Ulster Bank is calling on Agri-Businesses across the island of Ireland to enter the 2014 Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.

The Agri-Business category is open to the various businesses involved in and supporting food production. This includes farming and contract farming, seed supply, agri-chemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing and retail sales. Entries are submitted via Ulster Bank’s Business Achievers Awards website – BusinessAchieversAward.com

Speaking about the Agri-Business award, Dr. Ailish Byrne, Senior Agricultural Manager, Ulster Bank said: “Throughout the years, many agri-businesses have passed through our awards programme. Agri-businesses operating in communities across the island are making a valuable contribution to their local economies, and it is essential that we acknowledge and reward success in this industry.”

Chairperson of the national judging panel, and founder of Lily O’Brien’s and the Jack and Jill Foundation, Senator MaryAnn O’Brien, said: “I am delighted to chair the national judging panel for the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards. This is a fantastic awards programme which rewards SME success and provides the opportunity to generate brand exposure. The long list of previous winners is littered with many successful companies that won awards in their infancy and have gone on to become strong, household names. I look forward to being inspired by the dynamic business and entrepreneurship stories that exist all over the country.”

The overall winner will receive a comprehensive prize package including a €50,000 publishing bursary with the Irish Independent, business mentoring from Enterprise Ireland, a full-service communications workshop, as well as national and regional media exposure. Previous winners in the Agri-Business category include Meade Potato Company,  GH Agri-Galway Homeopatics,  Mash Direct, and Denn Ltd.

Run in association with Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and SmallBusinessCan.com, the awards are now open for entry at BusinessAchieversAward.com Deadline for submissions is on Friday, 26th September. You can follow all the action throughout the 2014 awards using @ulsterbank_baa and #UBBAA