Waterford Business Awards to open for entries
Pictured are Martin Freyne, Chair of the Judging Panel, Neil Gough, WLRfm, Oren Byrne, President, Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber, Deputy Metropolitan Mayor, Cllr. Lola O’Sullivan, Eadaoin Carrick, Deputy President, Waterford Chamber, Liam Dunne and Mark Rohan, Co-founders of Klearcom and winners of the Overall Waterford Business of the Year in 2024 and Gerald Hurley, Chief Executive, Waterford Chamber. Photograph: Patrick Browne
Entries for this year's Waterford Business Awards will be accepted from August 11.
The Gala awards ceremony, one of the premiere social events on the Déise calendar, will take place on November 14 in the Tower Hotel.
The awards are designed to acknowledge excellence in business across Waterford City and County and are organised by Waterford Chamber, in collaboration with Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber, with support from Waterford City & County Council and WLR.
Launching the awards, Waterford Chamber Deputy President, Eadaoin Carrick said the awards will honour Waterford's best: "The 2025 awards will honour the best and brightest who showcase Waterford as a great place to invest and do business locally, nationally, and internationally."
"We have introduced new categories for the 2025 awards and are confident there is something for everyone," she added, before commenting: "We are especially excited to add a new 'Think Waterford First' award, which will recognise a local company who goes above and beyond to support and promote Waterford, from community input to driving the business agenda. We are appealing to businesses to take time now to record their achievements ahead of the August 11, opening date, so they can be ready to enter the awards and be proud and acknowledge their ongoing achievements."
Oren Byrne, President, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber also encouraged businesses to enter.
“We are encouraging all our members to consider entering the awards," she said. "It is a great opportunity to review your activity for the past year and acknowledge the successes along the way, while the awards night itself is a fantastic coming together of businesses in the city and county to network and do business.”
CEO of WLR, Michael Byrne added: “WLR is delighted to partner with Waterford Chamber, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, and with Waterford Council on the 2025 Business Awards initiative.
"I think it’s more important than ever to recognise excellence in local business and industry and the awards are a very positive spotlight on the innovation and entrepreneurship we have in the City and County”.
The full list of categories includes: Business of the Year (up to 20 based in the South East region); Business of the Year (up to 100 based in the South East region); Business of the Year (100+ based in the South East region); Customer Service Excellence; Environmental & Sustainability; Retailer of the Year; Food, Beverage & Hospitality; Marketing Excellence; New Business of the Year; Excellence in Innovation; The Visit Waterford Award; Workplace Excellence; Entrepreneur of the Year; Special Recognition Award; Think Waterford First Award; Radio campaign of the Year; Overall Waterford Business of the Year.
