Celebrating our success and achievements at Belfast Telegraph Business Awards

What an amazing night of celebration at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank hosted by BBC NI journalist, Mark Simpson. Whilst we didn’t win, we shared the room at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel with some of N.Ireland’s biggest and best employers and entrepreneurs and celebrated our success and achievements with our amazing team.

This year there were a record number of entries received and the Bennett Freehill team was thrilled to be shortlisted in 3 of the 17 categories: Best Small Business sponsored by Down Royal, Excellence in the Development of Health & Wellbeing sponsored by Kingsbridge Membership Club and Employer of the Year sponsored by CIPD – not a bad achievement for a small team of 12.

Its only three years ago since Cormac Freehill moved from a secure job to owning a business in the face of COVID and Brexit. With his vision, energy and fresh leadership Cormac has successfully managed and overcome problems to become a thriving profitable business, working on high profile projects such as the £43m redevelopment of CAFRE Loughry and £32m Greenmount Agricultural Colleges to deliver a suite of five services on two design teams.

“To gain recognition in being shortlisted speaks not only of the employee-focused culture that Cormac has created, but of the skill, drive and passion of staff – some of the most dynamic and technically accomplished talent in the industry – that makes our business a success. Over the last 3 years, Cormac has invested in staff and the business, crafted an inclusive team culture which is fun, rewarding and transparent and created a supportive, flexible, and mentally healthy workplace that promotes the development of ideas, skills and technical excellence.”

Simon Seaton, Director of Business Banking Ulster Bank NI said:

“Once again Ulster Bank was proud to work in partnership with the Belfast Telegraph to deliver this year’s Business Awards which are all about celebrating the exceptional talent and entrepreneurial spirit of business leaders here.

Congratulations to all the winners and to Belfast Telegraph and Ulster Bank for a wonderful celebratory evening.

More Posts:

Paul O'Neill

MIET CEng MEng

Paul joined Bennett Freehill in late-2021 as part of the organisations drive towards technical excellence, an employee-focused culture, strategic growth and NZEB focus. 

A Chartered Engineer with 14 years’ experience in the construction and electrical industries, Paul has particular specialisms in electrical engineering, conservation, power generation and vertical transportation having worked on projects in the education, healthcare, hotels and office sectors. 

As electrical engineering design lead, Paul is responsible for technical delivery and project responsibility related to electrical engineering, and more critically, directing technical, quality and standards within the engineering teams.

Paul brings his passion for technical quality, buildability, progressivity and efficiency to the Bennett Freehill team.

Aaron McCarthy

MCIBSE CEng BEng

Aaron is a Chartered Engineer who specialises in sustainability and low carbon design, with detailed knowledge of passive design techniques and thermal modelling procedures.

Aaron joined Bennett Freehill in mid-2021, having previously gained 10 years’ experience as an Energy and Building Services design engineer within leading multi-national building services practices. Aaron brings extensive experience in managing and delivering large scale multi-disciplinary projects and has a wealth of experience in MEP Project Management.

Aaron is responsible for client liaison, technical delivery and management of design teams to ensure we meet our clients aspirations.

Aaron brings his passion and drive for successful project delivery through collaboration with clients and design teams.

In May 2022 Aaron was appointed as Partner.

Cormac Freehill

MCIBSE MIET CEng MSc BEng

A Chartered Building Services Engineer with over 15 years’ experience working with some of the UK’s foremost engineering companies, Cormac has been pivotal to the successful award and delivery of multi-million pound projects since being appointed to the role of Managing Director in June 2020 and rebranding the business as Bennett Freehill.

Cormac brings a new vision, new energy and fresh leadership to the team and is responsible for the strategic growth and development of the business, through supporting and undertaking marketing activities, and the training and development of our technically accomplished staff.  In the role of design team leader and client liaison Cormac ensures that the team delivers pioneering, pragmatic MEP design excellence for our clients. 

Cormac specialises in Passivhaus and Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) construction and is passionate about, and professionally skilled in, Renewable Energy Systems, Energy, Procurement, Design Management and Consulting Engineering.

Cormac Freehill

MCIBSE MIET CEng MSc BEng

A Chartered Building Services Engineer with over 15 years’ experience working with some of the UK’s foremost engineering companies, Cormac has been pivotal to the successful award and delivery of multi-million pound projects since being appointed to the role of Managing Director in June 2020 and rebranding the business as Bennett Freehill.

Cormac brings a new vision, new energy and fresh leadership to the team and is responsible for the strategic growth and development of the business, through supporting and undertaking marketing activities, and the training and development of our technically accomplished staff.  In the role of design team leader and client liaison Cormac ensures that the team delivers pioneering, pragmatic MEP design excellence for our clients. 

Cormac specialises in Passivhaus and Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) construction and is passionate about, and professionally skilled in, Renewable Energy Systems, Energy, Procurement, Design Management and Consulting Engineering.