Business

Campaign leader for lower tax scoops top business award

WITH expectations high that David Cameron will announce the devolution of corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Executive within weeks, the leader of the business campaign for lower corporation tax here has been honoured at a major awards ceremony.

Eamonn Donaghy, a partner at KPMG in Belfast, took the Business Personality of the Year title at the 2014 UTV Business Eye Awards in association with Flybe at the Culloden Hotel.

Decora Blind Systems, a fast-growing Lisburn-based company employing 500 people and manufacturing blinds for sale all over the UK, took the coveted Company of the Year title.

Other key winners on the night included SME of the Year The Rug House, company selling rugs to customers in 30 countries worldwide from a 60,000 sq ft warehouse in Newry. A second Newry company, Norbrook Laboratories, took the International Award for its continued achievement in export markets.

It was a poignant achievement for one of Northern Ireland's leading companies in the year that it lost its chairman and chief executive, Edward Haughey, in a tragic helicopter accident.

Joseph Doherty, the driving force behind a third Newry company ReGen Waste, was the winner of the Young Business Personality of the Year category, while innovative Belfast IT company Novosco took the Employer of the Year Award.

Flybe's UK general manager Andrea Hayes, a member of the judging panel, said: "We were delighted with the calibre of entries this year from right across Northern Ireland. The spread of winners both sectorally and geographically reflect the breadth and depth of business talent inherent locally."

Michael Wilson, managing director of UTV Television, added: "This year's awards have once again showcased the strengths and successes of the business sector in Northern Ireland. Businesses here have continued to look for opportunities of expansion and investment and UTV is delighted to be part of recognising and celebrating these top achievers and organisations in such a positive way."