Stealth Translations win ‘Exporter of the Year Award’ at the Enterprise NI Awards 2014
27th November, 2014
Local enterprise and entrepreneurship was celebrated after a sweet year of success at the annual Enterprise Northern Ireland awards held in Belfast.
The purpose of the awards is to showcase the work done by the Northern Ireland small business community and the efforts of the local enterprise agency network to support business development. Winners included the Exporter of the Year, Stealth Translations Ltd from Larne with the award being sponsored by Full Circle Management. Hosted by broadcaster Sarah Travers, the keynote speaker was Junior Minister, Jonathan Bell, ML and the event was supported by Legacy Wealth.
Chief Executive of Enterprise NI, Gordon Gough, said: “Enterprise Northern Ireland is the voice of local entrepreneurship and we’re very pleased to celebrate great examples of local ingenuity and talent. Helping to develop strong companies that create employment and export across the world is an important part of what we do.
“These awards are an excellent chance to recognise hard work and dedication of businesses and members of the ENI network. Whether it is through offering business support or highlighting access to finance initiatives, our network of enterprise agencies is playing an important role in stimulating Northern Ireland’s economy.”Dennis Paisley of Resurgam Trust said of his award, “it is a great honour to receive the Social Economy Business of the Year Award at the Northern Ireland Enterprise Awards. I am very grateful for all the help I have received from WorkWest Enterprise Agency in Belfast.”
Addressing the audience at the awards was Fraser Doherty MBE, aka JamBoy, who has become a globally-known name in the Agri-Food sector.
Still in his mid-20s, Fraser is the founder and CEO of SuperJam, the 100% fruit jam company that he started when he was 14 with his grandmother’s recipes. From then to now, SuperJam has grown to supply over 2,000 supermarkets around the world; selling millions of jars. The brand has won over 20 innovation awards and launched in 12 countries around the world, exporting to places such as Australia, Russia, Denmark, Finland and Ireland.
Fraser said: “SuperJam was borne out of small beginnings – particularly a small budget, but with innovative thinking impressing some of the large retailers, I was able to conceive a world-renowned brand. It is now an ‘Iconic Scottish Brand’ in the National Museum of Scotland, alongside Tunnock’s, Iron Bru and Baxters.
In 2007, Fraser became the youngest ever supplier to a supermarket chain when Waitrose launched his product range. He commented: “Age shouldn’t be a limiting factor when doing business; I think there is definitely scope for young people in NI to make themselves a success.”
Enterprise Northern Ireland is the organisation responsible for representing the interests of Local Enterprise Agencies and small businesses with central government, official agencies, the private sector and other organisations operating in the field of enterprise and economic development. For more information on the awards visit enterpriseni.com