• Wisetek announced as platinum standard for the programme while EPS Group picks up Family Business Award
• 136 companies compile 2022 Best Managed Companies network
• Nine new winners in the programme this year

15 Cork companies have been awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade at the 14^th annual awards programme, led by Deloitte in association with Bank of Ireland. This year, Deloitte recognised 136 indigenous companies at the awards representing 25 of the 32 counties across Ireland. This is the first year where the awards programme returned as an in-person event following the pandemic and culminated with a gala awards ceremony at The Convention Centre Dublin.

The network of companies has a combined turnover of €13.9 billion providing over 51,000 jobs across Ireland across a range of sectors – from retail and hospitality to manufacturing and construction. The companies received recognition following a detailed judging process that evaluates the entire management team and business strategy in some of Ireland’s top privately owned businesses, looking beyond financial performance at areas such as a company’s environmental, social & governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy. 

Amongst the winning companies this year was Wisetek. The company achieved platinum standard having won for the seventh consecutive year. 

In addition to the Best Managed Company Award, there are a number of special categories with the Family Business Award going to Cork-based infrastructure specialist EPS Group. The group employs over 570 people and provides sustainable water and wastewater solutions to its customers in the Irish and Northern Irish water industry. EPS Group’s main aim is to become an ethical business and a rewarding place to work. 

The Best in Innovation Award category winner was announced as Delmec, who have innovation embedded throughout the company. This Carlow-based telecoms infrastructure provider specialises in mobile communications and is driving innovation with people and building on the technologies like mobile apps and mobile auditing to offer lower cost, greater probability, time saving, better data and better analysis to customers.

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme at Deloitte said:

Year-on-year we’re impressed by the businesses that qualify and requalify for our Best Managed Companies Awards and in another uncertain year, the entries continued to raise the bar. Despite the challenges these businesses faced, the management teams of the winning companies have embraced new opportunities for innovation and growth, offering best-in-class products and services to their customers and retaining their competitive advantage in a world that is ever-changing.

The nine newly qualified companies are: Kefron (Dublin), Clarke (Antrim), MTM Engineering ltd (Meath), Relatecare (Waterford), Kilwaughter Minerals ltd (Antrim), Kent Stainless ltd (Wexford), Re-gen Waste ltd (Down), Anthony Nicholas Group (Dublin) and Corrib Oil Group (Galway).

In addition to the nine entrants and those that have requalified as a Best Managed Company, 10 companies achieved Gold Standard, including Dublin’s independent coffee chain group Insomnia Coffee Company and Louth’s chemical free and biodegradable baby wipes company WaterWipes securing Best Managed Company status for four consecutive years. Nine companies were awarded Platinum Standard, which included Mayo’s outdoor clothing manufacturer Portwest and Kerry’s financial services company Fexco having won this recognition seven years in a row. 

Harry Goddard, CEO, Deloitte Ireland and judging panel member said:

A stand out from the judging process this year was the distinct focus of the Best Managed Companies on their local communities, despite their own international growth and ambition. Businesses have a vital role to play in our society. It was clear from the entries this year that they were having a positive impact not only on their own business, but also on the communities around them. I look forward to seeing how these businesses continue to invest, grow and contribute to our wider society.

Nikki Canavan, Senior Director, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking said: 

This has been quite a year Irish businesses, a year that began in 2022 in the grip of a global health crisis, with businesses grappling to emerge from pandemic restrictions being met almost immediately by new challenges, the global equilibrium rocked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rapid inflationary pressure, tightening labour markets, not to mention, the almost forgotten, but prevailing Brexit tailwinds. The performance of these Best Managed Companies throughout the pandemic and these more recent headwinds is a testament to the energy, resilience and skills of their respective management teams and staff who have all been resolutely tested in ways we could not have predicted over the last few years. Bank of Ireland has been delighted to be able to support them through this year, as their Bank in many cases and also through our Coaches on the BMC programme.

The members of this year’s judging panel were: Frank Ryan (Chair of Judging Panel) and current Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland; Harry Goddard, CEO Deloitte Ireland; Nikki Canavan, Senior Director at Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking; Ellvena Graham, Chairman and Non-Executive Director; Lionel Alexander, Chairman and Board Member; Feargal Mooney, Non- Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld Group; Colm O’Reilly, CEO, Business Post; Colm Foster, Director of Executive Education at the Irish Management Institute; Tommy Breen, former CEO of DCC plc and Deirdre Purcell, AVP Sales at Salesforce.

The nine first-time winners are:

The Gold Standard (Four years as a Best Managed) winners are:

The Platinum Club (Seven years as a Best Managed) winners are:

The Cork requalifying winners are: 

Notes

There are four different categories of Best Managed Companies award winners:

• New Best Managed Companies: Companies that receive the award for the first time. These companies must go through a Phase I and Phase II Best Managed Companies Awards Programme application process.
• Gold Standard: Best Managed Companies that receive the award for the fourth year in a row. These companies must go through a Phase I and Phase II Best Managed Companies Awards Programme application process.
• Platinum Club: Best Managed Companies that receive the award for the seventh year in a row. These companies must go through a Phase I and Phase II Best Managed Companies Awards Programme application process.
• Re-qualifiers: Best Managed Companies, already in the programme that are not going for new, gold or platinum status. Companies applying for requalification must satisfy the programme eligibility criteria and go through a requalification review process in order to ensure that the companies continue to uphold the Best Managed standard.                                

 About the Best Managed Companies Awards

The Deloitte Best Managed Companies programme, in association with Bank of Ireland, promotes and recognises excellence in Irish/Northern Irish owned and managed companies. It is the only awards scheme on the island of Ireland that considers a business’ performance from every perspective. Entrants to the programme will compete for this designation in a rigorous process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

Programme sponsors are Bank of Ireland, the IMI and the Business Post. For further information, visit www.deloittebestmanaged.ie.

International History of Best Managed Companies Programme

The Best Managed Companies Programme originated in Canada in 1993, where it has been run successfully ever since and is the country’s leading business awards programme. In addition to Ireland and Canada, the programme is currently run in a total of 48 countries including China, The US, Southeast Asia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Mexico and Chile.

About Bank of Ireland 

Bank of Ireland’s purpose is to enable its customers, colleagues and communities to thrive. The Group is one of the largest financial services providers in Ireland, offering a wide range of banking and other financial services and operating Ireland’s largest retail branch network. In the UK, the Group has long-established partnerships with the Post Office and the AA providing consumer financial services. The Group’s international business is conducted by its Corporate Banking and Global Markets teams operating from Dublin, London, and offices in continental Europe and the United States. 

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