NEW SPONSOR FOR UTV BUSINESS EYE AWARDS 2011

Northern Ireland's leading business awards, the UTV Business Eye Awards, are now in their fifth year and have been launched for 2011 with a brand new lead sponsor on board. 

The UK's largest low-cost airline, easyJet, is to sponsor the Awards, reflecting its major commitment to the Northern Ireland marketplace. The airline operates 21 scheduled routes from Belfast International Airport.

The UTV Business Eye Awards, in association with easyJet, have become an integral part of the business calendar in Northern Ireland. Entries are already open for the Awards, and Northern Ireland companies and individuals have until Friday, 23rd September to enter online through this website. This year's awards ceremony will take place at the Culloden Estate & Spa on Thursday, 13th October, 2011.

No less than 15 award categories will be up for grabs this time around. Heading the bill are the Business Personality of the Year and Company of the Year Awards, won last time around by Brian Brown of Brown’s Coachworks and Andor Technology Plc respectively.

Further categories recognise corporate and personal achievement in areas such as the environment, international business, the public sector and tourism. In addition to easyJet as lead sponsors, the UTV Business Eye Awards are also supported by a wide variety of category sponsors, including Invest Northern Ireland, Belfast International Airport, Vodafone, ESB independent Energy and Charles Hurst Group.

“We're very pleased to be coming on board as lead sponsors this year,” says Paul Simmons, UK Director at easyJet. “We've been involved in the Awards as category sponsors for the past number of years, and have seen them grow into a major part of the business community in Northern Ireland.

“At easyJet, we take our business passengers very seriously and we know that a high proportion of those who use our routes from Belfast International are business people. Northern Ireland is a very important and growing market for us, and we're delighted to be able to support the local business community in this way.”

Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television, added that the Awards will grow even further in stature in their fifth year.

“The UTV Business Eye Awards are the premier awards for Northern Ireland’s leading companies and we've watched them grow through what has been a difficult time, in terms of the economic environment. The Awards are a chance to recognise the companies that are being innovative and those that are creating and growing new markets and revenue streams.”

Brenda Buckley, Publisher of Business Eye, urged companies and individuals to enter the Awards for 2011 and welcomed the new lead sponsors.

“We're really pleased to be able to welcome such a dynamic and energetic brand as easyJet on board as our lead sponsors, and we're looking forward to the personality that the airline can add to the mix that is the UTV Business Eye Awards in association with easyJet.

“The Awards will be open for entries very shortly, and the entry process will be entirely internet-driven and very user-friendly. Now that the worst of the downturn is over, it's time we celebrated business success here in Northern Ireland.

For further details please contact the Business Eye office on 90474490. Alternatively email info@businesseye.co.uk

Last Year's Winners:

1. Company of the Year

Andor Technology Plc

2. Business Personality of the Year

Brian Brown (Browns Coachworks)

3. Employer of the Year

Parker Green International - winner

HLM Architects – highly commended

4. Green Company of the Year

B/E Aerospace

5. Environmental Project of the Year

Greiner Packaging – winner

McLaughlin & Harvey - highly commended

6. International Award

Parker Green International

7. SME of the Year

Finnebrogue - winner

ShredBank – highly commended

Airporter – highly commended

8. Young Business Personality of the Year

Philip McLorinan (Dunmurry Dental Practice)

9. Retailer of the Year

ASDA Northern Ireland     

10. Research & Development Project of the Year

Kingspan Renewables

11. Public Sector Personality of the Year

Valerie Watts, Derry City Council & Aideen McGinley, ILEX

Derry City of Culture Bids Team - winner

12. Tourism & Hospitality Project

Ulster Museum - winner

The Merchant Hotel – highly commended

13. Business Education Award

Northern Bank/Cahoots NI -  Math-A-Magic

14. Business Consultancy of the Year

Carson McDowell

15. Business Vehicle of the Year

BMW 5 Series