NSAI joins An Taoiseach and business leaders to support small businesses at SFA National Small Business Awards’ launch
The Small Firms Association (SFA) National Small Business Awards 2027 have been officially launched by Awards Patron, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. Now in its twenty third year, these awards celebrate the achievements, innovation, and excellence of small businesses in Ireland and recognise the vital contribution of the small business community to the Irish economy.
Small firms (employing less than 50 people) have from Thursday, 3 September until Friday, 23 October 2026 to enter. There is also an option to nominate a business to receive an award.
Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said:
“I am delighted to launch this year’s SFA National Small Business Awards which recognises Ireland’s most successful small business leaders. Small businesses are the beating heart of our communities and the lifeblood of the wider economy. Our small business leaders are a credit to the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit which plays a critical role in Ireland’s economic success.
“Through the SFA National Small Business Awards, we honour their achievements and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. With current uncertainty in the global economic environment, it is vital that our small businesses are strong, adaptable, and ready to meet any challenge. The Government will continue to work with them to grow our economy and ensure Ireland remains an attractive place to do business.”
"I am delighted to launch this year’s SFA National Small Business Awards which recognises Ireland’s most successful small business leaders. Small businesses are the beating heart of our communities and the lifeblood of the wider economy. Our small business leaders are a credit to the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit which plays a critical role in Ireland’s economic success."
Micheál Martin An Taoiseach
The Awards are free to enter and the prize package for all finalists is valued at €50,000. This includes a strategic management masterclass participation in SFA Business MentorsWork Programme as well as in the SFA Business Connect event where they will be able to showcase their products and services to an audience of over three hundred attendees.
Following a successful 2025 collaboration, NSAI renewed its sponsorship of the Innovation category for a second year.
Head of Business Excellence at NSAI, Stewart Hickey commented “NSAI is proud to continue its sponsorship of the Innovation category at the SFA National Business Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Irish Businesses. As a key driver of business success, innovation enables organisations to adapt, grow, and compete in an increasingly dynamic environment."
Stewart added “Through internationally recognised standards, including the ISO 56000 series for Innovation, NSAI supports businesses in transforming innovative ideas into practical solutions that deliver lasting business value. We are delighted to recognise and celebrate the innovative Irish companies shaping the future of our economy”
“NSAI is proud to continue its sponsorship of the Innovation category at the SFA National Business Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Irish Businesses. As a key driver of business success, innovation enables organisations to adapt, grow, and compete in an increasingly dynamic environment."
Stewart Hickey Head of Business Excellence, NSAI
The event will be featured across a broad-range of national and local media, with each finalist company will appearing in a special supplement in the Irish Independent on the day of the Gala Presentation of Prizes , taking place in RDS Concert Hall on March 4th 2026, when the category winners and overall winner will be announced. Finalists also receive three complementary tickets to this ceremony. The category winners will be presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association for 2027.
The SFA National Business Awards are open to all companies in Ireland with up to fifty employees and the categories are:
- Manufacturing - supported by PTSB
- Outstanding Small Business - up to five employees - supported by Elavon
- Innovation - supported by National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI)
- Sustainability - supported by Strategic Banking Corporation Ireland (SBCI)
- Workplace Wellbeing - supported by DeCare
- Exporter of the Year - supported by Enterprise Ireland
- Food and Drink - supported by Food Drink Ireland
- Services - supported by Azets Ireland
- Family Business - supported by Small Firms Association
In addition, the five best “Emerging New Businesses” - (companies who are less than two years in existence) - supported by Microfinance Ireland, will be selected. These are companies that have the potential to grow and have the ability to be an SFA National Small Business Award winner in the future.
MentorsWork is supporting the management training for the programme.
Entrants may enter the category of their choice and have the option to enter more than one category but must complete a separate entry form for each one they chose.
Chairperson of the SFA, Geraldine Magnier said:
“As a nation of small businesses, we must honour the small business leaders that contribute so much to our local communities and the wider economy. The SFA National Small Business Awards is a tribute to the success and endeavour of the 270,000 small businesses who collectively employ around 43 percent of private sector workforce. Small businesses are facing various economic challenges and have shown remarkable resilience amid recent global uncertainty, and I look forward to celebrating all our category winners and overall winner next March.”
To celebrate NSAI's support for the SFA National Small Business Awards 2026 Innovation category, NSAI is delighted to offer a 10% discount off the cost of buying standards by using Innovation26 at checkout at www.standards.ie.
[Disclaimer: All reasonable effort was made to ensure that the information on this page was correct at the time of publication. Any views or opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of NSAI. NSAI accepts no responsibility or liability howsoever arising from the contents of this publication or any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in the contents of the information provided therein.]
