Call to apply to join network of top businesses

Companies from Northern Ireland who have managed to successfully navigate the challenges of the past year are being urged to apply for the 2021 Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards programme and join a network of Ireland’s top businesses.

Now in its thirteenth year, the programme, which is run in association with Bank of Ireland, recognises the high standards, passion and resilience of indigenous businesses and their management teams, as well as the contribution they make to the economy.

The Best Managed Companies network now includes more than 130 companies across a range of sectors, including 26 from Northern Ireland. The closing date for entries to this year’s awards is February 26, 2021.

Glenn Roberts, lead partner for the Best Managed Companies Awards Programme in Northern Ireland said: “Last year was a challenging year for many businesses and sectors, and since the first lockdown in March 2020 we have seen how indigenous businesses have gone the extra mile across a range of sectors to continue to operate, manufacture and deliver goods and services in a very disruptive operational environment, while keeping the safety of their people and customers a top priority.

“We recognise that the impact of the pandemic varies significantly sector-by-sector and this will be taken into consideration in assessing applicants this year. We look forward to recognising and celebrating teams who have innovated and adapted their businesses through one of the most testing years in memory, with strong leadership and resilience.”

Applicants to the programme are coached through the application process by consultants from Deloitte and Bank of Ireland, which provides teams with the opportunity to hold a mirror up to their business, their performance and their business plan.

Applicants will also be encouraged to share how they have responded to the impact of the pandemic, including examples of how they have protected their people and their communities in a highly challenging economic period.

Eamon McCay, Managing Director of Strabane-based Frylite, which was recognised as a Best Managed Company for the first time in 2020, explained: “The Best Managed programme helped us take a step back and analyse our business through a more strategic lens, which proved very timely heading into what turned out to be a very difficult set of market conditions for our industry. Given these circumstances, we’re looking forward to the requalification process and to learning more as we engage with the programme again.”

This year will also see the introduction of a new category award for the Best Managed Family Business, in association with the Family Business Network Ireland.

Nikki Canavan, Senior Director, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking added: “Celebrating the stellar work done by Irish businesses over the past year is just one purpose of the Best Managed Companies programme. Every year participating companies benefit from coaching and specialist feedback from programme sponsors, the value of which has never been as striking as in 2020, when Irish companies in every sector faced extreme market volatility and were forced to adapt their ways of working due to the onset of COVID-19. The programme supported more than one hundred Irish companies as they navigated through the uncertainty brought by the pandemic and will continue to do so as cases continue to rise and with the Brexit transition period now having come to an end.”

Winning companies will join the exclusive Best Managed Companies Club with access to year-round events such CEO roundtables and fireside chats with leading business figures, as well as the exclusive Best Managed Symposium hosted in partnership with the programme’s academic partner, the Irish Management Institute and the Gala Awards.

For further information and details on how to enter the awards, visit www.deloitte.ie/bestmanaged.

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