How do I submit an entry? All entries must be completed online via www.familybusinessawards.ie or our awards portal https://familybusinessawards.secure-platform.com/. Postal or written submissions are not accepted. Please ensure your submission includes an entry title, as this exact title will be used in the event brochure and all subsequent official communications.

Is there a fee to enter the awards? No, entering the awards, nominating a business, or submitting individuals is completely free. Judging is strictly merit-based and evaluated on market impact.

Who qualifies as a family business? To qualify, your business must operate in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland and be owned, managed, or operated by two or more members of a single family (or jointly by multiple families). We welcome applicants from all enterprise stages, including founding families, multi-family partnerships, and businesses undergoing intergenerational transitions.

What is the Finalist Commitment? While entering is free, shortlisted entities must fulfill The Finalist Commitment. This requires having at least one representative in attendance at the gala ceremony by purchasing a minimum of one ticket (general admission or student ticket, if applicable). Failure to honor The Finalist Commitment may result in forfeiture of the award, which will then be presented to the next highest-scoring entrant.

Can I submit the same entry to multiple categories? Yes, but you must submit supporting materials separately for each category entered, as different judging panels review different categories. All written applications and supporting materials must be submitted online.

What are the requirements regarding GDPR and privacy? All submitted data and materials must adhere to GDPR regulations. By submitting an entry, the applicant confirms that they have obtained all necessary approvals and permissions from any included third parties or contributors.

What is the submission deadline? The final deadline to submit your entries is Friday, 11th September 2026.

What terms apply to category viability or cancellations? If a category does not receive enough submissions to remain viable, the organizers reserve the right to cancel that category without notice. In the event of an entry cancellation, any refunds are strictly at the organizers’ discretion.

• Judging will take place in September 2026 for all categories. We operate an online blind peer judging process. A minimum of two judges will judge each application and the final score will be the average of the marks. The top entrants in each category will then be judged to shortlist a winner.
• To ensure the confidentiality of all entries and the integrity of the awards process, judges are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. This agreement mandates that all submissions, discussions, and scoring information remain strictly confidential and are not disclosed to any third party. Judges must also securely store and, upon completion, destroy all materials related to the judging process. They are further obligated to disclose and recuse themselves from any potential conflicts of interest and to conduct evaluations impartially and without bias
• The decision of the judges is final, and neither the judges nor the event organisers will enter into correspondence regarding any judging  results, voting results or methodology. We are not in a position to offer feedback regarding entries once they have been judged and winners chosen.

• The Awards will take place on Thursday, 5th November 2026 at the Johnstown Estate in Enfield, Co. Meath.
• Ticket will available closer to the finalist announcement
• All attendees will be provided with a delicious three course meal duringt the ceremony
• In the event of ticket cancellation, any refund is entirely at the Organisers’ discretion.
  Refunds of ticket will only be entertained where advanced notice of a minimum of 7 days is given prior to the Event

Privacy Policy GDPR and European Compliance: Ashville Media Group is committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. We fully comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 and other applicable European data protection laws regarding the collection, use, and retention of Personal Data (defined in Section 2.1 of our Full Privacy Statement) from European Economic Area (“EEA”) member countries and the UK. Our practices are designed to ensure your data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

Privacy Shield Framework: We participate in and comply with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework as set forth by the US Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of Personal Data from European Economic Area (“EEA”) member countries.

Scope: This Privacy Policy applies to Ashville Media Group Events websites and domains, including services offered through Openwater booking service (*.secure-platform.com), and any other web pages, subdomains, or country-level domain variants that link or refer to this Privacy Policy (collectively, our “Site”), as well as all services available on or through the Site or otherwise provided by us.

Contact: For any questions or concerns regarding privacy or our data protection practices, please do not hesitate to contact us at privacy@ashvillemediagroup.com  or through our feedback form in our Ashville Media Full Privacy Statement

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