December 2024
Mackle Petfoods becomes the first large food manufacturer to sign up to the Real Living Wage.
Armagh pet food manufacturer, Mackle Petfoods, has become the first large food manufacturer in Northern Ireland to commit to paying the real Living Wage for employees. The company, which employs 275 staff across three sites in Moy and Dungannon, will now ensure all staff are paid the real Living Wage which is the only wage based on the cost of living, and is a voluntary commitment by businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage to meet their everyday needs. As a result, Mackle Petfoods will now pay all hourly-paid staff a minimum of £12.00 per hour increasing annually in line with wage rates set by the Living Wage Foundation.
Last month Mackle Petfoods gained accreditation as a company committed to paying the Real Living Wage, following a commitment to ensure all staff are paid a wage that reflects their work. It now joins 15,000 employers across the UK, and 121 in Northern Ireland signed up to paying the real Living Wage.
Commenting on the real Living Wage accreditation for Mackle Petfoods, Francesca Murray, HR Manager, said; “Mackle Petfoods are delighted to become the largest food manufacturer in Northern Ireland to make a commitment to pay the real Living Wage. All our staff are already paid above the National Minimum Wage as we recognise their importance within the company. Now by signing up to the real Living Wage, we will now pay all hourly salaried staff a minimum rate above the current Government Minimum Wage. *
This new rate indicates our company commitment to ensuring all staff are paid a fair wage for a fair days work and is an investment in our people as reflected in the salaries of all hourly paid staff. In addition to hourly paid staff, Mackle Petfoods will also ensure that any contractors we work with are paid the real Living Wage too.”
The company is currently recruiting for new staff in various areas, including production operatives. To learn more about Mackle Petfoods commitment to ensuring hourly paid staff earn a real Living Wage visit www.macklepetfoods.com.
The real Living Wage initiative was launched in Northern Ireland in June 2024, with 121 employers already signed up to participate. Across England, Scotland, and Wales. For more information about the Living Wage, visit www.livingwage.org.uk.
*The current National Minimum Wage is set at £10.24 for 2024.
June 2024
From kitchen table to multi million-pound brand, new look Naturo unveiled by Mackle Petfoods.
County Armagh company Mackle Petfoods has unveiled a complete rebrand of its award winning Naturo Natural Petfood range and announced 12 new additions to its current range for cats and dogs increasing from 45 to 57 products. Naturo, which was created at the kitchen table of owner John Mackle in 2010, provides 100% natural food to pets, using high-quality ingredients and providing healthy diets for cats and dogs alike. Today Naturo is the No.1 natural wet dog food brand in retail*, sold worldwide across grocery and pet trade, generating £30m annually across Naturo eCommerce and retail. *(Source: IRI Grocer Retail 12/23)
The rebrand was made across the whole Naturo product range, trays, cans and pouches. It includes the addition of their exciting new cat and dog food products catering for kittens to senior cats, and puppies to senior dogs. The rebrand promotes the natural ingredients and benefits to pets and their owners who want the best for their furry friends. The Naturo range focuses on foods for pets with sensitive guts and allergies, reflecting the customers'' needs towards their family pets. Ingredients for the healthy clean food recipes are locally sourced where possible, with recipes created by Naturo’s in-house expert pet nutrition team, and contain no artificial flavouring, colours, or additives, with 100% traceability from farm to bowl.
New Naturo ranges launched in the rebrand include Naturo puppy 400g trays for larger breed puppies, and Naturo 150g & 100g pouches for dogs. In addition, brand-new recipes for kittens, senior and indoor sterilised cats have been created to help improve cat health throughout all stages of life. These contain natural antioxidants from blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate. Built on 6 key nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, omega oils, prebiotics, minerals, and vitamins, Naturo recipes are individually created and brought together to provide quality nutrition to help with growth, digestive systems, coat maintenance, healthy hearts and wellbeing, and vitality.
Commenting on the relaunch, Naturo brand Marketing Manager with Mackle Petfoods, Eva Mooney, said; “We are delighted to share this refresh of our Naturo brand which focuses on the benefits and nutritional value of the product range, placing pets and their owners at the heart of our brand. The brand refresh reflects the excellence across all ranges, and alongside new recipes, the most important thing is the same excellent quality products remain for pets to enjoy.
