Thirteen business people under the age of 35 are in the mix for the title of Laois’s Best Young Entrepreneur Award – with a prize fund of €50,000 up for grabs.
In what is the fourth year of the competition, there are three categories – New Idea (pre-trading), Start Up (under less than 18 months) and Established (more than 18 months).
The winner of the best New Idea will get €7,000 with the runner-up in that category getting €3,000. In the two other categories the winner will get €15,000 with the runner-up getting €5,000.
Last year’s overall winner Alan Meredith from Mountmellick is back in the mix again, having won the Start Up category last year and is now in the Best Established. The 2014 overall winner David Finn from the Blow Dry Parlour in Portlaoise is also in contention in that same category, while Sharon Leavy from Sharon Leavy College and Hair and Beauty in Portlaoise and Gary Cobbe from Irish Polymer Extrusions in Mountmellick – both finalists last year – are in the running again too.
The two other contenders in that category are The Heath’s Luke Hyland from Luke Hyland Engineering and former Laois hurler Joe Fitzpatrick from Rathdowney and his business Fitz Hurleys.
Evelyn Reddin Head of Enterprise for Laois explains “We had a huge response to the competition this year. We’ve attracted entrepreneurs aged 18-35 from right across the county with an amazing array of business ideas and start-ups.
“We’ve also been really impressed by the young entrepreneurs who’ve entered in the Best-Established category, many of whom have multiple employees or are already exporting into international markets. Judging by the calibre of entries this year, the future of enterprise in Laois is looking bright.”
IBYE co-ordinator in Laois, Honor Deevy continues, “IBYE is a springboard for young entrepreneurs here locally, connecting them to their Local Enterprise Office who can help them to start or expand a business.
“Everyone who entered the competition this year was invited to ‘Enterprise Day’ where they met with mentors, learned about the supports available to them and got really valuable business advice.
“From there, shortlisted companies took part in an intensive Business Bootcamp before submitting their updated business plans for the county final.”
The County Final will take place on the 13th December in the Heritage Hotel Killenard. Among the special guests at the awards ceremony will be Cathaoirleach, Cllr Padraig Fleming and Chief Executive, Laois County Council, Mr John Mulholland.
Honor concludes, “County Finals are pretty intense. Finalists will meet the panel of judges, present their business, conduct an interview and answer questions. Judges will then have the task of choosing a winner and runner up in each of the three categories.
“Category winners will go forward to represent Laois in the regional finals in January.”
Now in its fourth year, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur is run by the Local Enterprise Offices, in partnership with the Local Authorities, across the country and is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
The National Final will take place on Sunday, March 4, at Google HQ and the winners of the competition will share in an investment fund of €100,000.
BEST NEW BUSINESS IDEA
Nina Gillen
Blissful Foods
Hollianne Phelan
Shopline
Declan Dunne
Crate Studio
Thomas Byrne
Sequential – Me
BEST NEW START-UP
Frankie Horan
CTM Professional Ltd
Aaron Lennon
Linked
Jonathan Bracken
Bracken Enterprise
BEST ESTABLISHED BUSINESS
Luke Hyland
Luke Hyland Engineering Consultancy
Alan Meredith
Alan Meredith Studio
Joe Fitzpatrick
Fitz Hurleys
Sharon Leavy
Sharon Leavy College of Hair & Beauty
Gary Cobbe
Irish Polymer Extrusions Limited
David Finn
The Parlour
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