Blender Learning Technologies Ltd., t/a Slick+ will represent Local Enterprise Office Sligo at the prestigious awards that take place on the 22nd May in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
The Slick+ promoters have developed a short-form, video-based platform which can be tailored to the needs of the customer, and where people at work can easily create, share and find context-specific knowledge.
The videos (“Slicks”) are discoverable at the time of need and are interactive – triggering informal interactions between colleagues, allowing collaboration and innovation to thrive.
The company was established in 2022 and is based in Sligo town. In 2024, the company has secured ‘High-Potential Start-Up’ status with Enterprise Ireland and has recently secured its first major national and international customers.
Cllr. Declan Bree, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said: “I would like to extend the good wishes of Sligo County Council to Linda, Paul and their team at Slick+, and wish them every success in the National Enterprise Awards Final.
“Paul and Linda are to be applauded for their work on developing an innovative platform which provides employees with a seamless way to interact with and learn from each other, giving them knowledge & confidence that will improve organisational performance and strengthen team bonds, even across digital distances.”
Linda Hegarty, co-founder of Blender Learning Technologies, said: “we are honoured to be selected and to represent Sligo for the National Enterprise Awards.
“Our passion for workplace learning goes beyond a software or systems approach.
“We have designed Slick+ to foster greater human connection in modern workplaces where employees can often feel isolated or unsupported and managers can struggle to motivate and align teams.
“This recognition by Sligo County Council gives us great confidence to continue our journey to build an innovative company from the North West, addressing contemporary challenges and shaping the future of work.”
This is the 25th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by DreamDev Technologies Ltd., supported by Local Enterprise Office Kildare. Headed up by Eoin Barry and Douglas Augiar, the Company has developed a new AI augmented platform which aims to help companies reduce the amount of time it takes to get their products to market.
Liam Kiely, Head of Enterprise with Sligo County Council said: “The National Enterprise Awards is a fantastic competition which enables Local Enterprise Offices nationwide to highlight the very best businesses that they are working alongside, helping them to start, grow and scale.
“Local Enterprise Office Sligo have been working with Linda and Paul since they began to explore the feasibility of their business in 2022 and recently assisted in their transfer to Enterprise Ireland.
“We have been hugely impressed with both their vision and their determination to grow the business and secure major international customers. We are delighted to have them as our representative at the National Enterprise Awards Final on 22nd May”.
The Finalists compete for a prize fund of over €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner, there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a Digital Award, and a Green Award.
There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow.
Since their inception 11 years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 40,000 jobs across the country.
