 Hi I'm Sean Quinn from Highland Radio. Today I'm on to talk about the upcoming Letterkenny Business Chamber Awards in 2022. I'm joined by Sinead Dooley, head of Public Engagement with AirGrid and Tony Forrester, the CEO of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce. Ladies you're both very welcome. Thanks Tony. Thanks Sean. Tony can I come to you first? What is the idea behind the Letterkenny Business Chamber Awards? So we've been running the awards for a number of years, obviously back with buying this year having had to have two years off. And really the idea behind it is celebrating business and celebrating everything there is good about business. So businesses trudge along all day, not trudge, they work their business all day, they work at it all day. And we felt that there was a space in Donegal to celebrate that achievement. And you know they, you go out to see a business and they tell you a little bit about their business and all of a sudden it becomes this real thing. And when we always say as marketers over the years I've always said put your awards up on your website. So when they get an award they're very proud of it. And even getting through part of this process of it makes this achievement really worthwhile. So it's celebration really Sean. Yeah and I suppose it's always great to celebrate success and progress. And talking of progress so we've gone through the nomination stage and it's now closed and it's been shortlisted. And we come to the exciting part which is the voting. So tell me more about the voting process and how that works. Yeah, so we have got the category down to three nominees who will go through to the final. So as a bit of engagement and to get the best out of this opportunity for our businesses, we open a poll on each category. So over the next week, two weeks, we will go through each category on social medias and highland social media. And anywhere we can get the news out there and attached to each of those posts will be a poll. So you can vote for the people you like the best and you'll be able to vote. If you want to vote once a week, you'll be able to vote and just who you like the best and you vote in all categories. So it's really it injects a bit of fun, injects a bit of engagement and it also contributes a little bit to the winner. But we also wait. We have to wait that obviously. You know, you can't just let public because somebody who's good on social media will get big, big polls. So we waited a little bit and then we look at those about a week before the closing the event and see who's top the polls. But it's really good for our engagement for all the businesses who went to the border applying. Yeah, that sounds great. And what we'll also do is we will use Highland Radio to encourage people to go on to the social channels to vote. But we will make it clear that you can only vote once because I'd be party to maybe vote in a couple of times with my friends, but don't don't say anything there. We'll keep that between us. Sinead, Air Grid have become the principal sponsor for the Letakity Chamber Awards in 2022. Why did you decide to support the awards this year? Yeah, I'm delighted to join yourself and Tony for this today as well. Going back to what Tony said, it's the awards celebrate the very best of business in Donegal. And I suppose it gives recognition to local businesses, showcases their success and gives them an opportunity to show how ambitious they are. It's been a tough couple of years as we know for businesses across the country and communities. And in Air Grid, we understand the importance of supporting local economies and communities and businesses. And they're at the heart of everything we do. So look, it's important for businesses to celebrate their achievements. Too often we all look at the negative in life. I'm really looking forward to the event itself and to see all of the talent coming through. But it is nice to acknowledge the achievements and we're just delighted to be able to be involved and support these awards in whatever way that we can. So we're delighted to be involved here, Sean. Yeah, and it's great to have you. And I know that I was, I was, I was my partner, but I helped in the Citizen Road shows that you did earlier this year in Donegal. And you got great crowds for that. It was phenomenal. And it was a great opportunity for you to talk about what Air Grid are doing. How can these events create a foundation for more recognition of the work that Air Grid do in the community? Yeah, and I suppose, and you're right. The first word to use was partner and you were a partner in it. And I think local radio are hugely important to be at the promotion of Letter Kenny Chamber of Commerce. So what they're doing are certainly in promoting of the events that we had held in Donegal. Donegal and Letter Kenny were the very first locations for our energy Citizen Road show. So we're quite nervous when you're launching a new initiative. It's hard to know how it's going to land, how well it's going to be received. But we believed kind of why we're doing it and what we're doing. So it was really heartening for us on both of those nights to turn up on fine evenings, bright evenings, and yet to have packed rooms and both. We wanted to come in and still want to come into communities to speak to people, businesses, farmers, self-employed about the work we do. And how it will play an integral role in future transition to the clean green energy. And but also outlining what it would mean for the county, what business opportunities there are, what growth opportunities for the region. But we saw firsthand this was last year we spoke