Award Categories and Sponsors

Entries are now open in 7 categories and you can enter by logging on to www.mayobusinessawards.ie and follow the links. There will be three special awards this year The Neil O Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, a special award from Ballina Chamber and an award from the organisers of Ballina 2023

The categories to enter are:

1. Resilience & Innovation

The winning entry will clearly demonstrate how as a business they have implemented innovative approaches in the face of challenging circumstances over the past few years and as a result their business has survived and grown.

Included in your entry should be:

Case study showing the success and the value of the innovation
Evidence of goals set and the implementation and success of the goals and the resulting impact on the business and position in the market.
Examples on customer feedback of the innovation

2. Best Emerging Business / Best Start-up

This award aims to acknowledge new & emerging businesses and entrepreneurs who have taken the brave step to start their own business. The winner will clearly demonstrate to the judges that they have the potential to grow successful companies which will be create employment and maximise opportunities in their marketplace.

Entry should focus on:

Recognising the opportunity and the gap in the market
Highlighting the achievements and growth of your business to date
Outlining future plans for scaling the business
The demonstration of an enterprising mindset
Evidence of sustainability of the business model

3. Responsible Tourism Award

Responsible Tourism is defined as “tourism which: minimizes negative social, economic and environmental impacts. generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well being of host communities.”

The award will be presented to the business that achieves these goals and best demonstrates how to solve problems in sustainable tourism and introduces unique initiatives that drive this agenda.

Provide evidence of creating a tourism experience that makes Mayo the place to visit.

4. Sustainability Initiative Award

The award is designed to recognise products, processes, or policies that support a greener, more sustainable environment and deliver concrete measures to progress sustainable development.

Entries should include:

Evidence of adapting sustainable business practices within the organisation
How the practices benefit the local environment and community
Examples of how the initiatives contributes to the achievement of any of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

5. Best Digital Presence

This award will honour innovative digital solutions and the increase in business revenue utilising an online presence. The judging panel will consider:

Evidence of using a functional and simple digital process or tool to address a key business goal
Evidence of use of digital to target new markets or launch a new service or product.
Demonstration of an enhanced customer service experience through the implementation of digital practices

6. Accessibility & Inclusion award

Mayo County Council and Mayo Chambers want to recognise local businesses that actively promote an accessible environment and inclusivity for employees and customers.

To demonstrate your commitment please include in your entry:

Examples of how your products/services, information and facilities are accessible to all regardless to age, mobility or ability
Examples of initiatives undertaken to understand the user experience of your product/service and how to improve it
Demonstrate how the accessibility culture has been embraced by all in the organisation.

7. Excellence in Customer Service Award

This award will be given to the business that exceeds all standards of customer service and consistently does more than expected.

Entrants must be able to explain what their service is and demonstrate their commitment to excellence within their particular service provided.

The criteria used for judging this award will be:

Repeat business that your company enjoys
How you encourage and react to customer feedback
Team practices that always makes the customer’s needs a priority

8. The Neill O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award

This award aims to recognise people who set up businesses in Mayo that flourished into established employers in the county. It recognises the determination of the owners of such businesses and gives them and their teams the recognition they deserve. This award does not require an entry and the deserving recipient will be chosen by the committee of the Mayo Business Awards 2023.

9. Ballina 2023 Best Sponsorship Partnership by a Local Entity:
Ballina Chamber of Commerce is a Ballina 2023 Founding Legacy Partner and is proud to support this new category, which aims to recognise the very significant contribution that local businesses make to community events.

To submit a nomination to this category you must be a local community, cultural, healthcare or sports project and the sponsoring partner must be in Mayo.