A TRAVEL agency business with a network of five branches has been named Northern Ireland's Small Business of the Year at the inaugural Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards.
Oasis Travel clinched the top award at the brand new event on the Northern Ireland business calendar which took place at La Mon House Hotel & Country Club.
Organised by Business Eye magazine and sponsored by First Trust Bank, the initiative rewarded top small business performers across 12 different categories. They were open to all businesses in Northern Ireland with less than 50 employees.
Manufacturing business of the year went to Bangor-based personalised garment makers The Signature Works, while Atlas Communications came out on top in the technology business category.
Squeeze Wheatgrass lifted the agri-food business award with Newry-based online specialists The Rug House adding the exporter of the year title to its growing collection of awards.
The award for customer focus went to Fusion Heating while Employers for Childcare took the community contribution crown.
Head of First Trust Bank Des Moore said that both the quantity and quality of the entries had surpassed expectations in the very first year of the Small Business Awards.
“AWe're committed to supporting the small business sector because we know that those businesses are critically important to driving the economy forward. We need to do more to celebrate business success here and wanted to shine a light on our many excellent small businesses to hold them up as role models for their peers.
"The standard, diversity, innovation and entrepreneurial drive were not only exciting but really encouraging for the local economy and we want to congratulate all of the entrants and winners.”
Brenda Buckley, publisher of Business Eye, added: “We've always been aware of a high level of interest from the small business community, so we decided that it was high time they had awards of their own, dedicated soley to Northern Ireland's many small businesses. We're confident they'll become an integral part of the business calendar.”