to you about our consultation around the country and shaping. There was a huge interest of people who want to become involved who want to know what they can do in terms of a looking at our climate action targets, but also what can I do as a person in terms of looking at my security of supply, keeping the cost of energy down, microgeneration on farms. So we saw it as an opportunity, Sean, to bring all of those stakeholders together. ESB networks for microgeneration, viewpoint, sustainable energy, authority of Ireland and ourselves to try and take the red tape out of the process. It's very difficult for people sometimes to try and know who's responsible for what and who does it. So that's what we use the air which energy shows for us to go out and just talk to people face to face back to what we're good at doing at an Ireland meeting people and talking. And it was just that to provide the information. We were very, very well received in Doney gods that gave us the encouragement to roll it out around the rest of the country. And but again, look just an opportunity for us to speak to people about their role in the community, our role in the community and just to try and build those bridges with people as well. And the great thing that I noticed a part of that was that it was it was plain English people could understand, you know what the message you were trying to get it across. And as it's something that and I'm also I'm delighted to embrace the fact that it was done ago was a first you did it and don't go first which is great. And we would be delighted if you can come back in 2023 because I think there's a bigger message still to tell and to inform people and you can never tell them enough about progress, but also opportunity and that word change which sometimes is quite difficult. Absolutely and and in my experience over the years and I've got two years experience under my belt unfortunately Sean more than I'd like to tell but I think when you leave a vacuum and you don't provide the information that's what causes no matter what you're doing. I'm just talking about air grid or electricity or grids or any of that I'm talking in general in life and it's been like the support that businesses get from letter Kenny Chamber of Commerce. You know you can't afford to leave a gap in terms of communication and have it filled misinformation so that plain English is it and I'm glad you said it because that's what we've been trying to do and I'm glad that you've acknowledged that is just to have a say to those very simple conversations with people. Yes, I know people fear change and the fear maybe development of grid infrastructure in an area but we explain the process and if we want to meet and provide renewable energies and provide business opportunities. Unfortunately, as people would see it we need to develop the grid, but we need to be able to explain as you say in plain English language, why we're doing it, how we're doing it but most importantly, listen to the voices of communities and landowners as to how they want us to develop, not leave a gap and silence. You know that day is thankfully gone. It's that two way dialogue bringing communities and businesses to table, and that we co design our roots and that everybody knows every step of the way, what we're doing, when we're doing it and why we're doing it so that's, it's not rocket science, we're literally just talking to people. This is, this is fantastic and suppose the community feel and business feel Tony is is one of the biggest reasons why the Business Awards have been successful over the years, and they're well established at this stage. Just remind me of some of the categories that people can win on the 11th November. We have 14 awards but we've 12 category ones that we talk about. And I suppose I pick out ones that are always really popular business excellence, and that can be anything but mostly it comes down to how people manage the business. And it's usually a business that's, you know, we've got more mature that's grown and they know how to get the best out of everything in their business and their processes are good. That one that we really like the community one best health past community health and well being initiative. And that's all around how we improve the health of our communities, you know, no matter what we do in life. Our healthy community is so important. And whether that's good electricity or, or anything we just think we need that we brought a new one in this year. Business through Irish. And that's a big growing thing where a Gail talked gateway, I'm going to say, and a gateway to the Gail talk. And we just think that's really important to start now it's a baby steps this year, but next year we'll see that grow. And another one that's quite topical I suppose is accessibility diversity and inclusion. And, you know, that's all of us about our communities and how we integrate with different types of people from different backgrounds, different abilities. And they're, they're all becoming really, really popular. The years we have them. I don't know if you want to. I will tell you, we have a business person of the year and we have all of them as well. They're two big awards that we give from the chamber. And who chooses the business person of the year. They're done with them business person hall theme are done via part of our committee. And so we, we look at we get applications, we actually get nominee nominations from people. And we look around and we talk about them and we decide between a small group of people. And it's always kept us a surprise on the night. So, and usually they're quite surprised that they're