Cross-Border awards for businesses building North-South links return for second year

Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s awards for businesses building links between Northern Ireland and the Republic have again opened for applications from aspiring candidates.

The North/South Business Co-Operation Awards, founded by the Cypriot-born billionaire, had a successful first outing last year, in which the Belfast-based Juice Jar, represented by businessman Sam Shephard, won the top €150,000.

Started in Belfast in 2019, the juice and healthy food store, set up by Shephard and his wife Victoria, already has five branches in Northern Ireland, one in Bristol and two in Dublin.

The awards are backed by the easyJet airline founder, who has long sponsored similar awards on his home island involving Greek and Cypriot entrepreneurs. The Irish awards were sparked by a conversation Haji-Ioannou had with former Irish diplomat Dan Mulhall.

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In all, a €500,000 prize fund is on offer to entrants building commercial links between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and contributing to economic co-operation across the island.

Married to Kerry woman Orla Murphy, Haji-Ioannou has long-standing ties with Ireland, having started easyJet flights from Belfast to Luton in 1998 in the months after the Belfast Agreement was reached.

Unveiling the second year of the awards, Haji-Ioannou said they are about more than simple recognition for ambitious entrepreneurs, and are rather intended to foster and encourage deeper economic co-operation across the island.

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“Businesses working together across borders create jobs, build trust and contribute to stronger and more connected communities,” he said, adding that last year’s awards demonstrated the talent that exists.

The awards will again be presented at the Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan, chosen “to reflect the spirit of cross-community partnership and economic co-operation underpinning the initiative”.

The awards are being run in association with Co-operation Ireland, whose chief executive Ian Jeffers said cross-Border business partnerships play a hugely important role in supporting peace, prosperity and shared understanding on the island.

“By backing entrepreneurs who are building commercial links across the Border, we are helping to strengthen relationships and create lasting opportunities for communities North and South,” he declared.

Applications are now open for cross-Border business entrepreneurs who meet the criteria. Full details and entry forms are available at stelios.ie and stelios.foundation.