Working with our in-house nutrition team we have refreshed some recipes to build on the already excellent Naturo products reflecting our ongoing relationship with pet owners, who like us, want the best for their pets. Given the company focus on excellence in our products, and ensuring the best quality nutrients in Naturo, we wanted to use the rebrand to share with our customers how much we, like them, really care about their pet’s nutritional needs and how we deliver those with Naturo natural petfood. Every Naturo pet is one of our family.” Eva added.
Adjustments to recipes include an increase in meat content in some ranges and the introduction of added ingredients across the mix of vegetables and fruit within recipes for pets. The rebranded Naturo creative and product range has now commenced a full roll out to customers and suppliers across UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland and is available across Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Supervalu.
May 2024
100 million reasons to join Mackle Petfoods as company launches campaign to celebrate its petfood family.
Mackle Petfoods has launched a campaign to highlight the many opportunities for students, apprentices and graduates to join the company and become part of their global petfood family business. The company which produces 100 million units of petfood annually from its sites in Moy and Moygashel, has over 275 employees, with over a third of its workforce in training, development, undertaking studies and progressing their careers through continuous learning.
With major brands including Naturo, Brandy, Cat Club and private label, Mackle Petfoods creates over 50,000 tonnes of high quality, nutritious petfood annually, using the best locally sourced ingredients. The company employs staff across pet nutrition, marketing, finance, IT and sales, engineering, technical, production, and transport, and is constantly on the look out for placements, graduates and school leavers wanting to develop their career in food and nutrition, for pets! A series of nine videos across key areas of the business have been created featuring staff and apprentices across production, engineering, manufacturing, technical and new product development.
A new campaign featuring staff from within the company has been developed to highlight the breadth and opportunities that the company provides, and the importance of their roles, as well as the full support offered across training and career development to all staff who wish to develop their skills and knowledge. Featuring staff who are part of the petfood family for over 40 years through to new apprenticeships, the project led by the Managing Director, John Mackle, reflects his passion to have the best people in the business, and highlights how people are front and centre to the business success, and highlights the importance of manufacturing as a career.
Commenting on the project which launches on 6 May across local media, Zivana Bennett, HR Advisor, said; “For over five decades, Mackle Petfoods has been part of this local community, and this campaign reflects and celebrates our people, who make up and are central to the company and the family business. Our staff are made up from so many disciplines and from our newest recruit through to our longest serving colleague, everyone is a key part of what makes us as a team, and this has always been something the business has embraced, celebrated and continues to build on. We are continuously recruiting and welcoming new people to our team, and this campaign helps to share the diversity of roles, opportunity and potential careers that petfood manufacturing provides and how important people are within the company, they are the company!
Mackle Petfoods works alongside local Regional Colleges, CAFRE, Queens and Ulster Universities respectively to bring on students for placement, graduate roles and apprenticeships, and we are always on the look out for ambitious future leaders too. Anyone who wants to find out more about our multi award winning petfood family, can contact our HR team through the company website,” Zivana added.
To view the new campaign, and find out about Mackle Petfoods careers and opportunities for school leavers, graduates, and apprenticeships visit www.macklepetfoods.com/careers
March 2024
Young at Art partners with Victoria Square to bring family fun to Belfast Children’s Festival.
Belfast Children’s Festival (8-16 March), the largest family festival on the island of Ireland, will bring family fun to Victoria Square this year as it partners with Northern Ireland’s premier retail and leisure destination. The partnership sees Victoria Square host free activity as part of the Family Festival Day Out on Saturday 16 March 2024.
Launched last month, this year’s circus themed festival will welcome crowds to ‘big top’ venues including The Lyric, The MAC, Belfast Cathedral, Culturlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich and Crescent Arts Centre.
Speaking about the partnership with Victoria Square, Young at Art Director, EibhIín de Barra said:
“We are so excited to work with Victoria Square as a partner for this year’s festival and a host venue for the Family Festival Day Out on 16 March as we bring together everything from the big top circus to sea, land and the world of creativity in between.
