Bank of Ireland supporting enterprise across Ireland with the launch of The National Enterprise Town Awards

€1.2 million investment in enterprise development in 2019

Bank of Ireland is calling on the public to nominate local towns for enterprise excellence

Bank of Ireland has launched its 2019 National Enterprise Town Awards as part of a €1.2 million investment in enterprise development within communities across Ireland this year. The awards, supported by local authorities throughout Ireland, will have a total prize fund of €200k. The prize fund will be awarded across 40 winners where businesses and communities have collaborated to showcase the spirit of enterprise in their locality.

Nominated towns, urban areas and villages will be announced in June and a judging panel will visit all nominated locations throughout the month of August and September before the winners are announced at an awards ceremony in the Lyrath Hotel, Co. Kilkenny on 5 December 2019. Members of the public can now nominate their local towns, urban areas and villages online via www.bankofireland.com/enterprise-town-awards.

Speaking at the launch of the awards, Francesca McDonagh, CEO Bank of Ireland said, “Enabling communities and business to thrive is at the heart of everything we do at Bank of Ireland. We are investing €1.2 million this year to encourage entrepreneurship at a local level across the country. The National Enterprise Town Awards is a fundamental part of this investment, enabling us to reward towns where communities, business groups and local authorities have collaborated successfully to drive enterprise and stimulate their local economies.”

The €1.2 million investment by Bank of Ireland comprises several initiatives throughout the year including the 2019 National Enterprise Town Awards, the bank’s ‘Grow Your Business’ week for SMEs, and a comprehensive nationwide financial wellbeing programme for businesses.

Since the National Enterprise Town Awards inception in 2016, 80 towns, urban areas and villages across the country have received €500,000 in funding to invest in their community to stimulate economic growth. Previous winning towns, urban areas and villages highlight the main benefits of awards participation as increased community spirit, a boost to local tourism, and growth of new business.