Offaly business wins top National Enterprise Award

Kinnitty based Applied Concepts has been named overall winner of the National Enterprise Awards 2016.

Established by Mark Clendennen with the support of Local Enterprise Offaly, Applied Concepts began trading in 2010 and now has ten employees and exports its products around the world.

The company produces a range of abrasive blast machines used to strip and clean surfaces for building, restoration and other work. Its machines are used in building and restoration projects in countries such as Finland, Estonia, Venezuela and Ethiopia.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor presented the top prize in the National Enterprise Awards to Applied Concepts at an event in Dublin yesterday.

Congratulating this year’s winners, Kieran Comerford of the Local Enterprise Offices said: “Applied Concepts in Offaly has achieved impressive international growth since it started trading and has brought all manufacturing in-house, rather than outsourcing it abroad.”

With a total prize fund of €40,000 on offer through the Local Enterprise Offices, thirteen awards were presented in total and the other major category winners this evening were: CarveOn from Kildare (Best Exporter), Global Sauces from Limerick (Best Start-Up) and Invizbox Ltd from Fingal in Dublin (Innovation Award).