In February 2010, Co. Kerry was awarded the prestigious title of European Entrepreneurial Region of the Year 2011 at a ceremony hosted by the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) in Brussels. The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award is designed to identify and reward EU regions with outstanding entrepreneurial vision and to encourage local and regional authorities to do more to promote small business across Europe. Kerry was one of just three regions in all 27 EU states to receive the accolade, along with Brandenburg, Germany and Murcia in Spain, and was selected based on the quality, efficacy and long-term success of its entrepreneurial vision. Launched in October, the EER award is open to every region in Europe, regardless of its size, population and wealth, and applications were sought from all over Europe. The successful Kerry submission was made jointly by the Institute of Technology, Tralee and Shannon Development, who share a joint campus at Kerry Technology Park.
The Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD welcomed the announcement, acknowledging Kerry’s proven track record of companies with global success: “I am delighted that Kerry has achieved the title of European Entrepreneurial Region of the Year 2011. I visited Kerry Technology Park myself and saw at first hand the supportive environment it offers to companies throughout all stages of their business lifecycle - from initial business start-up through growth and onto stand-alone businesses. “In addition, the co-operation and collaboration offered to companies by existing businesses on the ground also helps to ensure their mutual success in their respective businesses for the county,” the Taoiseach added.
Welcoming the Award, Dr Vincent Cunnane, chief executive of Shannon Development, said the award was a “tribute to the spirit of entrepreneurship that prevails in Co Kerry”. “Innovation and entrepreneurship are traits we strongly try to foster at our Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, which has a success rate of 90pc when it comes to business start ups – that's a full 10pc higher than the national average. Having had three winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, we are proud of our outstanding entrepreneurs at the Park,” he added.
“Entrepreneurship forms a central focus of the campus with programmes designed to encourage the exchange of ideas among students, staff and entrepreneurs. This ethos, combined with the activities of the Young Entrepreneur Programme means that one in five students now studies entrepreneurship in Kerry, more than any other county in Ireland,” said Michael Carmody, president of the Institute of Technology, Tralee.
“The phenomenal success of the newly launched Endeavour Programme is further testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.”
The three successful regions were chosen following assessment by a jury of Committee of the Regions members, representatives from the European Commission and from business organisations Business Europe, UEAPME and Euro chambers.
[ Jerry Kennelly, is the co-founder of Endeavour, the boot camp for nurturing start-ups that is currently being run at Kerry Technology Park .He is one of Co Kerry's most visible entrepreneurs, was the founder and former CEO of Stockbyte, which he sold to Getty Images for €135m in 2006.
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Some of Kerry’s leading companies include:
Kerry Dairy Ingredients, part of Kerry Group PLC, www.kerrygroup.com . Tralee is the headquarters of this global company which employs 20,000 people throughout its manufacturing, sales, technology and application centres across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Asian Markets. The Group has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions in its relatively short history, from the commissioning of its first dairy and ingredients plant in Listowel, Ireland 1972, and has achieved sustained profitability growth with current annualized sales of approximately €4.5billon.They supply over 15,000, food ingredients and flavor products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide. It has been at the forefront of technological developments in dairy ingredients for over thirty years. Its business involves creating, manufacturing and delivering technology-driven ingredients solutions for the world’s major food manufacturers, nutrition companies and foodservice providers.
Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd, www.liebherr.com, was established in Killarney, Co. Kerry in 1958 and is part of the privately owned LIEBHERR Group totaling, more than 100 companies worldwide. The company currently employs 503, at its base in Killarney and the Group worldwide employs almost 33,000 employees. Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. specializes in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of rail-mounted ship-to-shore cranes, stacking cranes, rubber tyre gantry cranes and straddle carriers for container handling in the port environment. The company has a reputation worldwide for supplying, high quality and high performance equipment, to meet the needs of its clients and the rugged extreme environment of the marine port sector. All cranes are manufactured and pre-assembled at the plant in Killarney and transported by truck to Fenit Port, where the cranes are shipped in special geared vessels to the various clients worldwide for on-site installation.
Fexco www.fexco.com, is a privately owned company and is a specialist provider of Merchant, Business and Consumer Services. Headquarters are in Killorglin, Co. Kerry where the company was originally founded in 1981. Currently employing more than 1,300 employees, FEXCO is one of Ireland`s success stories and processes over 20 million financial transactions every year. As well as in Ireland and the UK, FEXCO operate offices in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and Hong Kong. FEXCO provides innovative and alternative solutions to over 11,000 organisations globally including private sector customers and public sector business won through open competitive tenders.
Dairymaster www.dairymaster.com , a world leader in milking equipment manufacturing, operates from its head office in Causeway, Co. Kerry, Ireland as well as operating offices in the UK and USA. Dairymaster also has an export market that spans over 40 countries worldwide. The company employes 200 people in Kerry.
Kerry Technology Park companies include:
Altobridge Ltd www.altobridge.com, A world leader in the development of in-flight GSM passenger telecommunications, based in the Kerry Technology Business Park, Tralee.
