County’s young entrepreneurs are honoured

WEXFORD BUSINESSES will be hoping for further success when they take part in the regional final of the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition.

Wexford’s category winners were announced recently at Wexford Co. Council. The competition is run by the Local Enterprise Office, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and is now in its fourth year.

Tom Banville, Head of Enterprise in Wexford, explained: ‘The search to find Wexford’s (and Ireland’s) best young entrepreneur started back in August and we were delighted with the calibre of entries. After a very successful Enterprise Day, Bootcamp and County Final, I’m pleased to confirm that the future of enterprise and job creation in Co. Wexford is bright.’

The competition awarded entrepreneurs in three categories – Best Established Business, Best Start Up, and Best Business Idea.

The winner of the Best Established Business was 27-year-old fashion designer Richard Malone from Wexford. Tomhaggard entrepreneur Caroline Martin, of Wedding Creations, was the runner-up in the category.

The Best Start Up category was a hard-fought contest with 21-year-old Brian Kenny of MyShowAdvisor in Enniscorthy eventually taking the top spot, while 29-year-old Robert Tierney’s Gorey-based company Boom Media was named runner-up.

A number of innovative new business concepts emerged in the Best Business Idea category. 20-year-old Robert Byrne from Enniscorthy took the top prize for this company ConnectJobs.com while Sandra Martin (34) from Bosca Spraoi in Wexford scooped the runner-up title.

The Overall Winner of the IBYE for Co. Wexford was Brian Kenny of MyShowAdvisor.

The adjudicators for this year’s competition were Don Arthur, business mentor with Micro-Finance Ireland, Helena Dempsey of Wexford Local Development, and John O’Connor of Enniscorthy Enterprise Centre and The Hatch Lab. The awards ceremony was attended by a number of special guests including Minister of State Paul Kehoe.

Competition coordinator for Co. Wexford, Breege Cosgrave said the winners and runners-up would share in an investment fund of up to €50,000 from the Local Enterprise Office, to grow and develop their business, with the three category winners going forward to the regional finals in January.

‘The team in Wexford Co. Council’s Local Enterprise Office will be providing intensive supports between now and then to prepare them for the regionals and hopefully Wexford will have a representative at the IBYE National Finals in March.’

Richard Malone, Designer, winner of the Best Established Business, pictured with Tom Banville, head of LEO; Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Paul Kehoe TD and Tom Enright, CE, Wexford County Council.

Robert Byrne of connectjobs.com, winner of ther Best Business Idea, pictured with Tom Banville, head of LEO; Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Paul Kehoe TD and Tom Enright, CE, Wexford County Council.

Winner of the Best Start-Up and Overall Winner, Brian Kenny of Myshowadvisor, pictured with Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy and Paul Kehoe TD.

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy with the runners up in the Best Start-Up sectiotn, Robert Tierney and Michael O’Regan of Boommedia.

Sarah Buckley, winner of the 3rd level business plan and Samantha Morris, runner-up in the 3rd level business plan with Minister Paul Kehoe TD.

Runner-up in the Best Established Business, Caroline Martin of Wedding Creations, pictured with Tom Enright, CE, Wexford County Council; Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy; Tom Banville of LEO and Minister Paul Kehoe TD.

Runner up in the Best Business Idea, Sandra Martin of Bosca Spraoi with Tom Enright, CE, Wexford County Council; Minister Paul Kehoe TD and Tom Banville of LEO.