Female entrepreneur led company wins Offaly County Enterprise award
Glass Innovations Ltd based in Ferbane has been named the overall winner of the 2023 Offaly County Enterprise Award.
The company was established in 2001 by Gretchen Donovan and is a family run business. They provide a decoration service for bottles and glasses for drink, candles and diffuser customers such as Lidl, Aldi, Dunnes, Handmade Soap, Fragrances of Ireland and Max Benjamin.
Speaking during Local Enterprise Week, Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Offaly said: “Glass Innovations has already become a success story and the judges were particularly impressed by the development of this company, and expansion into new markets and product areas. Offaly is proud to be represented by Glass Innovations Ltd at the National Enterprise Awards.”
Cllr John Clendennen commented: “Well done to Gretchen Donovan and all the team at Glass Innovations Ltd based at Ferbane Enterprise Centre, who were awarded overall winners at the 2023 Offaly Enterprise Awards. Glass Innovations Ltd will now represent Offaly and compete in the national competition taking place in June. Well done to all of the businesses shortlisted and won awards today.”
Offaly TD Carol Nolan TD added: “Well done to Gretchen Donovan and her staff at Glass Innovations Ltd Ferbane who won the top award at the Local Enterprise Awards in the Court Hotel in Tullamore. Glass Innovations Ltd is now through to the National Enterprise Awards final, I wish them every success and have no doubt but that they will do Offaly proud.”
As winner of the top award, Gretchen received a trophy and cash prize of €1,500. Glass Innovations Ltd will now represent Offaly and Local Enterprise Office Offaly at the National Enterprise Awards in June.
Other winners at the awards ceremony, held at the Tullamore Court Hotel included four category prize-winners. Each of the category winners received a trophy and cash prize of €700. The four category prize winners were: Daingean based Anthony Gorman’s Wooden Crafts Ltd (One to Watch Award); Tullamore based Allpro Recruitment Ltd (Business Strategy Award); Clara based Irish Training Solutions (XSF) Ltd (Export Award) and Rahan based NIS Ltd (Innovation Award).
Three other Offaly businesses received Merit Awards this year, together with a cash prize of €250 each. These were James Cooper, T/a James Cooper Carpentry; Clonearl Engineering/Agri Data Analytics Ltd and Enhance Acoustics.
The awards are just one of the many highlights of Local Enterprise Week, which comes to an end on Friday, March 10. All over the country, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices are running national spotlight and local events aimed at start-ups, aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses in their area, to mark the week.