Winning an award can be a great boost for a small business or startup – adding credibility, attracting media attention, and making your team feel proud of their achievements. But not all awards are created equal.

What Matters

Over the years, I’ve supported hundreds of business owners across Ireland. I’ve helped them navigate growth, develop strategy, and tackle the everyday realities of running a small business. With decades of experience in mentoring and advisory roles, I’ve seen first-hand what makes a business thrive, and the kinds of recognition that actually matter.

Irish Business Awards

In Ireland, we’re lucky to have a number of genuinely respected award schemes that are open, fair, and judged by experienced panels. These include the likes of the SFA Awards, National Startup Awards, and the Irish Times Innovation Awards, all of which shine a light on real entrepreneurial talent and innovation.

Introducing the Vanity Awards

On the flip side, there are awards that are more about vanity than value. This happens  where you’re mysteriously “nominated” out of the blue and then encouraged to buy a pricey package to promote your win. These so-called awards may sound flattering but often carry little weight with customers or peers.

In this post, I’ve put together a list of trusted award programmes in Ireland, and flagged the criteria of those that you might want to avoid. If you’re thinking of entering awards as part of your marketing or business development plan, it’s good to know what’s worth your time, and what’s not.

Credible & Respected Irish Startup and Small Business Awards

1. National Startup Awards

  • Website: www.startupawards.ie
  • Run by: Startups.ie
  • Notes: Free to enter, judged by panels of business experts and sponsors. (I have been a volunteer judge in these awards)

2. SFA National Small Business Awards

  • Website: www.sfa.ie/awards
  • Run by: Small Firms Association (part of IBEC)
  • Notes: Open to companies with less than 50 employees. Excellent PR and mentoring support. (Clients such as Guardian Safety have been finalists, and I frequently suggest to clients that they may consider entering).

3. IBYE – Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (Suspended)

  • Website: www.ibye.ie (Currently redirects to LEO when inactive)
  • Run by: Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)
  • Notes: For entrepreneurs aged 18–35, includes funding and bootcamps. (Ran out of steam as extended to 35 year olds, and became an expensive PR exercise for local enterprise offices. A new version may be on the cards).

4. Deloitte Technology Fast 50

  • Website: Deloitte Awards
  • Run by: Deloitte Ireland
  • Notes: Based on four years of revenue growth. Tech-focused but includes startups.

5. Technology Ireland Awards

  • Website: www.technology-ireland.ie (Check Awards section when open)
  • Run by: Technology Ireland (IBEC)
  • Notes: Prestigious for software companies and digital innovators.

6. Business & Finance Awards

  • Website: www.businessandfinanceawards.com
  • Run by: Business & Finance Media
  • Notes: More scale-up and corporate focused, but includes startup innovation categories.

7. The Irish Times Innovation Awards

  • Website: Innovation Awards
  • Run by: Irish Times
  • Notes: Celebrates product, service, and social innovation — some startup relevance.

What to Look Out For – Red Flags of Vanity Awards

  • You receive an unsolicited email saying “You’ve been nominated!”
  • Payment is required to “accept” the award, use the logo, or attend the event
  • There’s no clear judging panel or transparent criteria
  • Categories are overly broad or vague
  • The award is sold as a “trust mark” but isn’t backed by any credible authority
  • Past winners include many businesses with no clear industry relevance
  • No national media coverage or recognition outside the organiser’s own website
  • The award isn’t linked to any professional association, trade association, chamber of commerce or enterprise agency
  • The organisers heavily promote badges, trophies, and promotional packages

Some awards promise prestige but deliver little more than a costly marketing exercise. If you’re paying to be seen as a winner, and there’s no real judging, no media visibility, and no external credibility – the value to your business is questionable. These schemes often target small businesses looking for recognition, but true recognition should be earned, not bought.

By contrast, awards organised by trade associations, state bodies, or recognised media outlets tend to carry real weight. They are usually free to enter, judged fairly, and offer meaningful exposure and endorsement.

About me


I’m Billy Linehan, a business mentor, adviser, and SME consultant based in Dublin, Ireland. I’m Managing Director of Celtar Advisers, where I’ve supported hundreds of business owners with advice and consultancy across strategy, people, and growth.

Over the years, I’ve served as a business counsellor with the IMI, a mentor for Enterprise Ireland, and a LEO mentor with the Dublin City LEO, working with small businesses and startups across a wide range of sectors. I’m currently a mentor on the MentorsWork programme (funded by Skillnet Ireland) , supporting business owners as they navigate today’s challenges.

I’m also co-founder of StartUp Ballymun, a long-running initiative supporting local entrepreneurs in North Dublin, and a regular contributor to Irish Tech News, where I write on innovation, small business, and digital adoption.

As part of my advisory work, I offer honest, independent advice on awards, including whether they are worth entering and how they align with your business goals. If you’re unsure which path is right, I can help bring clarity.

You’re welcome to book a session with me, see more about Celtar services here .
👉 Book online with Billy – click here

Let’s see where your business could go next.