Speaking this morning, 5 May 2022, at the announcement of the Chambers Ireland “Chamber of the Year Award” shortlist, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said:
“Each year, Chambers Ireland awards our member chambers who have delivered best-practice projects that have supported their members and their communities in a variety of ways.
“While the local chambers across the network span cities and towns of highly divergent scales, the challenges that exist on the ground often share the same causes even if they are expressed in different ways.
“Our annual awards are a way to help our members learn from each other’s successes and to draw inspiration from the activities of chambers from across the network.
“Over the Covid crisis, this sense of shared challenges was never greater than for those of us who represent businesses, large and small.
“This year, we are delighted that we will at last be able to return to an in-person event for these awards on the 2 June 2022.
The following chambers have been shortlisted:
1. Best Marketing Campaign
· Cork Chamber – The Cork Chamber Member Christmas Gift Guide
· County Carlow Chamber – Carlow Elves – Shop & Support Local Online & Offline
· Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber – Dungarvan Chamber Shopping Voucher ‘Shop Local’ Campaign
· Galway Chamber – Rediscover Galway – Influencer Campaign
· Waterford Chamber – Network Magazine
2. Event of the Year
· Cork Chamber – Cork Chamber CONNECTS Series
· County Carlow Chamber – Carlow Business Awards 2020 & 2021
· County Tipperary Chamber – County Tipperary Business Awards
· Kilkenny Chamber – Kilkenny Business Awards 2021
· Waterford Chamber Engineering: Making a Better World – Career Guidance Webinar
· Westport Chamber – Dare to Include Initiative
3. Local Authority Collaboration
· Athlone Chamber – Athlone Sustainable Digital Innovation Hub
· Laois Chamber – Commercial Vacancy Incentive Scheme
· Mullingar Chamber – #LoveMullingar Campaign
· Shannon Chamber – Shannon Town Masterplan – A Collaborative Undertaking
· Waterford Chamber – Shop Waterford Support Local
4. Most Innovative Project
· Cork Chamber – Cork’s Place in Europe – Communicating Europe Initiative
· County Carlow Chamber – Promoting the County Carlow Consumer Experience – Developing The Love Carlow Digital Hub
· County Wexford Chamber – Wexford Jobs Fest
5. Most Successful Policy Campaign
· Galway Chamber – Vision 2050 – A Future Vision for Galway
· Limerick Chamber – Limerick Chamber’s The Future Development of Limerick City Report
· Shannon Chamber – Shannon and Regional Airports Covid Traffic Recovery & Support Scheme (TRSS)
· South Dublin Chamber – From Lockdown to Local Recovery
· Waterford Chamber – University of substance for the South East
6. Best Membership Initiative
· Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber – ‘Why We’re Chamber Members’ Membership Campaign
· Laois Chamber – Business Briefing in association with Laois Today
· Mullingar Chamber – Mullingar Chamber Membership Initiatives 2021 / 2022
7. Partnership for Business
· Drogheda & District Chamber – Embrace the Change
· Dundalk Chamber – Dundalk Chamber of Commerce & Eures Cross Border Partnership
· Galway Chamber – ‘Why Work West’ Campaign
· Letterkenny Chamber – Cross Border Chamber Partnership Supporting the North West City Region
· Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Learn Grow Excel
· Waterford Chamber – Regional Leaders Programme
8. Supporting Enterprise Development and Social Enterprise
· Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber – D&WW Chamber Business Start Up Packs
· Galway Chamber – ‘Scaling Our Legacy’ Event in partnership with Galway Technology Centre
9. Engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals
· Cobh & Harbour Chamber – Networking Series with The Simply Blue Group
· Cork Chamber – Sustainable Cork Programme
· County Kildare Chamber – Sustainable Kildare
· South Dublin Chamber – Connecting with our Community
· Waterford Chamber – Waterford Green Deal
10. Chamber of the Year
· To be announced on the day
“I want to thank all of our chambers for their efforts, and wish them every success in the year ahead”
Announcing the shortlist for the awards, Joe Creegan, Director of Corporate Life and Pensions at Zurich Ireland commented:
“Zurich is delighted to continue our support of the annual Chamber Awards.
“These awards acknowledge the excellence of the Chamber network in supporting local economic development. We are proud to be associated with them and the quality of the entries shortlisted this year is testament to the important work Chambers’ undertake fostering a vibrant business community across all sectors of the Irish economy.”