Pictured at the launch of the UTV Business Eye Awards 2009 in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland) are (l-r) Michael Wilson, Managing Director of UTV Television; Hugh Donnelly, Head of Regions North at Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and Brenda Buckley of Business Eye.
Business Eye is joining forces with UTV this for the third year running to launch the UTV Business Eye Awards 2009 in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland).
This year's awards night, which is planned for Friday 16th October 2009 at the Culloden Hotel, will reward the the creme de la creme of the Northern Ireland business community.
Firmly people-based and pitched at the entire local business community, the awards will honour Northern Ireland's Business Personality of the Year, Company of the Year and a wide-ranging number of specialist categories.
Hundreds of entries are anticipated across the 15 different categories and the winners in each case will be chosen by a panel of judges including UTV's Business Correspondent Jamie Delargy, Business Eye Editor Richard Buckley as well as leading local business journalists.
Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion and Belfast aerospace firm Bombardier lifted the top two awards at last year’s UTV Business Eye Awards in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland).
Mannion, whose decision to move his airline’s operating base from Shannon to Belfast International Airport was hailed as a major boost for Northern Ireland, was named Business Personality of the Year at the awards, staged last week at the Culloden Hotel near Belfast.
Bombardier Aerospace won the coveted Vodafone Company of the Year title at the event, which was attended by more than 400 guests and featured former X Factor star Rhydian Roberts as the guest star following the awards.
Bombardier beat off strong competition for the company title from Co. Down based Mash Direct and Fintec Crushing & Screening of Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone.
Other key winners on the night included Dr. Sally Montgomery of W5 (Public Sector Personality of the Year), FG Wilson (International Company of the Year) and innovative Belfast print firm GPS Colour Graphics (Green Company of the Year).
Brenda Buckley of organisers Business Eye magazine said that current economic conditions had not made any impact on a record entry for the UTV Business Eye Awards.
“We had a really high quality entry across no less than 16 different categories, and our judging panel faced some very difficult decisions in some of those categories.”
The judging panel included this year’s Honorary Chairman of Judges, Resource CEO Terence Brannigan (last year’s winner of the Business Personality of the Year Award). Also part of the panel were Adrienne McGill, Business Editor of the News Letter, and Hugh Donnelly from main sponsors Bank of Scotland (Ireland).
Paul Sargent of Multi Development UK, the developers of Victoria Square, was named Property Personality of the Year, while Musgrave Retail Partners NI took the Retail Award.
The Employer of the Year accolade went to supermarket group ASDA, and the Tourism & Hospitality Project award was won by Down District Council for its regeneration of the seaside resort of Newcastle.
Full List of Winners – 2008 UTV Business Eye Awards in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland)
Business Personality of the Year – Dermot Mannion, Chief Executive, Aer Lingus
Company of the Year – Bombardier Aerospace
Property Personality of the Year – Paul Sargent, Multi Development UK
Public Sector Personality of the Year – Dr. Sally Montgomery, W5
Marketing/ Advertising Personality of the Year – Lawrence Duffy, Duffy Rafferty Communications
Technology Personality of the Year – Danny Moore, Wombat
Retailer of the Year – Musgrave Retail Partners NI
International Company of the Year – FG Wilson
Business/Education Award - South Eastern Regional College
Tourism & Hospitality Project of the Year - Down District Council
Green Company of the Year – GPS Colour Graphics
Employer of the Year - ASDA
Motor Trade Personality of the Year - Ian Wilson, Wilsons Auctions
Business Consultancy of the Year - Tughans Solicitors
Architect of the Year - Todd Architects
Young Business Personality of the Year - Rory McNaughton, Contract Services (NI)
