Derry business wins at Causeway: Ireland Scotland Business Exchange Awards 2023

The best of the Scottish and Irish business world was revealed during the sixth annual Causeway Awards ceremony, held at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh last Thursday.

Hawthorn Heights Ltd, headquartered in Derry, are specialists in the design and installation of play areas, sports pitches and landscaping in the UK and Ireland. They won the Northern Irish Exporter of the Year Award, sponsored by Invest NI and Northern Irish Connections. 

Causeway: Ireland Scotland Business Exchange, an organisation dedicated to promoting collaboration between enterprises on both sides of the Irish Sea, held the event with generous support from headline sponsor Johnnie Walker Princes Street. The evening was dedicated to celebrating business excellence across seven distinct categories and acknowledging the remarkable successes of businesses hailing from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

The gala drew over 180 guests including industry leaders and professionals from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland with guest speakers including Deputy Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Lezley Marion Cameron, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Richard Lochhead, Consul General of Ireland, Jerry O’Donovan, Andrew Kerr OBE Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Vice Consul General, Andrea Wickham Moriarty. 

As the evening unfolded, attendees participated in a charity raffle, raising an impressive sum of over £3,000 for charity partner Cyrenians, to aid in their efforts to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness across Scotland.  

Twenty-three organisations and individuals were shortlisted as finalists after the first round of judging, with winners chosen by a panel of expert judges. 

Brigid Whoriskey, Co-chair of Causeway, commented: “The annual Causeway Awards gala serves as a perfect platform to spotlight excellence in business from both sides of the Irish Sea.

“We take immense pleasure in honouring the accomplishments of the individuals and organisations representing the pinnacle of business achievement across Scotland and Ireland. They can take great pride in their dedication and hard work." 

Judith O’Leary, Co-chair of Causeway, added: “The Causeway business awards serve as a testament to the exemplary businesses and individuals operating across Scottish and Irish industries.

“What shines through overall is the unwavering ambition and determination displayed by this year’s well-deserving winners, setting an inspiring example for others to follow."