“The Family Festival Day Out, which is free to attend, reflects Victoria Square’s focus on family and creative activities, as well as providing the opportunity for children and young people to work with sustainable materials provided by Victoria Square. We can’t wait to see the artwork created during the free workshop, which will be facilitated by artists from Young at Art.“
Looking forward to the Festival and partnering with Young At Art for the family fun day to be held in Victoria Square Centre Manager, Michelle Greeves, added:
“We are thrilled to be working with Young at Art and Belfast Children’s Festival this year for the Family Festival Day Out, the final day of the Festival. As a whole family destination, the free family fun day reflects Victoria Square’s focus on family and diversity, and our passion for undertaking experimental activities as we continue to provide creative spaces for families to explore and enjoy. The theme of ‘Under the Dome’ give us the opportunity to work with and repurpose environmental and sustainable items from Victoria Square reflecting our sustainable ethos. We are really excited to see what will be created by children of all ages during the workshop and to be involved in this year's Festival as a partner.”
Families visiting Victoria Square during the festival and family fun day can explore the centre which offers something for everyone from world class fashion brands and eclectic eateries to an eight-screen Odeon Cinema.
Over 100 events and performances will take place during the festival, which features productions from the Netherlands, Scotland, England and Ireland, local artists, firm festival favourites like Baby Rave and several UK and Ireland premiers.
The Belfast Children’s Festival is principally supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and by Belfast City Council. View the festival programme at www.youngatart.co.uk. Young at Art welcomes requests from community groups for subsidised tickets. To apply, contact via bookings@youngatart.co.uk
January 2024
Belfast Children’s Festival launches 2024 programme - on sea, land, under the earth’s surface and in a circus big top
Nine-day festival to feature ‘world leaders’, a spot of weather and inclusive dance, theatre and music.
Roll up, roll up, Belfast Children’s Festival 2024 is coming to town!
Launched today (25 January 2024) at the Crescent Arts Centre, this year’s circus themed festival will welcome crowds to ‘big top’ venues including The Lyric, The MAC, Belfast Cathedral, Culturlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich and Crescent Arts Centre from 8-16 March.
Over 100 events and performances will take place during the festival, which features productions from the Netherlands, Scotland, England and Ireland, local artists, firm festival favourites like Baby Rave and several UK and Ireland premiers.
The Belfast Children’s Festival is principally supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and by Belfast City Council.
Speaking at the launch of Belfast Children’s Festival, Young at Art Director, EibhIín de Barra said: “We are so excited to launch Belfast Children’s Festival 2024 as we bring together everything from the big top circus to sea, land and the world of creativity in between. After last year’s 25th anniversary, we are delighted to bring over 100 events and performances to Belfast during the nine-day festival for families, small children from 0-100. Age is just a number when it comes to the festival. We are really pleased to be bringing world and UK premières to the festival and tackling some major real-life issues around neuro divergence, wellbeing, relationships, disability, and diversity. As well as firm favourites like Baby Rave, we are delighted to have so many new pieces, and visiting artists from Europe, UK and Ireland. So, whether you are young, or simply young at heart, roll up, roll up, and come and explore the festival with us!”
Looking forward to the 2024 Belfast Children’s Festival, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: “Thanks to the National Lottery players, for many children, the Belfast Children’s Festival will be their first experience of live, professional arts. There is no better place to start. Our early encounters with theatre and storytelling can have a deep and lasting influence on our creative imaginations and the way we view the world around us, so we owe it to our children – all of our children - that these formative experiences meet the highest possible standards. 26 years championing the rights of children to enjoy full creative lives and in the process, building one of the biggest and certainly one of the greatest children’s arts festivals on these islands, means that every one of the hand-picked events that you will have the opportunity to enjoy, comes with BCF’s copper-fastened quality assurance.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, who addressed guests at the festival launch said: “Our city is just bursting with creativity and potential and that’s exactly what we’re celebrating during Belfast 2024.
“We want to give people opportunities to dream and invent; to speculate and investigate; to learn and experiment; to imagine a new future, new spaces, a new balance with nature, new stories and new experiences. a celebration of our people and our place, as we look towards our city’s future.
“So a big thank you to Belfast Children’s Festival for curating an outstanding programme of creative, innovative and fun experiences for young people across all communities. We’re proud to invest in BCF and look forward to seeing even more people engaging with cultural experiences and their own creativity during Belfast 2024.”
I…um I from the Netherlands is a powerful performance exploring what it's like to lose your grip on reality. This astonishing show is set within a rotating box where the main character performs his daily routine, moving effortlessly between rooms. Trap doors open, hidden objects are revealed, all timed precisely and seemingly defying gravity. Slowly though, this carefully planned routine starts to unravel, as we witness our main character's battle with time and reality... and a giant fish!
BullyBully, asks - what do a toddler and the average world leader have in common? Do some presidents throw fits in the middle of a supermarket? Or scream furiously until they get their own way? Surely not! In BullyBully, two world leaders meet in no man's land. What follows is an awkward encounter between two childish but powerful adults who gradually get used to each other and learn to meet in the middle. This madcap musical about childish grown-up men, featuring two performers, songs, funny quarrels, a bit of bickering and eventually, a happy ending.
BullyBully and I…um I are part of the festival’s Dutch Focus, supported by Performing Arts NL and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
From bickering to another favourite local topic; the weather. Grand Soft Day is a brand-new show of all seasons: Splashing in puddles, wind whipping your hair, crunching frost under your feet, and rain dripping on your nose, now that’s a grand soft day. This playful show about always being prepared even though you do not know what the day will bring. An international co-production from the award-winning teams of Branar (Ireland) and New International Encounter (UK/Norway), Grand Soft Day celebrates the wonder of the world around us.
Every circus needs a venue, and Little Top is a magical first circus experience for babies and their adults. At a time in their development when children are discovering their own physicality and the pleasures and perils of gravity, Little Top invites babies to experience spectacular balances, astonishing tumbles and inventive juggling in a specially designed set, that miniaturises the magic of the Big Top! Here professional circus acrobats, acro-balancers and jugglers perform up close in babies’ line of sight, making eye contact and interacting and responding to their young audience. Babies and adults alike are transported into a playful, joyous, upside down, topsy turvy world where people can fly, patterns fill the air, and anything is possible.
Peek beyond the circus curtain and step into the wonder of Tabula Rasa! A magical space that holds many incredible feats from the world of circus and dance. This one-off show, curated specially for the Belfast Children’s Festival, will mesmerize the audience as bodies effortlessly flip, float and fly, filling air and ground with colour and awe.
From the tent to the sea, Making Waves is a magical sea voyage where audience and performers set sail in search of hidden treasure. An immersive multi-sensory dance theatre performance designed for disabled children and young people with mild to complex needs, participants join the adventure and are transported by the ebb and flow of the ocean through gentle soothing currents and on into the dynamic rhythmic beat of crashing waves. This inclusive show invites audience members to sit in pods representing boats on the stage, allowing everyone to become part of the adventure. The specially designed boats are suitable for wheelchair users too.
From the sea, you can descend into a mechanical world deep below the earth’s surface. Hollow, is a non-verbal inclusive theatre adventure inspired by the mysteries and sensations of subterranean exploration. It is the story of three living, breathing cogs who depend on each other’s unique abilities to maintain and operate a great perpetual machine. What might happen if our cogs stop spinning…?
Created and delivered by local Belfast Replay Theatre Company, in association with The MAC, this production incorporates evidence-based engagement strategies curated through a long history of engaging disabled and/or neurodivergent young people in many different forms. Hollow will perform to one autistic and/or neurodivergent young person per show within an immersive setting. Each audience member can be accompanied by three familiar adults, creating a meaningful shared social experience and memories that last.
The Festival includes an Irish Language programme at Culturlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich, featuring Babaithe Cultúir and a fun interactive session with Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and Paddy Donnelly, author and illustrator of An Slípear Gloine , winner of the Gradam Réics Carló 2020, An tOireachas, and the Judges Special Awards, KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards
View the festival programme at www.youngatart.co.uk. Community groups wishing to secure tickets for events can apply via bookings@youngatart.co.uk
November 2023
Lisburn based McQuillan Companies unveils 3-year partnership with Queen’s University to further advance supporting education and sport.
Leading Construction and Waste Management business, McQuillan Companies, has this week announced a sponsorship with Queen’s University in Belfast as part of its focus on developing excellence in industry, through education and sport.
The partnership aims to create a platform for student-athletes to excel both on and off the field, reinforcing the values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, and enabling sport as an outlet for students away from studies to invest in their wellbeing across rugby, soccer and hockey. The Queen's University Rugby, Hockey and Soccer clubs have a rich history of success and have produced numerous accomplished athletes over the years. The support from McQuillan Companies' will further enable the University teams to access resources required to reach even greater heights in their respective sports.
