Deloitte in association with Barclays Bank Ireland, has made a final call for entries to the 2015/2016 Best Managed Companies Awards Programme.

The Best Managed Companies Awards Programme recognises Irish indigenous companies of outstanding quality that have demonstrated superior business performance, and demonstrate the power of the best Irish indigenous companies.

Successful companies in this year’s programme will join the Best Managed Companies network of over 100 leading companies that have been recognised in the seven years since the programme began. One of the primary objectives of the awards programme is to showcase the success of indigenous companies and acknowledge the contribution that this sector makes to the economy. The winners over the first seven years of the programme have total revenues of over €10 billion, employ more than 5,000 people, and are based in 20 counties across Ireland.

Competing companies will be put through a rigorous judging process, measuring a company’s performance using a wide range of criteria including strategy, capability, commitment, financials and management performance across all key functions of the business. Companies that are successful at the end of this process will be announced in March 2016.

Brendan Jennings, Managing Partner, Deloitte, and judging panel member commented: “These awards are all about confidence – of our winning companies and of the indigenous business sector in Ireland. The winners to date epitomise the resilience and the ambition that is present in companies right across Ireland. Deloitte is now calling on companies that are similarly confident, and are achieving their goals of being more innovative, more agile, more ambitious and more expansionary to apply today. By demonstrating their successes, not only does it increase the confidence within their companies, but also contributes to the overall confidence in the economy. 

“At Deloitte, we very much welcome the focus that the Government is placing on supporting indigenous companies, and encourage it to remain steadfast in its goal of supporting this critical sector. As this awards programme demonstrates, the contribution that is being made by them to Ireland’s economy is immense, and we believe that this is to be celebrated. We are delighted to be playing our part in showcasing this success.”

The only awards programme that considers companies from every perspective and evaluates the management practices of companies, the Best Managed Companies judging panel will take a holistic view of the companies, their performance in relation to their peers, and the industries that they are operating in, in order to determine management success.

Sasha Wiggins, CEO, Barclays Bank Ireland and judging panel member, said: “The Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards recognise and celebrate the valuable contribution that indigenous companies make to Ireland’s economy and we are delighted to be associated with such an important programme for the third year running. Over the past two years, we have had the pleasure of working with companies across a range of sectors to support them in the development of their winning business plans, and we look forward to working with this year’s entrants as they strive to achieve the same goal.”

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The awards, which are open to companies from all 32 counties on the island of Ireland, offer benefits to all companies entering the programme – not just the winners. Valuable insights into the ingredients for long-term success of their business will be available to all applicants – and those who progress through the awards process will receive customised feedback and coaching from Deloitte and Barclays Bank Ireland, thereby benefiting from experienced business acumen and expertise.

In addition, winners also receive national and peer recognition, the opportunity to network with their peers in the industry at a gala awards ceremony and attend a symposium organised by the IMI. The ’Best Managed’ designation is an important marketing tool – but, perhaps most importantly, the awards provide a reason to celebrate the efforts of the entire company.

For further information and details of how to enter the awards, visi twww.deloittebestmanaged.ie. The closing date for entries is 7 August 2015.