Digital Business Ireland in partnership with title sponsor, permanent tsb, launched the Digital Awards in October 2020 to promote and mark best practice in digital businesses, digital innovation and the people that power them. Over 300 businesses and individuals entered the 2020 Award series across thirteen categories.

The finalists, from around Ireland, gathered last Friday (26^th of February) to honour 2020’s outstanding businesses, innovators and inspiring individuals at a virtual event hosted by broadcaster, Jonathan Healy. During the virtual event, viewers saw the prestigious and coveted National Website of the Year Award go to Galway company, Spotlight Oral Care. Runner-up in the category was Dublin Airport.

Among the other winners announced at the virtual Awards evening are An Post, Fáilte Ireland, Pinergy, LuLu+ Belle, Nami Naturale, Batch, McElhinneys, Dogpatch Labs, social media influencer Louise Cooney, Colin Meagle of the Continuum Group, Ashley McDonnell of international fashion retailer, Puig and Niamh Tallon of HerSport.ie.

The runners up include Triona Design, Harvey Norman, Inish Pharmacy, Jump Juice Bars, Beauty Buddy, HatchHouse Digital, LoyLap, Boxworks Co.Work.Space, Devan Hughes of Buymie, Samantha Kelly AKA Tweeting Goddess, Alice Goodwin of Core Optimisation and Fiona Daly of Codec.

Sponsors of the category Awards include Campion Insurances Ltd, Codec, Grouper Technology, Hikari Data Solutions, humm, .IE, Olive Group, Open Out, Lewis Silkin and Magico.

Jan Fay, Founder of Nami Naturale said, “We created a website that will take you to a beautiful journey of rediscovering mindful rituals while we elevate your shopping experience with us. Most of all, we wanted to set an example to all Irish beauty businesses – start up and wee small family business like us that putting up a top calibre website and delivering international quality and premium skincare products is possible amidst the obstacles we go through as a small entrepreneur. We are so delighted to receive this remarkable achievement and emerge as the winner from this highly competitive process. We would also like to thank Claire and Breda of Aura Internet, our website developer company and Rachael Victoria, our photographer for their help in translating our vision in reality.

Secretary General of Digital Business Ireland, Lorraine Higgins, said, “We were delighted to recognise seventy outstanding businesses and people in the finals of the 2020 Digital Awards series. Selecting the winners proved to be a genuinely difficult task in light of the exceptional quality and high standard of the entries. With numerous standout submissions, the expert judging panel had an exceptionally difficult task. The passion and perseverance of businesses in Ireland was consistent throughout and we were thrilled to reward their hard work and endeavour at our virtual event.”

“The growing importance of digital capability in business is crucial to meet the demands of the Covid-19 pandemic, as new channels are developed for customers to access goods and services. So many of the entrants in the Digital Awards demonstrated cutting-edge innovation and as such, have played a key role in keeping our economy open amid the various restrictions. Their resilience in the face of the extreme disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic is simply inspiring.”

“On behalf of all at Digital Business Ireland, the members and partners, I want to thank all three hundred entrants for getting involved in the process. We would also like to extend our our heartiest of congratulations to those businesses, innovators and industry professionals who have been awarded across the thirteen categories and encourage those that did not to learn from the process and enter again next year.”

Head of Business Banking at permanent tsb Mags Brennan said“We, at permanent tsb, are delighted to partner with Digital Business Ireland for this year’s inaugural Digital Awards and in particular as sponsors of the Website of the Year category.  It is clear from the quality and standard of finalists across all Award categories that digital is now a critical capability and key to the way we now do business in Ireland.  Permanent tsb is committed to supporting businesses in our communities and our partnership with Digital Business Ireland allows us to reward and recognise the very best in digital businesses.  Congratulations to all the winners and runners up.”