Dr Andrew Woods, CEO and Founder of CATAGEN was the recipient of the 2023 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Sustainability award.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Sustainability Award recognises the critical importance of innovation leadership in meeting our collective sustainability challenges.
Established in 2019, Belfast-based cleantech company CATAGEN’s primary objective is to clean and decarbonise the air. CATAGEN provides a range of emissions tests for after-treatment systems to vehicle manufacturers which will have a direct impact on our cities and air quality.
The company was founded on technology for green emissions testing and is now evolving this technology to find new ways of making hydrogen, e-fuels, capture carbon and compress hydrogen, all of which are needed to achieve a decarbonised world.
Also on the night Sam Moffett, Managing Director and Founder, Moffett Automated Storage Ltd in Monaghan has been named the emerging and overall, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ for 2023. The announcement was made at the annual gala awards ceremony which took place at the Powerscourt Hotel, Co. Wicklow last night. Dr Andrew Woods, CEO and Co-Founder, CATAGEN has received the 2023 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Sustainability Award.
Sam Moffett founded Moffett Automated Storage in 2017. Headquartered in Monaghan and employing 65 people, Moffett Automated Storage Ltd specialises in the development of innovative, automated pallet storage and warehousing solutions.
The company designs, manufactures, installs and supports fully integrated automated warehouse pallet storage systems that enables end users to pick and pack from palletised materials. This disruptive, dynamic business offers a range of cost, operational and sustainability benefits to clients.
It enables clients to double the storage capacity within existing warehouse facilities and can reduce the energy usage of companies operating within a freezer environment in the cold storage industry by 50%.
Other award winners on the evening included Ciaran Marron of Activ8 Solar Energies in Monaghan and Tom Walsh of Staycity.
Ciaran Marron, CEO and Founder of Activ8 Solar Energies in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan was named 2023 EY Established Entrepreneur Of The Year™.
Established in 2007, Activ8 Solar Energies is a pioneer in the solar energy sector in Ireland, helping to lead the nation’s transition to sustainable energy.
Activ8 Solar Energies has installed more than 100,000 solar panels across Ireland and works on both residential and commercial properties. The company is on a mission to empower homeowners and businesses to generate renewable electricity and reduce their carbon footprint.
Tom Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder of Staycity was named 2023 EY International Entrepreneur Of The Year™. Tom co-founded short-term apartment rental company Staycity in 2003 along with his brother Ger.
The company specialises in rental of short- and mid-stay aparthotels in prime European city locations for both business and leisure travellers. The Staycity Group (which operates under the Staycity and Wilde Aparthotels brands) has grown to become one of Europe’s leading aparthotel operators with an estate of 5,300 apartments across 32 locations.
Commenting at the awards, Rob Heron, Managing Partner EY Northern Ireland said: “This year’s finalists are a phenomenal group of entrepreneurs who are achieving incredible success both at home and abroad. It has been such a privilege to get to know them and their businesses over the past eight months and I look forward to their continued involvement in the programme through our alumni network. On behalf of EY Northern Ireland, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s award winners. These entrepreneurs have shown themselves to be visionary leaders in their industries, developing innovative concepts that enhance how we live, work, and experience the world around us.
“As a small island, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a wealth of entrepreneurial talent who make such a significant contribution to our economies and communities every day. The endeavours of our entrepreneurial community are well recognised across the globe. Collectively the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni community generates revenues of €21.7bn, and employs more than 250,000 people across Ireland North and South. Their success is our collective success and EY is proud and committed to supporting them on their journey to realising their full potential.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, and Government sponsors Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. For further information, please visit www.eoy.ie
