THE best employees and teams from the business community in the Greater Newry area were celebrated at the 2022 Newry Chamber Employee & Team Awards at the Canal Court Hotel & Spa, when 21 individuals and organisations were honoured.
The winners were drawn from organisations of all sizes - from start-ups to social enterprises, charities, family businesses and some of the major global players based in the region.
The categories also reflected the key sectors in Greater Newry including retail, hospitality, professional services, construction, digital, manufacturing and engineering.
The overall team of the year went to Southern Area Hospice Services and overall employee of the year went to Celine Grant from Re-Gen Waste.
Newry Chamber president Julie Gibbons said: “The last few years have been among the toughest times faced by businesses and society in general. But from the 150-plus award applications we received, we can clearly see that the local economy is being driven by many hard-working, ambitious and talented people.
“The Employee & Team Awards hold a special place for me, as this is the opportunity to really recognise our people.
“I often tell my team that leaders are only as good as their team. And most business owners would say that if it wasn’t for the commitment, work and loyalty of their teams and “Covid heroes”, we would never have made it through the last couple of difficult years.”
She added: “The Greater Newry Area is recognised as a place synonymous with entrepreneurship, innovation, excellent service, product quality and customer care.
“This year’s awards have recognised the very best that this region’s business community has to offer. Well done to all individuals and teams that entered and congratulations to the winners.”
Awards sponsors included Newry BID, ABP Food Group, PureVent, U105, Collins Aerospace, Digney Grant, Gray Design, Bank of Ireland, Newry Reporter, Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Jack Murphy Jewellers, Newry Democrat, Deli Lites, AbbeyAutoline, Hinch Distillery, FD Technologies, Killeavy Castle Estate, Southern Regional College, mac-group and Translink. The winners were:
:: Best Retail Team - Mulkerns EuroSpar
:: Best Retail Employee -Bronagh McCoy, Give Us Beauty
:: Best Tourism & Hospitality Team -Killeavy Castle Estate
:: Best Tourism & Hospitality Employee -Siofra McNulty, Canal Court Hotel & Spa
:: Best Manufacturing & Engineering Team - Blockbusters Environmental Services
:: Best Manufacturing & Engineering Employee - Olivia McAvoy, Resonate Testing
:: Best Property & Construction Team - MJ Donnelly Quantity Surveyors
:: Best Property & Construction Employee - PJ Fagan, Cole Groundworks Contracts
:: Best Professional Services Team - STATSports
:: Best Professional Services Employee - Linda Heaney, Hanna Hillen Financial Services
:: Best Beauty, Health & Wellbeing Team - Lee Opticians
:: Best Charity/Social Enterprise Team - Cancer Fund for Children
:: Best Creative, Media, Digital Tech Team - Playr-Fit
:: Best Family Business Employee - Charlotte McAteer, Jack Murphy Jewellers
:: Best Family Business Team - Comiskey Motors
:: Best New Business Team - Re-Gen Robotics
:: Best New Entrepreneur - Natasha Daryaie, TGG Fitness Ltd
:: Best Public Sector Employee - Damian Mulholland, Department for Communities
:: Best Higher Level Apprentice - Aaron Bradley, Newry BID
:: Overall Team of the Year - Southern Area Hospice Services
:: Overall Employee of the Year - Celine Grant, Re-Gen Waste
