Growing our Community Together: the theme of the Little Island Business Association’s Annual President’s Dinner 2023 & The LIBA Awards 2023

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Cork and Ireland South’s largest business district of Little Island was the backdrop for the annual President’s Dinner 2023 & The LIBA Awards 2023. Hosted by Little Island Business Association, the black tie event saw attendance from all sectors of the business community that represents more than 1,000 companies in the area.

The Headline Sponsors for the event were MSL Cork Mercedes-Benz, Harbour Gate Business Park and the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa. The President of Little Island Business Association, Michael Mulcahy delivered a speech of positivity and economic statistics showing where the area was and is going and praised the relationship between the community association, its members and the local authority as being those responsible for bringing the area to where it is today and for having the potential to reach even further in the time ahead.

A range of awards were presented to people, companies and civic groups and organisations on the night to reflect the view of Little Island Business Association that it is an organisation that values its place within the county of Cork and sees the enormous potential of our beautiful city that has so much potential to unfold.

Here are the citations from the evening and we will soon publish some social imagery and a video from the night. The winners badge is available for download here. 

 

The President’s Awards 2023 

As President of Little Island Business Association, it is a great honour and privilege for those of us serving in this position to be able to recognise and honour someone that we believe deserves recognition. Like my predecessors, selecting a person that we believe has made a difference to Little Island and to Cork is as great an honour as is possible. 

For The President’s Award 2023, I am delighted to recognise a man that I believe has made an exceptional contribution to all of Cork during his tenure in Cork County Council and Cork City Council. His exceptional support of Little Island and our business association over the past 9 years has been remarkable. His outstanding support of all of Cork during his 13 year tenure as Chief Executive firstly of Cork City Council and most recently of Cork County Council is a key element of why I believe our great city and county continues to develop and his leadership, strategic vision and ambition for all of Cork will leave a lasting and profound impact on our city and county for generations. His recent departure after 9 years as Chief Executive of Cork County Council has been widely, and rightly acknowledged locally and nationally. 

His commitment to public service delivery for all of Cork has seen us progress to a region that will have an estimated 1m citizens by 2040. From a Little Island perspective, I have known him and called on him on a number of occasions over the years, and on each occasion his door was open, his mind was receptive and his interest was genuine. His departure from Cork County Council to take up a new role as Chief Executive of Greyhound Racing Ireland is one that we wish him every success with. Ladies & Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to confer The President’s Awards 2023 on Tim Lucey

 

 

The Little Island Investment Award 2023 

All categories in these awards were difficult for our judges to select one winner for, considering the amazing number of nominees who are all doing exceptional things for our community. The Little Island Investment Award 2023 category was an exceptionally difficult category. However, one company stood out, and has stood out for close to half a century. From its opening of its €127m R&D facility here in May to its announcement just last week of an additional €39m investment in its manufacturing facility which produces concentrate for PepsiCo portfolio brands including Pepsi, Pepsi Max, 7Up and Mountain Dew, and investment for a major solar PV installation to the close to 800 people that it employs here, this company has proven that over its years of being part of this community of Little Island, it constantly invests in its business and most of all its people and our community. Ladies & Gentlemen, The Little Island Investment Award 2023 goes to PepsiCo and to accept the award and speak to us is the Site Director Brian Colgan. 

 

 

The Little Island Civic Award 2023 

Little Island Business Association and its Judging Panel are delighted to honour a well known campaigner for the elderly in Cork with The Little Island Civic Award 2023. The award is in recognition of the 70 years that this man has been assisting the elderly of Cork since 1953 when he was 15 years old. The award also recognises the many occasions that he has intervened, when requested by Little Island Business Association to assist and advise elderly members of our community with a wide variety of issues. He has never failed to respond to our calls and is always available to elderly members of our local, city and county community and their families and is an inspiration to everyone in how important it is to support our senior citizens at all times. Celebrating his 85th birthday last month, he continues to support the elderly of Cork in exactly the same way as he did 70 years ago, with respect, time and a willingness to listen to and respond to their needs. He is widely and wisely regarded as ‘the definitive voice of our elderly in Cork’ because they trust him, they believe in him and his ability to get things done, and above all, because they like him. Ladies & Gentlemen, it is a great honour to confer The Little Island Civic Award of 2023 on Paddy O’ Brien

 

