A maritime licensing business from Arklow, Co. Wicklow is this year’s winner of the Wicklow Enterprise Award for 2022, Local Enterprise Office Wicklow has announced.
Kate Dempsey of Aqualicense Ltd. and the Irish Mussel Seed Company will represent Local Enterprise Office Wicklow at the 22nd National Enterprise Awards at the Mansion House in Dublin on the 2nd June.
Aqualicense Ltd. will now be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €35,000 winners prize fund as national judging gets underway in May. Categories this year include ‘Best Export Business,’ ‘Best Start-Up’ and ‘Innovation,’ in addition to eight regional awards. There are also two new National Enterprise Awards this year with a “One to Watch” award and a “Sustainability / Green” award.
Speaking during Local Enterprise Week, Vibeke Delahunt of Local Enterprise Office Wicklow said: “We are so proud to have the amazing Kate Dempsey representing us this year. In addition to maritime licensing company, Aqualicense Ltd., and a mussel farm (The Irish Mussel Seed Company), Kate owns two other maritime related businesses and employs over 100 people in total. She has achieved all this since starting her first business less than ten years ago. It is a superb achievement and we wish her every success!”
Among the guests at the event to formally nominate Kate were Minister Damien English, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Brian Gleeson, CEO of Wicklow County Council; Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise at LEO Wicklow, and Louise Fleming, Senior Enterprise Development Officer at LEO Wicklow.
The National Enterprise Awards are organised every year by the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by Enterprise Ireland, local authorities and the Government of Ireland.
