City enterprises celebrated at awards

Some of Cork’s most interesting small businesses and social enterprises were recognised last week at the Cork City Enterprise Awards 2023.

Held last Thursday night at the Imperial Hotel, the awards are organised by Cork City Partnership (CCP), a local development company which was established over 30 years ago. The partnership supports a variety of community groups and individuals through social inclusion, education, and employment initiatives.

In the past 5 years, Cork City Partnership has assisted almost 320 people to start their own businesses. These enterprises are often sole traders who provide a diverse range of products and services including craft and design, professional services, hospitality businesses and digital marketing services.

Cork City Partnership provides enterprise supports and training to explore the viability of a self-employment business idea and along with collaborate partners, they assisted people to start their own business.

The evening was a celebration of the achievements of 12 individuals who have started their own businesses along with showcasing the work of 3 social enterprises. The CCP Enterprise Awards 2023 centred around four different business categories.

There were 4 award category of which Emerging New Business was won by Inka Malesevic and Jacob Al-Laham of Coffee Scape, Popes Quay. Churchfield Community Trust lead by Paul O’Donnell and his team won the Social Enterprise Award while the Innovation & Environmental Award went to Bernadette Tuite of bernadettetuite.com. The Substantial & Growth Award was won by Robert Hughes of RT Autos.

The overall CCP Enterprise Award 2023 went to ceramic artist Bernadette Tuite of bernadettetuite.com.

These awards helps to demonstrate the work of Cork City Partnership and the positive impact SICAP - the Social Inclusion and Community Activation programme, has on the daily lives of individuals and communities in Cork city.