The Little Island Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 

Recognising someone that has such a diverse background in life is always a little bit of a daunting task. Our recipient tonight is a well known Cork businessman and former politician who served for 17 years as a Senator. A former vice-president of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union, he was a long-standing member of Cork City Council for 30 years and was Lord Mayor of Cork in 1991/92.  He has been a business owner for over 50 years and his food business is recognised and loved in Cork and outside of Cork. Ladies & Gentlemen, it is my great privilege to recognise Denis Cregan with The Little Island Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 

 

The Judges Special Merit Award 2023 

Here in Little Island, we like to do things a little differently and we like to think that the reason we think differently, and act differently is because we like to be inclusive. Little Island may be in the county, but our city has and always will have our full support and we want to see it develop and prosper so that Cork in all its parts do well. Our Judges have decided to recognise someone tonight that we believe has made a great difference to Cork city. He is a businessman by day with a successful chain of businesses employing hundreds of people and in addition to this, for the past two years and with his term soon to conclude, he has led the leading business association for Cork city and represented our city locally and globally with pride and distinction. Ladies & Gentlemen, The Judges Special Merit Award of 2023 goes to the President of Cork Business Association, Kevin Herlihy 

 

The Little Island Community Organisation of the Year Award 2023 

While Little Island is designated a ‘business district, it is as we have always said in Little Island Business Association, a residential location where generations have grown up, where children have started new families and where many people have come to live. We believe in the future of Little Island as the new residential district of Cork where ‘GROWING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER’ means something positive. Tonight, we want to recognise the efforts of an organisation that strives to represent the 1800 people that call this area their home and the many more that will call it home in the years ahead. They look out for and after this community, its people and its place and our role in the business community is to support them in every way possible. Over the last 12 years we have built new relationships with the residents of Little Island after many promises that were made to them were never honoured. We work with them, we support their aims and our commitment is that we will always put them first. Ladies & Gentlemen, The Little Island Community Organisation of 2023 is Little Island Community Association

 

The Little Island Retail Award 2023

In a community and business area the local shop is an integral part of everyday life, the team at this family run business are superb at delivering an exceptional retail service to all. A warm welcome and helping hand is always available. Ladies and gentleman our winners this evening of The Little Island Retail Award 2023 is Centra Little Island

 

The Little Island Social Media Award 2023

Social media captivates an audience in real time. Keeping a beat ahead is our next winner’s mission. They achieve that with engaging content whilst delivering important messages through ambassadorship and relevant member information. Their content is appealing and easy to comprehend. Ladies and Gentlemen our winners this evening of The Little Island Social Media Award 2023 is Laya Healthcare

 

The Little Island Business Person of the Year of 2023

Our next winner is a female leader with a superb commercial acumen and a flawless work ethic. She has dedicated 18 years to the company and her professional ethos is a people first one. This enables her to retain team members and help them to develop their skills whilst offering them progression. She is a great advocate for local and the company has invested in a brand new expanded space here in Little Island which is due to open in November. Ladies and Gentlemen our winner of The Little Island Business Person of the Year of 2023 is Trish Barrett of Kuehne & Nagel

 

The Little Island Small Business of the Year 2023

A superb showroom run by a local family is a small business with a big heart. They are committed to delivering exceptional service to their customers and the community alike. It is the reason they attract people from all over Cork city and county. Ladies and Gentlemen the winner of The Little Island Small Business of the Year 2023 is Living Dreamz and Louise and Kieran Barry its owners.

The Little Island SME Company of the Year 2023

This company started out as a small business but now supplies 350 retailers on 5 continents. They owe their success to innovation, consistency, and fifteen years of excellent customer service. Ladies and Gentlemen the winner of The Little Island SME Company of the Year 2023 is Hedgehog Fibres

 

The Little Island Large Company of the Year 2023

An international company with a presence in 27 countries, our winner has been a hugely important part of the business community on a local level for many decades. Focused on creating products that can benefit future generations, they supply solutions for infrastructure, buildings and agriculture. Ladies and gentlemen the winner of the The Little Island Large Company of the Year 2023 is Pipelife Ireland Solutions

 

The Little Island Professional Services Business of the Year 2023

Our next winner has a strong representation in the Professional & Businesses Services Sector. A huge part of their business is fostering relations locally and internationally. They are always on hand to help both trainees and host companies. Ladies and gentlemen our winner this evening of The Little Island Professional Services Business of the Year 2023 is Partnership International

 

