Deloitte has launched the 2024 Best Managed Companies Awards (BMC) and is calling for ambitious Irish and Northern Irish companies across all sectors to enter this year’s programme.
Now in its sixteenth year, the programme celebrates the hard work, innovation, and success of businesses across the island of Ireland and their management teams. The Best Managed Companies network currently comprises 130 companies across a variety of sectors, including 28 from Northern Ireland.
These companies have a combined turnover of €17 billion providing over 53,000 jobs across a range of sectors – from retail and hospitality to manufacturing and construction.
Last year’s programme saw eight newly qualified companies complete the programme, including Lisburn-based refrigeration specialists Lowe Corporation.
Aisléan Nicholson, Lead Partner for the Best Managed Companies Awards Programme at Deloitte in Belfast said:
“We continue to see companies in our Best Managed Companies programme being innovative and ambitious as they navigate the well-documented challenges of an uncertain business environment. They are focusing on their customers and investing in becoming more competitive, more sustainable and more attractive places to work.
“As we look ahead to the rest of this year, there are clear opportunities for Best Managed Companies to embed new technologies, create new products and reach new markets. We look forward to learning how this year’s applicants are rising to the challenges they face.”
Deloitte is pleased to welcome AIB as a new sponsor of the awards programme. Attending this year’s launch, Hilary Gormley, Managing Director and Executive Director, AIB UK said:
“AIB is proud to partner with Deloitte to deliver this fantastic awards programme which recognises the key skills and characteristics that contribute to business success. In every industry, we see organisations who are continually developing their practices to support growth ambitions and we look forward to meeting other likeminded organisations who want to benefit from the superb Best Managed Companies programme.”
The BMC application process provides participating companies with the opportunity to analyse their entire business, including performance, management practices and goals, which is a vital exercise for any company.
The programme has also brought on board a number of new names to its judging panel, including; Cathy Bryce (Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets), Professor Anthony Brabazon, (Dean, UCD Smurfit Business School) and Orla O’Gorman (NED & former Head of Listing, Euronext). They join chair Frank Ryan (Chair of IDA board), Ellvena Graham OBE (Chair of Tourism NI), Lionel Alexander (Chair of Intact Software), Feargal Mooney (formerly Hostelworld), and Sarah Murphy (CEO, Business Post).
For further information and details on how to enter the awards, visit www.deloitte.ie/bestmanaged. The closing date for Phase 1 entries is Friday, 23rd of February. Companies that progress to Phase 2 of the application process will be notified in March, with the winners to be officially announced at the annual Gala Awards September 2024.