Commenting on the partnership John McQuillan, Director at McQuillan Companies, said; "We are excited to embark on this journey with Queen's Sport to support their talented student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence both on and off the pitch. The importance of sport within education is widely acknowledged, and as a large family business we see this partnership as an affirmation of our commitment to learning excellence, and as a company helping nurture and support the next generation of professionals. We have members of staff who have represented the university as well as many more who have watched from the sidelines across many sports as family and friends, so we fully understand the need for activities to balance out learning and life. Sponsoring these activities further reflects our shared commitment to fostering growth, leadership, and community engagement, and we are excited to see how this Priority Sports Associate partnership impact on the athletes, the university, and our communities."
Welcoming the partnership, Karl Oakes, Head of Sport and Physical Wellbeing from Queen's University added; "We are delighted to have McQuillan Companies on board as Priority Sports Associate Sponsors to a variety of sporting activities provided by the University. This 3-year partnership is important in providing our student-athletes with the tools and opportunities they need to compete at the highest level in sports here at the University, whilst at the same time helping them excel academically."
This sponsorship is a testament to McQuillan Companies' dedication to community involvement and its belief in the power of sports to inspire and drive positive change. By supporting these three prominent sports programmes at Queen's University, McQuillan Companies aims to contribute to the overall development and success of student-athletes in their academic and athletic pursuits.
As part of the partnership, McQuillan Companies will feature as a sponsor on all team jerseys across eight teams and on advertising hoardings on the Main Arena Pitch at Upper Malone as well as the Queen’s Soccer pitch at Upper Malone.
McQuillan Companies recently announced a 3-year partnership with Ulster University, Gaelic Academy to support students across Gaelic, and to help Ulster deliver its Talented Athlete Entry Scheme.
October 2023
Co. Wicklow nature reserve Wildacres wins All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2023.
Wildacres, a not-for-profit nature reserve and biodiversity education centre in County Wicklow has been awarded Gold as ‘Sustainable Business of the Year 2023’ at the first ever all Ireland sustainability awards, with construction company Farren Construction Ltd announced in Silver position. Wildacres also won Gold in the Biodiversity Initiative of the Year category.
Over 400 guests attended the gala award ceremony held in the Europa Hotel Belfast where awards were presented across 14 categories including tourism, diversity and inclusion, net zero, green marketing, export, energy, consultancy of the year, with an overall winner of the year presented to Wildacres. The Awards created by Triterra, and supported by Everun, celebrate excellence across Ireland in best practise within sustainability. Fifteen handmade awards were created by local artist Ruthie Stewart, including the overall ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ were presented on the evening.
The Wildacres nature reserve and Biodiversity Education Experience which is located in East County Wicklow was awarded the overall prize, with judges commenting; "Wildacres is dedicated to biodiversity restoration, protection and education as well as wanting to address the issue of Ireland's catastrophic biodiversity loss. The team are dedicating the rest of their lives to this project and will leave Wildacres to a trust to continue on this important work long after they are gone. In terms of Biodiversity, over 80 species of birds have been recorded, 8 of our 9 native bats recorded, almost all our native mammals - pine marten, badger, otter recorded. Numerous invertebrate species including dragonflies and damselflies, bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, beetles (who love the many deadwood log piles.) This place is clearly sustainability heaven.”
The awards which received 225 entries from across the island of Ireland celebrated excellence in sustainability. Commenting on the evening, which was hosted by Barra Best, Danielle McCormick , founder of the All-Ireland Sustainable Events company said; “We are delighted at the response to our first ever All-Ireland Sustainability Awards. It has been a wonderful night with a room full of individuals, businesses and organisations who are all focused on sustainability excellence. All of tonight’s winners are just so deserving of their accolades, and I can honestly say that of our 225 entries, everyone shortlisted this year was considered by judges worthy to be a winner, so I hope that all finalists feel very proud of their achievements. I want to thank everyone involved including our lead sponsor Everun, media partner U105 and all of our sponsors. I hope these awards have inspired all the participants to continue to be ambassadors for sustainability and look forward to joining us in our next event.”
Ross Moffett, Sales & Business Development Director at Everun lead partner for the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards, added, “Everun really believe in the ethos of these awards, and have really enjoyed working with Danielle, her team, the judges and sponsors in what has been an outstanding event. All 14 winners demonstrated excellence across sustainability in how they work and deliver projects to the benefit of their communities and the landscapes around us all. We again congratulate Wildacres on winning the overall award this evening and commend them for unexceptional approach to sustainability within their nature reserve. It is really encouraging to see how many individuals and businesses across Ireland, large and small are making differences to becoming more sustainable and accelerating positive change across the sustainability agenda.”
Peter McVerry, Station Manager at U105, who are media partners of the awards concluded; “The quality and diversity of the awards was really evident across all categories and gave the judges a lot to discuss when we met at U105 offices. The result for Wildacres is exceptional, and its wonderful to see them and the finalists profiled this evening. We are excited to be working with Danielle, gaining knowledge and insights to better support our sustainability objectives within the company, so this partnership is a perfect fit for us.”
The 14 Gold award winners (in bold) and silver award (in italics) announced on the night, were;
Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year:
- Erne Water Taxi
- Castle Leslie Estate
Social Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year:
- Aldi
- Energia Group
- The Kindness Postbox
Green Marketing / Stakeholder engagement initiative of the year:
- Createschool – The Rubbish Film Festival
- Global Action Plan
Net-Zero initiative of the year:
- ESB – The Sustainability Transformation Enablement Programme
- Plaswire Ltd
Green Exporter of the Year:
- Plaswire Ltd
- Bioledger
Energy Initiative / Project of the Year:
- SSE Airtricity Energy Services & Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
- Mid & East Antrim Borough Council
Food Waste Reduction Initiative of the Year:
- FoodCloud
- Waste & Resources Action Programme
Waste, Resource Management & Circular Economy Initiative of the Year:
- Farrans (Construction) Ltd
- Bread 41
Consultant / Consultancy of the Year:
- Robert Duncan Mabbett & Associates Ltd,
- KPMG
Housing / Buildings Initiative of the Year:
- The Electric Storage Company
- SSE Airtricity Energy Services & Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Young Changemaker of the Year:
- Una Barrett, Felix O’Hare
- Meabh Reynolds, GoPlugable
Biodiversity Initiative of the Year:
- Wildacres
- Breedon
Agri-Food Initiative of the Year:
- Foyle Food Group – Aberdeen Angus Genetics
- Bread41
- Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt
Judges Merit Award: Small Business of the Year:
- GoPlugable
- The Community Fridge, Ballycastle
To finish the awards ceremony, chosen from all the above Gold category award winners, the Overall winners (in bold) and silver award (in italics), in the All-Ireland Sustainable Business of the Year, were:
- Wildacres
- Farrans (Construction) Ltd
The Awards were created by local artist, Ruthie Stewart, who designed a bespoke trophy for each category. Organised by All-Ireland Sustainability, and run in partnership with Everun, and media partner U105, sponsors include Visit Belfast, Tourism NI, Danske Bank, International Synergies NI, NIE Networks, Veri Connect, Carbonfit, Frylite and Ulster Bank.
September 2023
Finalists announced for the first ever All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2023.
Judges representing sustainability across tourism, finance, industry, energy, biodiversity, and media met last week to agree the finalists for the first ever All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2023. Meeting at U105 Headquarters in City Quays, judges spent the morning finalising and discussing winners across all categories. All 13 categories open for entry were inundated, with 225 entries received from across the island of Ireland. Categories awards have now been judged and winners agreed, with an overall Company of the Year winner selected.
Judges were exceptionally impressed by the range and standard of entries from large corporates through to small individuals working within their own businesses across Northern Ireland and Ireland. During the meeting, judges agreed that the calibre of the awards entries were so rich that a new category reflecting small businesses would also be created as a result. This now means that 14 awards will be presented on the night, as well as the overall Winner of the Year Award to one business or individual deemed exceptional in the works they have undertaken within sustainability.
Commenting on the entries and the shortlisting, Judging moderator and founder of the All-Ireland Sustainable Awards, Danielle McCormack said, “This has been an amazing experience for us, we are beyond thrilled with the volume, quality, diversity of entries, and the ambition was outstanding. It is evident that many companies are delivering excellent visionary outcomes across Ireland, and it is really clear to the judges that the future of sustainability is in safe hands. We are thrilled that these awards will capture this excellence, and as an industry we have much to celebrate.”
