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Michael Taggart Receives Prestigious Award
A Northern Ireland property developer has scooped one of the most prestigious awards in the business world in recognition of his entrepreneurship.
Michael Taggart of Taggart Holdings won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year ‘Industry Award’ at the competition’s 10th annual gala ceremony in Dublin on 25th Oct 2007.
Founded in 1989 by brothers Michael and John Taggart, Taggart Holdings has grown from a Northern Irish house builder to a vibrant and dynamic international property development company, with offices in Ireland, UK, Eastern Europe and USA and a land bank valued in excess of £500 million.
The company employs more than 300 people and provides additional employment and business opportunities for many hundreds of sub-contractors and other providers of services to the group’s many developments. Last year the company increased turnover 100 per cent to more than £165 million.
Michael Taggart worked for several years in London, saving enough money to put a deposit down on a site in Derry city, where he built his first house.
“I sold it for £45,000,” he said. “One house led to two and two became three. In 1989 my brother John joined me to form Taggart Homes. In the 1990’s we build and sold 500 houses in the Waterside area of Derry and in time became on of the largest building firms in Northern Ireland.”
Enda Kelly of Ernst & Young praised Taggart Holdings for embodying an entrepreneurial spirit which he described as an “incredible force, sparking social and economic progress”. He said the company had been “actively seeking out and developing opportunities” in the residential market.
Liam Nellis, Chief Executive of Intertrade Ireland, which supports the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition said: “Taggart Holdings is a great example of the new spirit of entrepreneurship across the island of Ireland as are the other eight Northern Ireland finalists.
“Their vision, determination and creativity must be supported and encouraged. They are all excellent role models who will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
The 24 competition finalists fell into 3 categories – international, industry and emerging – were selected from 140 entries.
Liam Casey of supply chain management company PCH International won the International award and was also the overall winner crowned the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
PCH International was founded in Cork in 1996 and is focused in the consumer electronics, hi-tech and medical sectors, acting as a gateway into China. Based in Schezhen, China, the company employs 800 people in Ireland, China and Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, USA, Brazil, UK and South Africa. Last Year PCH had sales of US $117 million and contributed £6 million to the Irish economy.
Liam Casey will go on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year awards.
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