Can you tell we’re a little excited in this pic?!

The National Enterprise Awards are organised by the National network of Local Enterprise Offices and celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s micro-enterprise sector. The awards recognise and celebrate the success stories of small business owners from all over the country.

We are so incredibly delighted and proud to have won the South Regional award and to represent Waterford!

Here is a little more about the fabulous event held in the Mansion House on the 25th of May.

The sun was shining, the prosecco was chilled and we were out of the office and dressed in our finery – absolute bliss!

Here is the team with Richie, Head of Enterprise at our Local Enterprise Office. We are incredibly grateful for the brilliant support from Jacqui, Richie and the Waterford LEO team and for their constant encouragement since we started. It was great to enjoy a night all together and celebrate our combined efforts in style.

Our category was incredibly tough with three other excellent Irish businesses located in the Cork area, we didn’t expect to win with such stiff competition from Rebel Chilli, Enibas Jewels and Polar Ice Technology and so you can imagine the shock when our name was announced!! Woohoo!!!

We’re thrilled to be one of the eight regional winners but also to be among many incredible business leaders and inspirational entrepreneurs. The overall winner was Acutrace, a fantastic Dublin based company in the energy and technology sector who in a very short time have become incredibly successful and continue to grow and expand.

Read more about the brilliant entrepreneurs here

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for jobs, Mary Mitchell O’Connor offered great encouragement and motivation to the crowd, both speaking of the potential for Irish Start Ups and reinforcing the message of the excellent ambition and creative talent that is at Ireland’s core.

We had so much fun letting our hair down and getting to know other small business owners from all over Ireland. Its back to the office now for us until the next exciting event!!

…and of course no awards night is complete without a team selfie ; )

Thank you for your fantastic support!

Irene and The Pip & Pear Team xx