Best Start Up Business – less than 5 years in business:

• 5 years or less
• Trading Internationally
• Demonstrates Innovation -model/process/service/product
• Understanding the marketplace. Evidence of recognising and acting upon a market

           opportunity. Demonstrating their USP

• Viability -Application of innovative thinking in business planning and management
• Growth & Developments -Evidence of impressive performance and achievement coupled with planning for growth and acting upon opportunity in the market.

Best SME - less than 75 employees:

• More than 3 years old. Less than 75 employees. 
• Future Viability -Significant growth and innovation in the company's market sector
• Growth & Development -Application of sound, innovative thinking in its planning and operational management. An excellent understanding of the market and of customer needs, coupled with the ability to recognise and act upon new opportunities
• Contribution to County (employability, attracting new investment)

Best Family Business:

• Demonstrate how being a family business has helped it to grow-how has being a family business made it different to a non-family business
• Future Viability - Significant growth and innovation in the company's market sector
• Growth & Development -Application of sound, innovative thinking in its planning and operational management. An excellent understanding of the market and of customer needs, coupled with the ability to recognise and act upon new opportunities
• Evidence of achievement and performance that makes the business stand out from it's competitors
• Contribution to County (employability, attracting new investment)

Best Large Business:

• Must have an office in Tipperary and greater than 75 employees
• Can be FDI or Irish Indigenous 
• Future Viability -Evidence of positive sales and market share performance coupled with
• Growth and innovation in the company's market sector over the last 12 months
• Growth & Development -Tactical ability in overcoming obstacles - Application of sound, innovative thinking in its planning and operational management. An excellent understanding of the market and of customer needs, coupled with the ability to recognise and act upon new opportunities
• Overall Business Performance - Evidence of versatility, imagination and persistence in exploiting target markets - Evidence of achievement and performance over the last 12 months that makes the business stand out from its competitors
• Contribution to County (employability, attracting new investment)

Best Corporate Social Responsibility:
Over the last 12 months demonstrate how your organisation has supported the community through:

• Social Impact
• Environmental impact
• Cultural Impact

Must demonstrate responsible corporate giving.

Social Media & Digital Marketing:
This award is for any business that integrates marketing and social media as part of their approach to customer service and business development. This award is about how effective these tools are on your business activates and not about how much you spend on these activities. This is not an award just for marketing and communications businesses. The winning business will be able to demonstrate the following:

• A comprehensive marketing and communications plan
• Clear strategy for utilizing marketing and social media as a tool for business growth and strong customer service
• Innovative approach to social media, with evidence of its impact
• Effective measurement of return on investment
• Strong Business/Financial/Market Performance

Best Customer Services provider:
What have you done over the last 12 months to help create an exceptional experience for your customers (B2B or B2C)

• Demonstrates a company-wide service & business process improvement (BPI) commitment
• Evidence of a clearly communicated service and BPI policy
• How innovation in services and business processes underpin your value proposition
• Contribution to County (employability, attracting new investment)

This can be any type of business from manufacturing, financial services to retail .

Best Retail, Hospitality & Tourism:

• Demonstrate over the last 12 months how your business has grown in terms of finance/employment/new locations/growing customer base
• Contribution to the local area - community engagement and support for other local companies
• Demonstrate innovative thinking in attracting customers over the last 12 months

Best Sports, Arts & Culture:

• Over the last 12 months demonstrate impact to the local area/growth in terms of finance/employment/growing customer base
• What is the vision/mission and demonstrate execution of strategy?
• Demonstrate innovative thinking in attracting customers over the last 12 months
• Contribution to County (employability, attracting new investment)

Best Food & Agricultural:

• Demonstrate over the last 12 months how your business has grown in terms of finance/employment/new locations/growing customer base
• Contribution to the local area - community engagement and support for other local companies
• Demonstrate innovative thinking in attracting customers over the last 12 months

Best Training & Development:
Demonstrate how the organisation is upskilling its employees and supporting their personal and professional development including:

• Technical skills
• Leadership
• Wellbeing

Business of the Year:
Decided by the Judging Panel and agreed with the Chamber as overall Business of the year. 

County Tipperary Chamber President’s Award:
To be chosen by County Tipperary Chamber President.