business, John Perry, will be making the official award presentations
on stage.