even, they know they're getting it, but they don't tell anybody else. So it's a real, it's a really lovely part of our evening. And, you know, once we get through all the awards and we've got business person hall theme at the very end. And, you know, the room stands up and mostly people know people who get so it's it's a lovely part of our event. And I'm not saying because as soon as we start giving out awards, you can feel the energy in the room growing and growing and growing, which is fabulous for us. You know, so, so people, people love watching other people get awards as well, even if they don't get one themselves. Yeah, I remember back in 2019, which is the last one, it was, it's just a great crescendo to the whole event because it's something special to be to have that to be given that achievement in front of your peers. And, and, and it's, it's great the way it was to get back into a room and we'll go into that in a little bit later. She may just to air grid or also go out sponsoring the sustainable superstar category. Do you think your involvement as a brand in this particular category will encourage businesses to consider energy security and the part that they can play in the sustainability of the future energy needs. Yeah, I know, suppose well, given our role in delivering such a cleaner energy future and working up towards 80% of electricity coming from renewable energy by 2030. Like we'd obviously love to see others play in their part to so businesses these days are making the change and to be more sustainable, both for climate purposes but also for energy reasons. And supporting these efforts, it's great to be especially involved with this category. We're looking forward to seeing the shortlist to see what initiatives are coming forward to in letter Kenny and for letter Kenny look at we were the first to say to you in terms of our location for an energy road show. We're looking to see letter Kenny Chamber Awards been a first in terms of the Senate sustainability awards and developing that over the years as well to try and encourage more people to take part so it was a no brainer first to be that the main sponsors of that particular one. So yeah, look at really looking forward to see what interest and how we can work with Tony in the chamber hopefully into the future in terms of how to develop that even further. And it's a it's a relatively new category. Tony, am I right in saying it's and it's going to be a growing category is that fair to say. I personally I really do think so you can hear and this part of having a great I think sponsoring it, you can hear the conversations changing. And we put that as out of necessity, but other bits of it are, maybe we can move this forward a bit quicker than we thought we could. So I have a few businesses even in the background who didn't apply this year. Yeah, I definitely know we'll be on board next year, because I've moved their sustainability processes forward, but it's the whole sustainability and conversation that we're all trying to have. And I think this really takes the box for us. And if I could even come back in there Sean in terms of you know again looking at what we did last year in letter Kenny. I think it'd be great now that we're building this collaboration piece between us as well that we can look and see what two businesses want and if we can facilitate sustainable development goals conversation training for businesses in the area. You know, let's put on our thinking cap stop reinventing the wheel and whatever we can do to try and help businesses to grow this area and be a training bit information evenings whatever that we just all work together and try and make it because it doesn't have to be a huge program that the undertake any little step and as it really is little steps we saw that individuals on the night so whatever steps that businesses can take towards a more sustainable business further from themselves. Recost saving perspective as well really has to be embraced and I think that's something that we can all work on together and roll out across Tony gone as well. Yeah, and you know we're looking at 2030 and 2050 as future plans but it's really what we can do today that can make a difference to change is that as you correctly said, step by step in the community and in businesses. How can they help a grid to achieve their goals. Is there anything they can do today just a small thing to say, we've made a little bit of change. Look that's a 90 and 90 marker question, you know, I mean, finally look at the bigger thing but I think going back again to the energy citizen road shows that we're rolling out. What really caught people's imagination there says that micro generation please whether it's solar panels on the roof your home, whether it's one lady in particular remember has a potato farm and, you know, a load of outhouses and sheds that's a ripe for in terms of putting on solar panels and now the opportunity to sell back to the grid so not only a self sufficient, but you're also selling back to the grid and making money as well. Now that's one thing but the retrofitting of homes insulation of homes, you know, I think, again, down to rainwater harvest and maybe think back to what families did 50 years ago and 80 years ago where that was sustainable we didn't realize it at the time when they were hurled down under a downpipe outside collecting the water but the rainwater have some thinking the way nearly almost that people did it back in the day. Small steps for houses for the minute but sit you look at going back to the point in terms of the road shows, they're the sort of conversations that we build on what