Armagh-based firm Almac took top honours at the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards, ahead of nine other finalists selected from the four provinces.
The final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards took place last night (December 5) in Dublin, featuring a shortlist of ten companies selected from over 600 initial entries.
Headquartered in Craigavon, Almac is an established contract development and manufacturing organisation providing a range of integrated services to over 600 companies globally within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
Services include drug discovery, cancer diagnostics, research and development, manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, formulation development and the support of global clinical trials. The global organisation employs over 3,500 staff in a diverse range of activities.
Doug Cookson, vice president of corporate marketing at Almac Group, said that his firm's win recognised the hard work put in by its staff.
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He added: “Huge congratulations to everyone at Almac on making winning this coveted award possible – it is a true honour for all of us.”
Along with Almac, eight other leading businesses from across the country were named national winners in their individual award categories, along with the Business Women Can Special Recognition Award, which went to Janet McCollum, CEO of Moy Park.
The full list of winners were:
Overall 'Ulster Bank Business Achiever 2014': Almac;
Business Women Can Special Recognition Award: Janet McCollum, CEO, Moy Park;
Woman Led Business: TVM;
Best Business Start Up: Smart Wall Paint;
Small Business Award: FCS Global;
Best Established SME: Reagecon Diagnostics Ltd;
Food and Drink: Avondale Foods;
Social Enterprise: The Food Hub;
International Business: Realex Payments;
Agri-business: Paul Brophy Produce.
Speaking at the finals, Ellvena Graham, MD of SME banking at Ulster Bank, said the winning companies had displayed innovation and entrepreneurship in their areas of expertise through difficult financial times.
Almac will receive a publishing bursary with the Irish Independent, business mentoring, a full service communications workshop, as well as national and regional PR opportunities.
