 Hi, I'm Sean Quinn from Highland Radio. Today I'm on to talk about the upcoming Letter Kenny Business Chamber Awards in 2022. I'm joined by Sinead Dooley, head of Public Engagement with Ergwit and Tony Forrester, the CEO of Letter Kenny Chamber of Commerce. Ladies, you're both very welcome. Thanks, Tony. Thanks, Sean. Hi, Sean. Tony, can I come to you first? What is the idea behind the Letter Kenny Business Chamber Awards? So, we've been running the awards for a number of years, obviously back with Bang 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, 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 the 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 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 our social medias and Highland social media. And anywhere we can get the news out there and attached to each of those will be a poll. So, you can vote for the people you like the best and you'll be able to vote. You only 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 wait 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 of 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 voting a couple of times with my friends. But don't say anything there. We'll keep that between us. Sinead, Ayrgood have become the principal sponsor for the Lettuce 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 Ayrgood, we understand the importance of supporting local economies and communities and businesses. And out there 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 of 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, it's great to have you. And I know that I was my partner, but I helped in the Citizen Roadshows 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 Ayrgood are doing. How can these events create a foundation for more recognition of the work that Ayrgood 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, be it the promotion of Letter, Kenny Chamber of Commerce or what they're doing are certainly in promoting of the events that we had held in Donegal. Yeah, which is fantastic. And I suppose the community field and business field, Tony, 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 of November. Yes, we have a big wide range. We have 12, and 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, a bit more mature, that's growing. And they know how to get the best out of everything in their business and their processes are good. We have a one that we really like, the community one best health, past community health and wellbeing initiative. And that's all around how we improve the health of our community. It's great the way I was to get back into a room, and we'll go into that in a little bit later. Sinead, just to agree to sponsor 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, I suppose we're given our role in delivering such as the 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 too. So businesses these days are making the change and to be more sustainable, both for climate purposes, but also for energy reasons. So in supporting these efforts, it's great to be especially involved with this category. That's great. And Tony, just a good look, let's move forward now to the actual event. So tell me more about the actual chamber the evening on the 11th of November. What's going to happen? What can people look forward to? Okay, so we'll have our lovely drinks reception. It should come in. It's a black tie event. So it's a glamour and glitz. So we have seen some people in socials around here saying, I'll have to get a guy, I'll have to get a guy. So we always enjoy that part of it. And once we go in, we have dinner, lovely dinner in the my garden tail, and then we'll start the awards. So we just go through them fairly rapidly, the 12th and then the last two. We'll have a few speeches and our sponsors will be acknowledged. And at the end, it's really just the celebration. And then there's a bit of dancing. No, not everybody knows that. It's not just speeches and talks and awards. So it's a bit of dancing, a bit of fun. And we always try and have, it's an important celebration for us. It's an important night for us. You know, we do have sessions and people like that come. But at the end of the day, this is about 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 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. Is that right? And clean your high heels, John. And clean what? 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. Yeah. It sounds as though it's going to be a great night, Tony. Yeah, the other thing, Sean, is all our categories are sponsored as well. You know, so they all get to showcase themselves in the evening. 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 they 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 us a plug, Tony, I'd be saying to every business in Donegal, it is a great opportunity to bring out your staff to acknowledge how difficult they've had over 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, a lot of people who've contributed hugely to society in terms of, you know, employment and contribution to the society. So 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. If busy a few weeks ahead, you're going to visit and 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. Sinead, I'm sure Tony will join me in thanking you and Ergud for your support. And we look forward to hearing more about the plans and opportunities of Ergud. You have in the coming months and years. And we look forward to welcoming you in person to Donny Gall on Friday the 11th of November. And I think it will be a celebration, a brilliant night of entertainment. So for this, Tony, Forrest are the CEO of Leading County Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for joining me. And Sinead Dooley, Head of Publications with Ergud. 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 leadingcountychamber.com. And Tony, is there a phone number that you can ring as well at 07-4? I'm 1-2-4-8-6-6. 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. Thank you so much, Sean.