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Skillnet Climate Ready Academy at the Green Awards 2026

Celebrating Excellence

February 26, 2026   |   News

Pictured (R-L) Mark O’Sullivan, Co-founder & Global Director, and Evan O Brien, Operations Manager, from IQUTECH accepting the award from Michael Twomey, Marketing Manager, Skillnet Climate Ready Academy.

The landmark 18th edition of the Green Awards took place on February 24th at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, bringing together over 700 industry leaders to celebrate the vanguard of Irish sustainability. As a Gold Sponsor of the event, the Skillnet Climate Ready Academy was proud to stand alongside the organisations transforming Ireland’s environmental landscape.

The Green Awards have long been established as the state’s most authoritative platform for recognising measurable environmental impact and strategic innovation. This year’s event was no exception, showcasing a phenomenal standard of leadership across 31 diverse categories.

Redefining the Circular Economy: Green Small Organisation of the Year

The Skillnet Climate Ready Academy was particularly honoured to sponsor the ‘Green Small Organisation of the Year’ award. This category highlights the agile, innovative small businesses that are often the “engine room” of the Irish green economy.

A massive congratulations to the team at IQUTECH on their well-deserved win! Their work is a quintessential circular economy success story, helping businesses embrace sustainability through rigorous testing, repair, and remanufacturing. By focusing on retaining value and reducing waste, IQUTECH is setting a gold standard for how small enterprises can lead with purpose.

Michael Twomey, Marketing Manager at Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, presented the award to Mark O’Sullivan, Co-founder & Global Director, and Evan O’Brien, Operations Manager at IQUTECH.

We also wish to recognise the incredible calibre of our category finalists. From biodiversity-focused initiatives to renewable energy consultancy, the work being done by these organisations is truly inspiring:

  • Grown Forest, Hager Ireland, iSupply, JM Energy Savings, Solar Path, Speco Sustainability Consultancy, and Power Capital Renewable Energy.

A Spotlight on Resilience and Growth

The supreme accolade of the night, Green Business of the Year, was awarded to IFF Plastics. Based in Co. Clare, IFF Plastics was recognised for its innovative recycling solutions, transforming waste plastic into durable fencing posts – a brilliant example of circular manufacturing in action.

Reflecting on the importance of the awards and the broader shift in the Irish business world, Maria Kelly, Director of the Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, shared her insights with The Irish Times:

“The green and digital transition is redefining how businesses compete. These awards shine a spotlight on the work businesses are doing to prepare for this transition, ensuring they can build resilience and find new opportunities for innovation and growth.”

Building the Skills for Tomorrow

The Green Awards 2026 served as a powerful reminder that while the challenges of the climate crisis are significant, the ingenuity of Irish business is a match for them. However, moving from ambition to action requires a workforce equipped with the right expertise.

At the Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, we are dedicated to bridging that skills gap. Whether you are a small organisation looking to follow in the footsteps of winners like IQUTECH, or a large enterprise aiming for decarbonisation, our specialised online training programmes are designed to help you navigate this transition.

Join the leaders of the green economy.

Explore our range of live online training programmes, from Biodiversity to Sustainability, and join the growing community of Irish businesses leading the way to a more sustainable future.