Wednesday, 17 March 2010 10:08

Driving the green approach, SFA National Small Business Awards

Matthews Coach Hire stood out in the Environmental Sustainability category thanks to its success in reducing diesel consumption by 18pc using GPS tracking devices and its focus on safety.

After the award ceremony, Paddy Matthews, MD of Matthews Coach Hire was interviewed.

Read more: Driving the green approach, SFA National Small Business Awards

Matthews Tours Brochure Launch

Last weekend saw Matthews Tours launch their 4th tour brochure. They were joined by LMFM in the Scotch Hall Drogheda on the Saturday and on Sunday were celebrating in The Marshes Dundalk.

People flocked out to join Matthews celebrate their launch with many taking time to see what tours where on offer and inspect the coaches that Matthews had on show.

People availed of the 5% discount with many booking trips around Ireland & The UK. Tour guides and staff were on hand to offer assistance to anyone enquiring on any of the tours explaining all aspects of the tours.

LMFM provided the much essential entertainment, with plenty of prizes and giveaways. Sponge Bob Square Pants along with many other characters were also there on the day to help entertain the kids and help out Matthews Tours on the day. The sun even shined on the day and made the day a successful and pleasant day for everyone involved.

Matthews Coach Hire wins the award for Environmental Sustainability with The SFA

Matthews Coach Hire has won the award for Environmental Sustainability with The SFA. The presentation of the award was made by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, TD, the patron on the awards, at Awards Ceremony in the Trinity College Dining Hall, today Thursday, 4th March. This is the sixth year of the SFA National Small Business Awards, which are organised by the Small Firms Association.


Category: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (up to 50 employees); sponsored by Sustainable Energy Ireland

The Winner of this category was Matthews Coach Hire (Co Monaghan).

Matthews Coach Hire, Winner of the Environmental Sustainability Award sponsored by Sustainable Energy Ireland. Matthews, Founded in 1995 and based in Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, Matthews Coach Hire, founded and run by Paddy Matthews, shows constant innovation in the service it provides, and this is reflected in Matthew’s attitude to the environment also. In the past the company has teamed up with Sustainable Energy Ireland in order to reduce the amount of fuel its coaches use and it also promotes an environmentally friendly ethos among staff members in terms of lighting, heating and water usage.


Speaking at the awards An Taoiseach stated: “The SFA’s National Small Business Awards provide welcome opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role played by small business in creating and sustaining wealth and jobs in the Irish economy. It is an opportunity that is all the more significant given the challenges currently facing us. These are challenges to which our response has been clear. Following the tough decisions taken last year, there are early signs of economic stabilisation – in tax revenues, in the unemployment figures, and in the recovery of consumer sentiment to levels last seen in the beginning of 2008. The National Small Business Awards continue to showcase the best of innovation and ingenuity in Irish enterprise. I sincerely congratulate all of the 2010 finalists and wish you every continued success for the future.”


Announcing the winner, Dr Aidan O’Boyle, SFA Chairman and Chair of the Judging Panel stated that: “This is a fine example of an Irish family owned company, with a commitment to organic farming, that has managed through innovation and product development to grow their business even in the darkest recession. Glenisk are a true an inspiration to other small businesses.”

Awards were also presented to six category winners (details beneath). The awards are sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland, AIB, eircom and the County and City Enterprise Boards.

Speaking at the event Dr Aidan O’Boyle also said to the awards finalists: “You have shown in your submissions not only innovation and flair but also a determination to address the competitiveness threats which we all currently face as small businesses. But your actions at company level must be supported by actions at Government level to:


“Taoiseach, delivering on the above 5 actions would assist dynamic small businesses such as we have with us this evening to lead us forward out of the current recession” concluded Dr O’Boyle.

Ends

Our forward thinking on safety

To great fanfare, a Bus Company with over 500 Coaches in the UK, National Express fits 'alcolocks' to its coach fleet (BBC Website article).

We at Matthews Coaches have had our entire fleet fitted with Alcolocks since October 2008.

When it comes to innovations for safety, we like to think that we are a step ahead of the rest.