An aluminium vessel builder company from Donegal is set to compete with the country’s best small businesses as one of the finalists for the National Enterprise Awards taking place this week.
Seabound Engineering will represent Local Enterprise Office Donegal at the prestigious awards which take place this Thursday 22nd May in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Located in Greencastle, Seabound Engineering is Ireland and the UK’s top aluminium vessel builder, and Ireland’s only SCMS-certified aluminium shipyard. The business specialises in custom-built vessels for the aquaculture, inshore and offshore fishing, and marine sectors.
Seabound Engineering was awarded the Best-Established Enterprise Award at the Donegal Enterprise Awards back in December 2024. Donegal has triumphed at the National Enterprise Final for the past two years, with Neil Crossan of Living Green winning in 2024 and Patrick McLaughlin of Silver Strand Rope Works securing victory in 2023.
The Seabound Engineering team accepting the Best-Established Enterprise Award at the Donegal Enterprise Awards in December 2024.
Speaking ahead of the awards, Thomas Havlin, CEO of Seabound Engineering said: “We’re incredibly proud to represent Donegal at the National Enterprise Awards. It’s a real honour and a reflection of the hard work and innovation that drives everything we do at Seabound Engineering. We are passionate about pushing boundaries and showing what’s possible from the northwest.”
This is the 25th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by DreamDev Technologies, supported by Local Enterprise Office Kildare. Set up in 2019 by Eoin Barry and Douglas Augiar, the AI augmented platform helps companies to significantly increase their product’s time to market.
This year there is a wide variety of finalists competing for the title of National Enterprise of the Year. These include TAPiTAG from Westmeath who develop NFC-powered digital solutions, including business cards, marketing tags, and donation platforms and have over 45,000 users in 75 countries.
The Seabound Engineering team accepting the Best-Established Enterprise Award at the Donegal Enterprise Awards in December 2024.
Another finalist is Spellings for Me from Tipperary who have developed an AI-powered personalised spelling programme, designed for primary schools and home learning.
There is a selection of food businesses in the running this year including Naked Bakes from South Dublin, SOS Cookies from Limerick, Fused by Fiona Uyema from Kildare and WONDR Jellies from Mayo, the world’s first high protein, low sugar jellies.
Other finalists include SPRYT from Monaghan, an AI-powered virtual receptionist that helps healthcare providers significantly improve patient engagement, and Slick+ from Sligo, a knowledge sharing system for remote and hybrid teams.
Speaking on the awards, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal said: “Seabound Engineering’s selection for the National Enterprise Awards highlights the strength of entrepreneurship in Inishowen. This marks the third year in a row that a business from the peninsula has represented Donegal at the national level, demonstrating the depth of talent and innovation in the region. The National Enterprise Awards celebrate the best of small business across Ireland, and Seabound Engineering joins a proud tradition of Donegal finalists, including Neil Crossan of Living Green in 2024 and Patrick McLaughlin of Silver Strand Rope Works in 2023. These businesses are making a real impact locally and have the potential to grow on a global scale.”
The Finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
Thomas Havlin, CEO of Seabound Engineering, who will represent Donegal at the National Enterprise Awards this Thursday, pictured with Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal.
Previous winners of the National Enterprise Awards include the likes of Irish Yoghurts (1998), Obelisk (2000), Simtech Aviation (2008), Digiweb (2004), Design Pro (2013), Terra NutriTech (2018), Pestle & Mortar (2019), Bevcraft (2021), Aqualicence in 2022 and Advanced Cosmetics in 2023.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eleven years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 75,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses.
For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
Tags: