Mayo Business Announced for National Enterprise Final
Date: 24-05-2023
A cosmetics development and manufacturing business company from Ballina, County Mayo has been selected as one of the finalists for the National Enterprise Awards that take place next month.
Noreen Hackett, founder, and director of Advanced Cosmetics Manufacturing will represent Local Enterprise Office Mayo at the prestigious awards that take place on the 1st June in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Noreen identified a gap in the market for providing more choice to small scale cosmetic companies requiring the development of one-off products and established Advanced Cosmetics HQ Ltd in 2018 to cater to this need. Advanced Cosmetics HQ Ltd works with Irish and International brands to research, develop, create and rapidly innovate cosmetic products such as skincare, self-tanning and body care.
Noreen has grown her business steadily over the past number of years and has a loyal customer base. She has also received feedback from her customers about the challenges of procuring small batch production runs for their products, with some going to overseas suppliers to manufacture their products. Noreen saw another opportunity to further service this sector and has established her own contract manufacturing facility specialising in cosmetics called Advanced Cosmetic Manufacturing Ltd.
This is the 23rd year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, this year the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from augmented reality tours and sensory friendly clothes designers to energy saving software platforms and agtech solutions farmers. The finalists also include a range of consumer products from chocolate and whiskey to artisan bakery products and a zero-waste food company.
John Magee, Head of Enterprise, LEO Mayo says: “The National Enterprise Awards serve to highlight the very best businesses that the Local Enterprise Offices are working with across the country. The diversity of sectors and innovation shown again this year is outstanding and the winners will no doubt produce businesses destined for international success. These Finalists have shown outstanding resilience to get to where they are today and we are looking forward to celebrating with them at the Awards”.
Local Enterprise Office Mayo have had previous success at the awards, with last year seeing David McIntyre, Cubbie competing at the National Enterprise Awards, on behalf of Mayo Local Enterprise Office and took home the Innovation Award. The installation, which is in over 200 schools across Ireland, enables students with neurodiversity or sensory challenges to regulate their senses with a bespoke programme to ensure their learning and academic experience is not adversely affected.
The Finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 25,000 jobs across the country.
The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie