The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Industry Finalists

Industry Finalists

JOHN TONER & ROBERT ADAMSON

Williams Industrial Services

ESTABLISHED IN 1983, Williams Industrial Services Ltd (WIS) is Northern Ireland’s largest provider of process control, automation, instrumentation and environmental engineering solutions. The company is a well-known specialist in the design, operation and maintenance of water and waste water treatment works. Often working in collaboration with civil engineering contractors, their team of highly-skilled designers, project managers, project engineers and operatives offer a range of turnkey packages for all kinds of applications. WIS has experienced more than 50 per cent growth in the past year, growing turnover to £31 million in that period. It currently employs more than 170 people.

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PRODUCTS

WIS operates in a wide range of sectors, including water and waste water treatment systems, aerospace, pharma, food and drink and many other industrial process control and automation sectors, robotics and specialist machine manufacture.

CUSTOMERS

The quality of WIS’s product portfolio, combined with in-house engineering expertise, means they can integrate these products into tailored processes and systems for customers in any sector. These include process design, installation, project management, support and training.

WHAT VISION PROMPTED YOU TO START UP IN BUSINESS?

Having grown up within a family business, I was always encouraged to be the master of my own destiny, says John Toner. This combined with graduating in electrical /electronic engineering in 1985, and achieving a part-time post-graduate qualification in marketing in 1993, gave me a unique insight and opportunity to develop the two disciplines in a business environment.

WHAT ROLE DOES CSR PLAY IN YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY?

While we are a business-to-business enterprise, we don’t lose sight of our social responsibilities. Our goal is to make profit in an ethical manner. Ultimately our reputation is what we are judged on.

HAS YOUR IRISHNESS CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR SUCCESS?

The Irish are recognised globally as a very sociable race. And I believe that while I am neither a saint nor a scholar, my Irishness gives me the grounding and wit to succeed in both social and business activities. I also love to tell a good yarn.

TERENCE DONNELLY

Donnelly Motor Group

THE DONNELLY Group originated in 1947 in Caledon, Co Tyrone, as a vehicle repair shop and taxi service by Terence’s father Peter, and his uncle James, the original Donnelly Bros.

Since 1970, Donnelly has been running the company. With his brother, Raymond, the Donnelly Bros philosophy is “keeping the customer central to everything we do”.

Key to the company’s growth has been its geographical spread across Northern Ireland. In 1991, it went into partnership with Houston Taggart to form Donnelly and Taggart in Co Derry. Further expansion took place in Belfast, Enniskillen and Ballymena and, in 2008, with the addition of Donnelly Honda on Boucher Road, Belfast. In 2006, the group created TBC, specialising in conversions and wheelchair- accessible vehicles. It is also involved in the bid to develop battery-powered technology.

Donnelly says his biggest achievements was being awarded the sole distribution rights for Mitsubishi for Northern Ireland in 1996 and being awarded the Best UK Motor Dealer in 2001. The group employs more than 500 staff from eight locations, with an annual turnover of £200 million and current pre-tax profit of £2.5 million.

PRODUCT

The group represents Land Rover, Renault, Volkswagen, Seat, Citroen, Peugeot, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Toyota, Daihatsu and Honda. In 2006, it set up the Motorstore brand, specialising in quality used vehicles.

CUSTOMERS

Donnelly Group serves motoring customers throughout Ireland – both through its dealer outlet and trade sales.

WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED STARTING UP?

During the first phase of expansion, the balance sheet lost 60 per cent of its value due mainly to over-trading and the drastic reduction in value of used vehicles. We had to slow the process down and, with support of key employees, we decided to trade for profit, not volume. In the following year, we doubled the net worth of the company.

HAS ANYONE ACTED AS A MENTOR TO YOU?

My biggest mentor was my father. Also, good professional advisers and business colleagues have been invaluable along the journey.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN ENTREPRENEURS STARTING OUT?

Build your business on bricks, not sand – find your product, believe in it, know your market, trade for profit taking a long-term view and enjoy what you do.

MICHAEL GUERIN

Medicare Pharmacy

MICHAEL GUERIN qualified as a pharmacist in 1987 and purchased his first pharmacy in 1988. He opened Belfast’s first late-night pharmacy and acquired his second pharmacy in 1992. Both these pharmacies were in the centre of Belfast. During the Troubles the businesses were damaged 19 times.

During this time, Guerin explains how the glazier and loss adjuster were on speed dial on the telephone. He continued to grow by acquisition and by 2001 there were 13 outlets within the group. In 2002, the group was brought under the Medicare brand and is now the largest indigenous and fastest-growing pharmacy group in Northern Ireland.

