The Friendly Business Awards is our flagship business program where we recognise the pivotal role small businesses play in our local community. We live in challenging times for small businesses and the aim of the Friendly Business Awards is to celebrate the value these businesses bring to our local communities every day.

The Friendly Business Awards Categories:

• Customer Care
• Digital Experience
• Accessibility
• ⁠Staff Care and Wellbeing
• Eco-friendliness
• Community Impact
• Community Impact (Non-profit)
• Layout and Design
  
  

Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for entry into the Friendly Business Awards (“the Awards”), each business must meetall of the following criteria:

1. Annual Revenue:
○ The business must generate less than €10 million in annual turnover.

2. Employee Count:
○ The business must have fewer than 50 employees at the time of nomination.

3. Location Requirement:
○ The business must operate a registered trading address within the Loughrea Credit Union Common Bond area.
○ Proof of address may be requested.

4. Business Type:
○ Sole traders, partnerships, and companies are eligible provided they meet theabove criteria.
○ Non-profit organisations are eligible if they operate as a business serving thepublic.

Nomination Process:

1. Nominations may be submitted by customers, members of the public, or by the businessitself.
2. All nominations must be submitted through the official JCI Galway website .
3. JCI Galway reserves the right to verify the information provided and request supportingdocumentation.
4. Nominations must be received by the published deadline. Late submissions will not beaccepted under any circumstances. 

Judging & Evaluation:

1. Entries will be assessed by the appointed Friendly Business Awards Judging Panel.
2. Judges will evaluate businesses based on the published Award Categories and scoring criteria.
3. The judging panel’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
4. JCI Galway reserves the right to disqualify entries that provide false, misleading, or incomplete information.
5. JCI Galway also reserves the right to disqualify any nomination where the business is found to be located outside the Loughrea Common Bond area, regardless of any nomination stage or previous acceptance.

Awards & Recognition :

1. Winners may be asked to participate in promotional activities, media content, photography, and interviews related to the Awards.
2. JCI Galway may publish business names and logos, photographs, and award details across digital and print platforms.
3. Winning the award does not imply endorsement by JCI Galway beyond the context of this competition.

Data Protection :

1. All personal and business information supplied will be processed in accordance with GDPR.
2. Data will be used solely for administering the Awards unless additional permission is granted by the business.

Disclaimers :

1. JCI Galway reserves the right to amend, suspend, or cancel the Awards at any time.
2. Entry into the Awards indicates full acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
3. The Organisers retain sole and absolute authority to interpret, enforce, and apply these Terms and Conditions. In the event of any dispute, ambiguity, or uncertainty regarding the meaning, scope, or application of any provision, the Organisers’ determination shall be final and binding on all entrants.
4. The Organisers further reserve the right to make rulings or decisions on any matter arising in connection with the Awards that is not expressly addressed within these Terms and Conditions.

If successful must be able to attend the JCI Friendly Business Awards final.

For queries contact: president@jcigalway.org