Almac Group takes top prize at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards
... and Lifetime Achievement honour for Dame Rotha Johnston
ALMAC Group has been named Outstanding Business of the Year while Dame Rotha Johnston received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank.
Winners were announced across 19 categories at a glittering awards ceremony last night in Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.
It was attended by around 500 people, including Economy Minister Conor Murphy.
The minister said the optimism of the ceremony reflected the general mood of the business community here.
“I congratulate all the winners, nominees and all businesses in attendance who are at the forefront of writing a new, more prosperous chapter for our economy,” he added.
Mark Crimmins, head of Northern Ireland for title sponsor Ulster Bank, said: “This year’s Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank were a fantastic showcase for the local business community and it was fantastic to see so many industries and business leaders represented on stage.
“Congratulations to all the winners, who exemplify the talent and innovation companies here are so renowned for and rightly deserve to be celebrated for all they have achieved.
“It’s been wonderful to be associated with the awards again this year and sincere thanks must go to the team at the Belfast Telegraph for delivering a great event and to all of the judges and other partners who made tonight a success.”
Drug development company Almac Group, which is based in Craigavon and employs around 7,000 people worldwide, was praised by the judging panel, led by Belfast Chamber chief executive Clare Guinness.
They said: “Almac’s turnover has grown significantly yearon-year, but it stands out for its ethos, values and its commitment to Northern Ireland.
“It has also adopted science-based climate targets, including transitioning to renewable energy and zero waste to landfill and has a significant CSR programme, including generous donations to charity.”
They said the company was to be commended for expanding in Northern Ireland, adding two new facilities in Craigavon and announcing a centre of excellence at Queen’s University.
Almac Group, a privately-owned business, is regarded by major global biopharma companies as a trusted expert in drug research and development and diagnostic services.
Dame Rotha Johnston was celebrated for a distinguished career spanning textiles, economic development, foodservice, banking, property investment and film.
With her husband Henry, she developed the first all-ireland foodservice business, selling to Musgrave Foodservices in 2006.
She was chair of Northern Ireland Screen from 2013 to 2021 and is former chair of NIE Networks. During 2022 she was a member of the Independent Review Panel of Invest NI.
Eoin Brannigan, editor in chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, said: “We are delighted to honour the stars and often unsung heroes of Northern Ireland’s economy by holding the Business Awards every year.
“The last two events went ahead when we had no Executive so I was particularly happy to see the Economy Minister in attendance. Thank you to Ulster Bank and all our sponsors for their support and well done to all the winners, especially Almac Group and Dame Rotha Johnston, who collected a Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Ms Guinness said the awards were a chance to celebrate the vibrant business community.
“Chairing the awards and working with an expert panel of judges is of course a pleasure, but the true enjoyment is drawn from reading the quality applications from businesses of all types, across all sectors and from all parts of Northern Ireland,” she said.
‘The true enjoyment is drawn from reading the quality applications from businesses of all types’