Aspen Connect Ltd www.aspen-connect.com, specialises in Web-based workflow and process management for services industries such as the legal, insurance and banking sectors. It is based in the Kerry Technology Park, Tralee.
Assess Ireland, www.assessireland.com web based motor assessor services.
Astellas: www.astellas.com, on April 1, 2005 Yamanouchi and Fujisawa merged to form Astellas.
The Kerry Plant was established in Killorglin in 1990 and presently employs over 290 people.
Astellas Ireland Company Ltd formulates an immunosuppressant called Prograf one of Astellas Pharma Incs’ most important and innovative drugs, using the latest encapsulation, ampoule filling and packaging technology. It is used to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs. Worldwide distribution is from Killorglin. Protopic (tacrolimus ointment) indicated for patients suffering from moderate to severe atopic dermatitis is packaged in Killorglin and distributed to the European market.
BioAtlantis: www.bioatlantis.com, is a Tralee-based biotechnology company involved in the manufacture of nutraceutical ingredients from natural algal resources. Products include highly concentrated plant growth biostimulant formulations and performance-enhancing animal feed ingredients. Seaweed extract biostimulants are widely used by fruit and vegetable growers, tree growers, green-keepers and sports turf superintendents to optimise growth, quality and visual appearance in crops and amenities. BioAtlantis also manufactures a range of organically certified products for use in organic farming, which are also suitable for the home gardener or allotment keeper. For animal producers, a new product has been developed which utilises synergistic bioactive molecules extracted from brown algae to boost performance indices (weight gain, feed efficiency and nutrient utilisation) when included in animal feeds. BioAtlantis products have been verified by research partnerships through associations with several Irish universities.
DCS Energy Savings: www.dcsenergysavings.com, Innovations in Energy Conservation and Savings-
Next Generation Integrated Solutions Approach
Donseed : www.donseed.com Donseed Limited provides internet-hosted Construction industry
management services called Donseed Workplace Management Services (WMS).
Enercon windfarmerservices : Ireland www.enercon.de, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wind turbines.
FreeFlow : www.wctbid.de, is the world’s leading provider of alternative channel solutions for at-risk
inventory in consumer electronics companies. Freeflow`s headquarters is in the Kerry Technology Park with offices also located in the USA & Asia. Freeflow allow their clients to sell inventory with fixed-price or auction-based selling. Freeflow enable their clients to maximize recovery from their at-risk inventory by combining, award winning technology, deep industry experience & specialist services.
KPMG Tralee : www.kpmgtralee.com, specialists in Class Action settlement and administration, and claim
evaluation.
Continuum Commerce Solutions : www.gcx.com, Continuum Commerce Solutions offers the opportunity to realize the foreign exchange fee normally applied to non domestic credit card transactions.
Glen Dimplex Group Purchasing: www.glendimplex.com, Group purchasing department for the Glen
Dimplex group of companies.
Neotech Softwear Solutions Ltd, www.neotech.ie, Development of traceability softwear. Design and
Manufacture of automated labelling systems Design and development of printed circuit boards.
Provide maintenance, support and training services.
Pulse Learning, www.pulselearning.com, Develops and provides e-learning solutions to corporate clients
worldwide.
Saorgus Energy, www.saorgus.com, Wind Energy Development and Consultancy
Shannon Development, www.shannondev.ie, Regional Development Agency
Straker Europe Ltd, www.strakereurope.com, Tralee is the European headquarters for this high tech firm that develops Software for Customer Support & Business. It is based in Kerry Technology Park, Tralee.
Muller Dairy (UK) Ltd, www.muller.co.uk, Manufactures of dairy and yoghurt products
Intec Ireland, www.intecireland.com, Supplier of retail billing, interconnect billing, convergent mediation and other enterprise softwear solutions, primarily to the global telecoms industry.
Some other Home Grown successful Kerry Companies include:
Spectra Group, T.+353 68 50600 Established in 1968, The Spectra Photo Group has developed into one of Ireland's largest privately owned companies with a diverse range of business interests.
The Spectra Group has a turnover of over €60 million, employs over 500 staff in four countries (Ireland, U.K., South Africa & Panama) and focuses its activities into six main categories namely Property, Imaging, Retail, Distribution, Hotels, Food Processing and Enforcement.
Tel: +353 68 50600 Fax: +353 68 21601
HQ Address: Clieveragh Industrial Estate, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Kerry Petroleum Ltd www.kerrypetroleum.com, Kerry Petroleum Ltd was established in 1954 and is one of the largest oil distributors in the Munster region. Kerry Petroleum supplies domestic heating oil, agricultural diesel and engine oils, with delivery across the entire county of Kerry and West Cork daily. The company has a long history of excellent customer service with next-day delivery as standard; with same-day delivery possible if required.
