County winners reach 'Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur' national final

6th November 2014

Three young entrepreneurs have won their place at the first-ever national final of ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition, for a chance to share a €100,000 investment fund.

Darren Hayes from D.A Renewable Energy, based in Cork City is representing the region in the Best New Idea category at the national final in Dublin this December and has already won €10,000 in investment from the Local Enterprise Office Cork City.

While, Myles Murray from PMD Solutions is representing the region in the Best Established Business category at the national final having won €20,000 investment from the Local Enterprise Office South Cork in the Cork final last month.

The winner in the Best Start Up Business category was Padraig O'Scanaoill from Fund Recs, representing the Local Enterprise Office Waterford.

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country.

Yesterday, nine local business owners and new start-ups from Cork, all under the age of 30, went head-to-head with three other county winners from Waterford in the regional final.

The nominees were all interviewed by a judging panel and had to deliver a business pitch, live. Assessed on criteria such as business innovation, job creation potential and financial planning, the announcement of the national finalists was made at an evening reception last night at the Clarion Hotel in Cork City.

Congratulating the finalists, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. said: “Central to our plans for jobs and growth is supporting more businesses to start-up. Part of this plan is also fostering a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and promoting start up business as a career option for young people. That is what is behind this new competition to find the best young entrepreneur in the region also ultimately Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur.”

The local winners now face tough competition from 21 other finalists, emerging from eight regional finals. The €100,000 investment fund in December is divided up across four prizes:
- Best New Idea (€20,000 investment)
- Best Start Up (€30,000 investment)
- Best Established Business, with New Add On (€30,000 investment)
- Overall Winner of ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ (an additional €20,000 investment)

Importantly, over 400 business owners and start-ups from around the country have benefitted from intensive business boot camps and mentoring programmes at local level, as part of the competition.

Sean O’Sullivan, Head of Local Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office South Cork said: “We are very proud and honoured to have a representative at the national final in December, as over 1,000 businesses entered from every county in Ireland and competition for every place was intense. Our finalist, Myles Murray now has a chance of being crowned ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ and to win additional investment of up to €50,000 in his business. We would also like to congratulate all our other nominees and entrants, who ‘flew the flag’ for us at the county and regional finals and we look forward to supporting their businesses into the future.”

Cork’s representatives at yesterday’s regional final were:
• Ian Kerins, Enduro Pro – LEO South Cork
• Richard Barrett, Pundit Arena – LEO South Cork
• Myles Murray, PMD Solutions – LEO South Cork
• Darren Hayes, D.A. Renewable Energy – LEO Cork City
• Nanci Creedon, Creedon’s Doggie Daycare – LEO Cork City
• Sarah Dineen, Uniwink– LEO Cork City
• James and Peter Nagle, The Crypto Broker – LEO Cork North & West
• Donagh Murphy, Maxexam.ie – LEO Cork North & West
• Caroline Crowley, CPC Outsourcing – LEO Cork North & West

For all the latest news and updates about the ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition, visit www.ibye.ie, www.localenterprise.ie or search #ibye on social media.

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