January 11th, 2005

Two Carlow Companies Reach Final of Small Businesses Competition [Declan Magee, Carlow People]

TWO CARLOW companies have reached the finals of one of the most prestigious national business competitions.

Security surveillance firm Netwatch, and the Arboretum Garden Centre in Leighlinbridge are two of the 34 companies nationwide who have reached the finals of the Small Firm's Association Small Business Awards 2005.

The shortlisted companies are competing in six different categories, each category winner will receive €5,000 and a feature in the Irish Independent.  The category winners also compete for the overall title and the prize of an additional €10,000.

The competition is held in conjunction with 02 Ireland and Bank of Ireland Business Banking.  The presentation of the Awards will take place at a gala banquet dinner to be held in the Berkeley Court Hotel, on Thursday, 24th February 2005, by the patron of the awards, An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Arboretum Garden Centre in Leighlinbridge has been nominated in two categories; retail and best training initiative in a small business.

Netwatch, based in the Kernanstown Industrial park, has been nominated in the services category.  The firm has been operating for almost two years but according to David Walsh, who manages the company along with Niall Kelly, it has grown rapidly in that time, starting out with just two employees.  The firm provides 24 hour surveillance of its client's premises from Kernanstown.  Presently employing 25 people, David Walsh says the firm hopes to employ up to 60 people by the end of next year.

The unique aspect of the system that Netwatch provides, David says, is that it allows the firm to speak 'live' to intruders before they enter the premises.  'If someone tries to break into a property in Donegal at 2 a.m. in the morning we will be able to speak to them in person.  When they know that someone is watching them live, they soon leg it.  The big advantage is that unlike standard security system alarms we can detect them and speak to them in the no man's land before they reach the building,' he said.

Sandra Byrne of the Arborertum Garden Centre in Leighlinbridge, which is open since  1978 and employs 40 people, said the company was pleased to have gotten so far in the awards.

'We entered two categories and we were nominated in both and it is great in respect that it is recognition for what we have done so far.  It is recognition for our customer care and training, both of which we place a lot of emphasis on.

'We are happy to get to where we are in the competition to be honest it would be a bonus if we got any further, but we would be on cloud nine if we did,' she said.