BANK of Ireland has launched a new award scheme offering £180,000 in cash support to support towns and villages reboot and recover from the impact of the current pandemic.
The prize fund in its 'Begin Together Awards' is part of £910,000 (€1 million) in support from the bank for local enterprise and community groups across the island of Ireland over the coming months
There are 21 monetary prizes available across 10 categories, with an overall winner receiving £45,000 and the title of ‘Most Enterprising Town’. There is also a prize of £18,000 for the winner of the ‘Rising Star’ award.
Ian McLaughlin, Bank of Ireland's chief executive for retail UK, said: “Incredible things can be achieved when communities, business groups and local authorities come together to meet their own challenges and make their own opportunities.
“Covid-19 has presented the biggest challenge to our physical, mental and financial wellbeing in living memory, which makes that ‘can-do’ enterprising spirit more important than ever.
“We have seen the tremendous challenges local business owners have faced and are still facing across Northern Ireland, and these Begin Together Awards will support businesses as they restart and get back on their feet.”
The awards are part of a £2.5 million investment Bank of Ireland is making in the ‘Begin Together’ initiative, a three year campaign launched in Northern Ireland in February to improve the financial, physical and mental wellbeing of Ireland’s communities while supporting the underlying local economies.
Closing date for Begin Together Award entries is August 24. For more information and application forms, visit bankofireland.com/begintogetherawards.
