Business Person of the Year 2014

Ernest Kidney, pictured with, from left, Declan Devlin (O2 Enniskillen), Minister Arlene Foster, and Maurice Kennedy, editor of the Fermanagh Herald

‘Fermanagh Herald Business Awards 2014 in association with o2 – Image courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald’

Our Managing Director Ernest Kidney was presented with the ‘Business Person of the Year’ award at the Fermanagh Herald Business Awards 2014, in association with O2 Enniskillen, at Friday night’s gala event.

Ernest has led and grown the company for over 20 years, managing several acquisitions and leading the way in developing energy efficient and cost effective heating solutions. He joined the business in 1972 and worked in various roles and then progressed to the role of managing director 20 years ago. He has grown and developed the business from the primary activity of sawmilling, into biomass combined biomass heat and power and the UK and Ireland’s largest manufacturer and supplier of wood pellet fuel.

‘Fermanagh Herald Business Awards 2014 in association with o2 – Video courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald’

Ernest described the award as ‘gratifying but personally embarrassing’ and was keen to highlight the work of the hundreds of staff and the business’s stakeholders.

“The important thing as far as Fermanagh is concerned is that the business is committed to Fermanagh and to the hundreds of people in the dedicated workforce which has a low labour turnover and to all the stakeholders who have a committed interest in the business,” he explained.

Asked whether there was a secret to success, Ernest replied: “I don’t think there’s any magic potion. The strategy has to be right and you really need to work hard at it and not let your head down at any time, and then in an environment like this where there is such a good workforce, that’s a tremendous asset.”

– See more at: http://fermanaghherald.com/?s=ernest+kidney