Last year’s winners pictured with An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, Minister Richard Bruton and Sheelagh Daly. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
Young entrepreneurs from Wicklow are being reminded to get their applications in for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) ahead of the August 21 closing date. This is an initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.
“Last year IBYE was an extremely successful initiative for the talent pool of entrepreneurs in Wicklow with two established companies reaching the regional finals in Google European HQ,” said Fine Gael TD Andrew Doyle for Wicklow East Carlow. “I encourage all young people, aged between 18 and 30, in Wicklow with a start-up, established business or a business idea to apply for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Competition. Budding young entrepreneurs can apply for free online here. The closing date is Friday, August 21.
“The Local Enterprise Office in Wicklow will have an investment prize fund of €50, 000 to be split between three winners; €20, 000 for the Best Established Business, €20, 000 the Best Start-up and €10, 000 on offer to the Best New Idea. Regional winners can then progress on to the national competition where further funding is available and one young business-person will be crowned Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur later in the year at the national finals in Google’s European HQ in Dublin.
“Over 400 young entrepreneurs will also win places at regional Business Bootcamps with mentoring supports, to further develop their business skills. The aim of the competition is to support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Ireland, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage Ireland’s young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately create jobs.
“Fine Gael has a plan to ensure that all of the jobs lost in the economic crash are replaced by better more sustainable jobs. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups, so competitions like this are a big part of that plan. We want to double the jobs created by start-ups in Ireland over the next five years. Fine Gael in Government is standing up for small businesses and start-ups. We have been having a national conversation with businesses across the country to identify how we can work together to maximise the opportunities offered by the growing economic recovery.”