O`Sullivan`s Marine www.osullivansmarine.com, in business since 1963, O`Sullivans Marine are well
Established as one of Ireland`s best known boat builders, and boat dealers. We have built such great boats as the famous Cork 1720 and the versatile Hellraiser HR223. As well as this, they are proud to be the Irish distributors for such famous boat brands as Bavaria Yachts, Bavaria Motorboats, Starfisher,
Linder Aluminum Boats, Poseidon Boats and Gemini RIB`s and inflatables. Couple these with Tohatsu Outboard Motors or Hondo Outboard Motors and Brenderup Trailers, and we can offer you some great package deals. Our brokerage department has a great selection of used and nearly-new boats for sale.
O`Sullivans Marine can also help you with all the other aspects in owning a boat – outboard engines from Tohatsu, and Honda, inboard diesel engines from Sole, Volvo and Yanmar, electronics and navigation equipment from Raymarine, Garmin and Lowrance, and a vast selection of boat trailers from
Europe`s largest manufacturer – Brenderup Trailers. Plus a vast array of chandlery upstairs in the new showrooms – worth a visit, to say the least!! ASK FOR OUR SPECIAL “PACKAGE DEAL” OFFERS ON ALL STOCK BOATS!!
Killarney Plastics Ltd : www.kmggroup.eu, was established in 1973, to manufacture GRP cold-water storage tanks for the building industry. Headquartered in Killarney, with multiple manufacturing locations in the UK, the group employs 220 people and exports 75% of its products worldwide. The company was incorporated in 1980 and through a significant business expansion plan, expanded its product range, including the manufacture of Composite Compounds, Sectional Water Storage Tanks, ESB Cabinets, Bord Gas Cabinets, Automotive Components and Wastewater Treatment Systems.
Gloucester Composites Ltd, its first overseas operation was set up in the UK in 1994 and in 1998 Killarney Manufacturing Group (KMG) was incorporated. With further acquisitions in 1999, KMG purchased Dewey Waters Ltd in Bristol and AC Plastics Ltd in Scotland. AC Plastics Ltd was added to the Group in 2005.
KMG is dedicated to manufacturing composite solutions for the construction, automotive, rail, aeronautical and environmental sectors. KMG now manufacture products as diverse as, fireproof train seats, electrical & gas metering cabinets, composite door skins, computer totes, wastewater treatment plants, safety products and specialist composite materials for companies like Rolls Royce and Opel.
Tillotson Ltd, www.tillotson.ie , www.tillotson-racing.com, Tillotson Ltd. is a design and manufacturing company for fuel systems used in engines. The Tralee operation was established in 1972 with manufacturing and office space of 52,000 sq. ft. Tillotson has always been at the forefront of change. Its product improvement programmes continue to develop new features which become standards in the industry, without compromise on quality or serviceability. Tillotson is meeting the challenge in a fast changing environment with its ever-increasing demands on gasoline engines. Tillotson will continue to be there with its commitment to R&D, developing fuel systems which will meet future technological and environmental requirements.
Beru Manufacturing GmBH, www.beru.com, Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee, Co. Kerry. BorgWarner BERU Systems Tralee Ltd was established in Tralee in 1986 for the production of Spiral Glowplugs. In 1990 it expanded to include production of Ballast Resistors and Heater Rods. There was a major expansion in 2000 to incorporate core business of QuickStart Glowplugs. Significant restructuring in 2009 / 2010 with a view to company-wide consolidation programme and strategic restructuring to include more high-tech and front-end processes and products.
Ridgeview www.ridgeview.ie, was established in 1985 as a sport sock manufacturer, located in the
Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Ridgeview has undergone a major re-structuring
over the last 6 years, in order to meet the demands of their customers and competition from lower labour cost countries. This has resulted in a phased downsizing of the Irish manufacturing and an improved infrastructure of sourced manufacturing. Ridgeview focuses on 1st class customer service, flexibility, innovation, understanding of each customer concepts and competitive pricing.
Iasc Ui Mathuna Teoranta T. 066 9151136 has been in business since 1982.
Its main function is processing of fresh fish and smoking of salmon and mackerel. It provides fresh fish to hotels and restaurants – cafés and pubs in both Dingle and Tralee which is delivered daily. Duinin Fish Shop opened in 1987. It continues in the tradition of O’ Dowds Fish Shop of providing fresh and smoked fish to its Tralee customers. Shellfish is also a speciality. The Blas na hEireann award-winning smoked salmon and smoked mackerel is very popular with customers.
For further information contact Breda at Iasc Ui Mhathuna
Telephone: (066 9151136 or 066 9151411) Fax: 066 9152060
e-mail: omathuna@iol.ie or Noreen or Peg at Duinin Fish Shop (0667121026)
O`Cathain Iasc Teo www.iascteo.com, is a family run business established in 1975, and one of Ireland`s premier producers of fresh and frozen pelagic and demersal fish. O`Cathain Iasc`s present operation in Dingle has a capacity to fillet 100 tons per day and to freeze 100 tons of fresh fish per day. They also have major shareholdings in Schwanner Fisch Gmbh, Armada Investment Ltd., Mara Moor Teo, Clanawley Ltd., and Pesca Coruna.
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