Northern Ireland firm, Core Systems Ltd, highly commended at UK wide business awards

FSB – 11th May 2017

HAVING already won the Northern Ireland final, Belfast firm, Core Systems Ltd, was Highly Commended last night in the Business Exporter of the Year category at FSB’s annual UK-wide awards held in London’s Globe Theatre.

A specialist software company dealing in offender management systems for prisons, Core Systems is one of Northern Ireland’s big exporting success stories. With up to 60% of a prison officer’s work time spent on processing information requests from prisoners, Core Systems has developed solutions using interactive technology for offenders, that help to reduce this.  These solutions assist offenders in custody, on probation and those serving community sentences to take an active role in transitioning successfully back into the community, while making significant efficiency savings.

Tommy Maguire, Commercial Director and Diana Atchison, Business Development Manager, were amongst the scores of finalists, celebrities, sponsors and political representatives at the glittering ceremony, which was hosted by Tim Campbell MBE, the original winner of the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’, at the world famous Shakespearean theatre.

The diverse range of FSB’s membership was represented from overall winner Kendal Nutricare, who are based in Cumbria and make infant formula using diary product sourced in Northern Ireland, to Womanzone, a company from Warrington which works with women who have undergone surgery following breast cancer.

Roger Pollen, Head of External Affairs for FSB in Northern Ireland, who was at the event, explained:

“It really was a celebration of the current cream of the crop – innovative businesses, taking risks, and coming through with outstanding products and services for their customers.  Furthermore, this year’s shortlist has been of the highest standard and reflects the diverse and strong small business culture across the UK.

“Small businesses contribute so much to the UK’s economy, and I am particularly pleased to be able to congratulate Core Systems Ltd from Belfast, who not only won the Northern Ireland final, but went on to be Highly Commended on the overall UK finals last night. This outstanding company typifies the spirit of innovation and enterprise that we want to see, making a huge contribution economically and, just as importantly, through their impressive CSR work with charities and partnerships.”