we've done today that people can just find something that's comfortable for them to do cast effective and that they are doing their part as well as this so it's a small steps for the start Sean and then people build on that and grow. Yeah, that's great. And Tony just just look let's move forward now to the the actual event so tell me more about the actual chamber the evening on the 11th of November what's what's going to happen what can people look forward to. Okay, so we'll have our lovely drinks reception I should come in and to black tie event so it's a glamour and glitz and we have seen some people really say no I have to get a guy and I have to get a guy. So we always enjoy that part of it. And once we have we go in we have dinner, lovely dinner in the my garden tell and then we'll start the awards so we just go through them fairly quickly. The 12 and then the last two. And we'll have a few speeches and our sponsors will be acknowledged. And at the end, you know, it's really just the celebration and then there's a bit of dancing. You know, not everybody knows that we it's not just it's not just speeches and talks, words, there's a bit of dancing, a bit of fun. And we always try and have it all it's a it's an important celebration for us and it's important night for us, you know, we do sessions and people come. But at the end of the day, this is like the businesses enjoying themselves and people bring their staff and people bring you know their friends and family. And if we can enjoy that so we'll go on to the art, usually. So so I don't know if we even know how to go out anymore. What you're saying to me here basically is I have to go and hire a suit and I've got to go and get dancing lessons that right. Clean your high heels, John. Clean your high heels as well. We're back in the high heels for the night. Well, I'll leave the high heels to you two ladies now in fairness. It's always going to be a great night, Tony. All our all our categories are sponsored as well. You know, so they all get to showcase themselves in the evening, you know, just by being there. After the event, we also publish everyone's photographs, all the finalists photographs on the night in our Chamber magazine. That's a real no people read magazines yesterday, but they love it. So all of that will be there and hopefully be some surprises on the night as well. And the other thing, and I mean, I think people we've all forgotten, I mean, in terms of the last couple of years that we've had the businesses and families haven't had as many opportunities as the would have in the past to go out, be it Christmas lunches or Christmas dinner, everything was put on hold. So in terms of giving it a plug, Tony, I'd be saying to every business and telling all it is a great opportunity to bring out your staff to acknowledge how difficult they've had at the last number of years. And I also, from being at those events, I love where you know your business personally here in your hall of fame to see families coming back together. I know they obviously know a little bit in advance. So that is a lovely opportunity because normally people who've contributed hugely to society in terms of, you know, employment and and and contribution to the society. It really is a lovely chance to see all of the family getting together to acknowledge one of their own. And Sean said earlier for your peers to acknowledge it is the key thing here that you're, you know, for anybody else to say it but for your own people in the area to vote for you to be the best business on the night is a huge, huge attribute. Yeah, that's exactly what it's for. Networking is well on the evening to you can never network enough to to to your, you know, it could be your competitor or it could be just another business to learn how they're doing things. And it's always good to put your hand in your pocket and buy the odd little drink as well and celebration of Sunday who's been successful and that's always a great story. And we also have, you know, we also have a raffle on the night and we we raise some money for a cancer cancer care West. This is our presence nominated charity. So that's always, you know, and I think to do as well. And I would say if you're going to network and Sean did early. You promise too much later on in the evening. If we go on too much longer, there'll be no tickets left because this is the biggest sales pitch ever I saw free ads from my radio. Exactly Tony you have a very busy few weeks ahead. And you're going to visit in the shortlist is businesses. I want to wish you and the judges the very best of luck in the coming weeks. It's no mean feat trying to decide on the winners in each category. I don't envy you. I'm glad I'm not part of that process. You know, I'm sure Tony will join me in thanking you and air grid for your support. And we look forward to hearing more about the plans and opportunities of air grid. You have in the coming months and years. And we look forward to welcoming you in person to donnie gall on Friday the 11th of November. And I think it will be a celebration, a brilliant night of entertainment. And for this Tony for us to the CEO of letter, Kenny chamber of commerce. Thank you for joining me and she made do the head of communications with air grid. Also, thank you for joining me before I go just to let people know that tickets are available for the business awards at info at letter, Kenny chamber dot com. And Tony is there a phone number that can ring as well. Oh, seven four. And come in early and buy early and you're guaranteed to have a seat on the evening. Ladies. Thank you for joining me. Looking forward to see you then.