Ross Moffatt, Sales & Business Development Director at Everun lead partner for the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards, commented; “Everun really believe in the ethos of these awards, so it was a very natural fit for us to partner with Danielle on this project. I was really impressed by the standard, high quality and volume of entries across categories, and like my fellow judges I was excited by the variety of works and projects submitted. Some categories had over 20 entries, reflecting how much fantastic work is being undertaken within the sustainability space. It is really encouraging to see how many individuals and businesses across Ireland, large and small are making differences to becoming more sustainable and accelerating positive change across the sustainability agenda”
All seventeen judges unanimously agreed on all finalists, and an overall winner has been chosen too. In addition, given the quality of awards from smaller companies, judges will meet this week to finalise the new category of small business, which has been created in recognition of the quality of small business, and future business leaders.
Peter McVerry, Station Manager at U105, who hosted the judging and was a fellow judge concluded; “The quality and diversity of the awards was really evident across all categories and gave the judges a lot to discuss when we met at U105 offices. I am really excited to see the developments and ambition for sustainability across Ireland in the entries received. We are excited to be working with Danielle, gaining knowledge and insights to better support our sustainability objectives within the company, so the Awards are a perfect fit for us.”
Finalists announced across the categories shortlisted include.
Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year:
· Academy Restaurant, Ulster University
· Castle Leslie Estate
· Erne Water Taxi
· Killeavy Castle Estate
· Morrison Hotel
· Responsible Plastic Management Program
· Royal Portrush Golf Club
Social Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year:
· Aldi
· Energia Group
· Global Action Plan
· Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful
· The Kindness Postbox
Green Marketing / Stakeholder engagement initiative of the year:
· Createschool – The Rubbish Film Festival
· Fish City
· Global Action Plan
· Responsible Plastic Management Program
· The Earthy Marketplace
Net-Zero initiative of the year:
· ESB – The Sustainability Transformation Enablement Programme
· Farrans
· Mid & East Antrim Borough Council – Hydrogen Training Academy
· Pat O’Donnell & Co
· Plaswire
Green Exporter of the Year:
· Bioledger
· Cubo
· Heatboss
· Plaswire
· The Culinary Food Group
Energy Initiative / Project of the Year:
· ESB
· Heatboss
· Mid & East Antrim Borough Council
· NIE Networks
· SSE Electricity
Food Waste Reduction Initiative of the Year:
· Aldi Ireland
· Community Fridge, Ballycastle
· FoodCloud
· Positive Carbon
· Waste & Resources Action Programme
Waste, Resource Management & Circular Economy Initiative of the Year:
· Bread 41
· Farrans (Construction) Ltd
· Heron Bros Ltd
· Recon Waste Management Ltd
· WEEE Ireland
Consultant / Consultancy of the Year:
· Copper Coast Renewables
· Fifty Shades Greener
· KPMG
· Mabbett & Associates Ltd, Rob Duncan
· Metec Consulting Engineers
Housing / Buildings Initiative of the Year:
· Fraser Millar
· Queens University Belfast
· SSE Airtricity
· The Electric Storage Company
· TODD Architects
Young Changemaker of the Year:
· Jacinta Hamley, Climate Craic CIC
· Manuela Ross, Brugnach / TASC
· Meabh Reynolds, GoPlugable
· Padraig Meehan, OutForm Consulting
· Una Barrett, Felix O’Hare
Biodiversity Initiative of the Year:
· Breedon
· Gas Networks Ireland
· Mid & East Antrim Borough Council
· The Green Graveyard Company
· Wildacres
Agri-Food Initiative of the Year:
· Bread41
· Clandeboye Yoghurt
· Foyle Food Group – Aberdeen Angus Genetics
· Green Peasant Farm
· Lynn’s County Foods
· McAuliffe Pig Farms
Judges Merit Award: Small Business of the Year:
· Bee Sanctury of Ireland
· GoPlugable
· The Courtyard Cafe, Ballycastle
· The Earthy Market Place
· The Green Graveyard
In addition, an Overall Winner of the Year 2023 will be announced on the night. Tickets for the gala awards evening which will be held in the Europa Hotel on 5 October are now on sale. To purchase tickets, visit www.allirelandsustainability.com The Awards are being created by Northern Irish artist, Ruthie Stewart, who is in the process of designing a bespoke trophy for each category. Organised by All-Ireland Sustainability in partnership with Everun, and media partner U105, sponsors include Visit Belfast, Tourism NI, International Synergies NI, Danske, NIE Networks, Veri Connect, Carbonfit, Frylite and Ulster Bank.