The Little Island Sustainability Champion of the Year 2023 

Celebrating almost four decades in Little Island, this business is one of the most recognisable brands in the world. Its continuous investment in its two facilities in Little Island, its employment of over 1,300 nationally and with 100 jobs currently available, its sustainability programme and credentials are not only impressive, but market leader and inspirational to all of us looking in. Ladies & Gentlemen, The Little Island Sustainability Champion of the Year 2023 is PepsiCo

 

 

The Little Island Rising Star Award 2023

This established business for more than 40 years that is now part of a global brand has seen phenomenal growth over the last number of years in the nutrition area that it specialises in and has quickly become a leader in the online space here in Ireland with its Irish business that is based in Little Island. The brand has a clear plan for sustainable growth in the future through collaboration and marketing and we see it becoming a brand to watch for much more growth and expansion in the consumer and practitioner sectors in particular in the Irish market. Ladies and Gentlemen, our winners this evening of The Little Island Rising Star Award 2023 is Nutri Advanced

The Little Island Business Services Team of the Year 2023 

This team is a dedicated 365 day a year 24/7 service to homes and businesses. They provide a seamless service incorporating best practices to ensure you and your property’s safety. They are dynamic and agile and provide security services all over Cork and throughout Ireland. Ladies and Gentlemen the winner of the Little Island Business Services team of the year 2023 is Crimestoppers Security Ireland

 

The Little Island Wholesale / Retail Team of the Year 2023

Our next team award goes to a leading retail and wholesale business with relationships with more than 650 suppliers, dealing directly with approximately 14,000 B2B customers in the retail, foodservice and licensed sectors. Over 1,600 people are directly employed by them with a further 23,000 people employed in local communities across the country through partnerships with retailers. Ladies and Gentlemen the winners of the 2023 Wholesale / Retail Team of the Year is BWG Foods/Value Centre

 

The Little Island Members / Customer Service Team of the Year 2023

Our next team of the year is a dedicated group of professionals dealing with the public on a daily basis, sometimes at a sensitive or emotional time. Their dedication to best practice ethos of looking after you always ensures that their members are taken care of during every step of their membership journey. Ladies and Gentlemen our winners of The Little Island Members/ Customer  Service Team of the Year 2023 is Laya Healthcare

 

The Little Island Transport and Logistics Team of 2023

Our next winner is a diverse team of transport and logistic professionals that operate internationally. Their commitment to excellence across all forms of logistics and warehousing has seen them elicit international repute as one of the world’s leading teams. We are proud to have them in Little island. Ladies and Gentlemen our winners of the The Little Island Transport and Logistics Team of 2023 is Kuehne + Nagel

 

The Little Island Manufacturing Team of 2023

This award winning business has a team of ten based in Little Island. Everything they create is bespoke and designed here in Ireland by their in-house team. From The smallest space to the grandest design this team can create your dream commercial or home interior you have always aspired to. Ladies and Gentlemen The Little Island Manufacturing Team of 2023 is Slide Systems

 

 

The Little Island Family Business of the Year 2023

This award recognises a small local business which has drawn on its family values to build a successful small business , one which acts as a great ambassador for the sector and makes a significant contribution to society and the wider economy. Ladies and gentlemen our winner of the The Little Island Family Business of the Year 2023 is Centra Little Island / The Flynn Family

 

 

The Anniversary Awards 2023 which represent businesses celebrating special milestones in their business lives.

 

Our first Anniversary Award 

Milestones are important for businesses and our next recipient is dedicated to providing an excellent quality of service in all they do. They echo this dedication through a multi-disciplined workforce. They provide nationwide coverage and excel in providing expert advice and guidance to all customers, ensuring long-term satisfactory relationships. Ladies & Gentlemen, we are delighted to present a 50th anniversary award to Apex Fire.

 

Our second Anniversary Award 

A customer centric ethos ensures a consistently busy manufacturing and installation schedule for our next recipient. They are operating in a very competitive market and have stood the test of time expanding their team and fitted furniture offering for households and businesses. Ladies and Gentlemen we are delighted to mark Slide Systems 15th business anniversary here this evening.

 

Our third Anniversary Award 

Our next recipient is operating one of the largest logistic fleets in Munster. Their extensive fleet enables them to continuously meet the requirements of customers of all sizes representing every type of industry. Their customers include many of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronics, packaging, FMCG & Air freight/ Logistic providers. Their track record of 25 years is something to acknowledge and celebrate. Ladies and Gentlemen please join us in celebrating Spillane Brothers International Transport.