Budding entrepreneurs put through business boot camp
WHEN it comes to budding entrepreneurs, it is very fair to say that North Cork has it in spades.
As part of a nationwide search to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE), the three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Cork launch a campaign in September to find the best young entrepreneur in the region in three distinct categories and a major attraction is the €150,000 fund up for grabs.
Last weekend, 45 young entrepreneurs were put through their paces at a three day business bootcamp at the Maryborough in Cork.
At the business bootcamp under the category of ‘Best Business Idea’ was Kevin Buckley of Buttevant with his company, ‘Ballzey.’ Richard Hooton of Mallow with his company, ‘Richard’s Little Farm,’ which is under the Best Start-Up Business.
Fiona Edwards Murphy of Kanturk attended the bootcamp with her company, ‘Beehive Monitor’ and she is under the category of Best Business Idea.
Emily Ahern of Mallow attended under the category of the Best Start Up business, with ‘Evolve Therapy’ . Finally in the Best Start Up Business, Ann Marie Corbett of Mitchelstown attended the bootcamp with her company ‘ Ann Marie’s Dressing Room.’
The boot camp which was designed to help participants to develop the skills required to take their entrepreneurial ideas and business idea to the next level. From the concept stage to reality, and building a viable business plan to commercialising their business, the boot camp covered areas including business strategy, financial planning and sources of finance as well as targets and performance measurement.
The best start up idea category has a top prize of €7,000 and a runner up prize of €3,000, while the best start up business (up to 36 months) and best established business categories each have a €15,000 in prize money for winners and €5,000 each for the runners up from each of the LEOs.
Over the next number of weeks, LEOs have the difficult task of drawing up a shortlist of finalists who will attend Cork County Hall on Thursday, December 1.
The 2016 winners in each of the three categories will then go forward to represent their respective LEO in a regional final in February 2017 and if successful there will fly the Cork flag at the national final to find ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur before the end of the year.
Kevin Curran, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cork North and West said: “We are delighted with the response we received for the 2016 search for Cork’s best young entrepreneurs – our largest entry to date.
The competition has grown in popularity since its inception two years ago, which is a reflection of the entrepreneurial talent that is out there among those aged 18 to 35 all around our region who we need to nurture and support.”
He said the aim of IBYE is to encourage and support a culture of entrepreneurship as a career choice and to encourage the development of new innovative business.