Medicare Pharmacy group is regarded as one of the leading pharmacy providers in Northern Ireland. Through investment in staff training and shop presentation, the group is well placed to meet the changes in introducing the new community pharmacy contract in the North.

It employs more than 650 staff, including 90 pharmacists, in 57 locations across the North. It has a 6,500sq m (70,000sq ft) head office and distribution centre in east Belfast, dispensing in excess of four million prescriptions annually.

PRODUCTS

Medicare Pharmacies are located all over Northern Ireland, with a focus in Belfast and Derry, and are some of the busiest, high- volume pharmacies in many of the most socially deprived areas in the North. The strategy is to give patients and customers the healthcare and services they require in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

CUSTOMERS

Medicare Group provides pharmacy healthcare needs for the community members in each of their 13 store locations.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT?

The acquisition of the Dundee Pharmacy group in Belfast with its 21 outlets to create the largest indigenous pharmacy group in Northern Ireland has been my biggest achievement.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE NOW?

On a financial level, my biggest challenge is securing funding for further acquisitions.

HOW DO YOU RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES?

Boating and golfing in Portugal – a walk around the Atlantic Drive in Downings,, Donegal, followed by a pint of Guinness in the Harbour Bar.

COLETTE TWOMEY

Clonakilty Food Company

AFTER THEIR marriage in 1977, Colette and Edward Twomey bought a butcher shop in Clonakilty town. Included with the deeds of the shop was the recipe for black pudding. Making black pudding was a labour-intensive, time-consuming job, but customers adored it and it soon became apparent that the success of the butcher shop depended on this product.

In the early years of the business, Colette set off with a van of produce, meeting shopkeepers and expanding the customer base as she went. Most of the marketing took place at agricultural shows, at Bord Bia tastings and at community events nationwide.

The business expanded significantly after 1980 when Colette undertook a course at the department of food sciences at UCC. It was then the recipe for Clonakilty white pudding was developed. This proved to be a significant turning point for the company which now employs 42 staff with an average annual wage bill of €1 million. In November 2005, Edward Twomey died, having lived to experience the success of the brand.

PRODUCTS

Black pudding was seen in the early years as a very humble food. It took determination and a lot of hard work to place it at the level it is at today. Clonakilty Food Co now produces black and white pudding, pork sausages, gluten-free sausages and rashers.

CUSTOMERS

Clonakilty black and white puddings are seen on the menus of many high-profile restaurants and are promoted by renowned chefs at home and abroad.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO SUCCEED?

“Pride in what I do and doing a job well. Responsibility for family, staff and their families. I care about the future – carrying the traditions of our forefathers into the next generation.”

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE NOW?

“The economic downturn has an impact as customers are more price-conscious. There is also more competition in the food sector especially with the increase of imported produce. We use local Irish raw materials and remain competitive within the imported competition.”

HAS ANYONE ACTED AS A MENTOR TO YOU?

“I’m always very open to business advice; I know my weaknesses and will seek advice from experts in that sector. I’m eager to learn from others, I’m a good judge of character and this has served me well.”

THE AWARD

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, now in its 13th year, aims to recognise and acclaim Ireland's entrepreneurs. The award is run in association with The Irish Times, RTÉ, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, and Newstalk. Eight companies have been chosen in each of the three categories: International, Industry and Emerging. Four nominees will be profiled each Monday over the next four weeks. A nominee must be a business founder or owner, and be primarily responsible for the recent performance of a company that is at least two years old. Founders of public companies are eligible, provided the founder is still active in top management. The nominee must own 5 per cent of the company to be eligible.

Anyone – including employees, company advisors and financiers – can nominate a successful entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs may nominate themselves and/or their peers.

The judges are business people who have achieved success in their own right. Thus, all nominees are judged by their peers.

Judging criteria include growth in turnover and employee numbers, as well as vision, degree of innovation, creativity in production, marketing and selling, and expansion in local and international markets

The chairman of the judging panel is Padraig O’Ceidegh, chairman of Aer Arran. The other judges are Terry Clune CEO, Taxback.com; Hugh ODonnell CEO, Kentz Group ;Brian Long, Partner,Atlantic Bridge Ventures; Michael Carey, Executive Chairman, Jacob Fruitfield Group; Anne Heraty, Chief Executive Officer, CPL Resources plc; Jerry Kennelly, CEO, Gustavo; Tom Hayes, Enterprise Ireland; Pat McDonagh, ThirdForce; Liam Shanahan, Managing Director Shanahan Engineering; Liam Nellis Chief Executive InterTradeIreland.

The winner will be announced at a televised awards ceremony on October 21st.