Entrepreneurs ‘critical to economic growth’
Pictured at the launch of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Programme 2012 at the Ulster Hall are Cary Wilson, Ernst & Young, Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI, Margaret Hearty, Intertrade Ireland and Frank O'Keefe, Ernst & Young. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com.
Nurturing entrepreneurship is key to economic growth in Northern Ireland.
That was the view expressed yesterday by a number of senior business advisers at the launch of the Ernst & Young 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year programme.
Speaking at the event at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Cary Wilson, lead partner of the programme in Northern Ireland, said: “Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurs, fuelled by an unparalleled level of dedication and commitment, continue to achieve success on a global scale, bringing employment, prosperity and confidence to the region.
“Acknowledging and celebrating their remarkable success is critical in order to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and the future success of our local economy.”
Frank O’Keeffe, partner-in-charge of the scheme, said despite the numerous economic and business difficulties in recent years, Ireland was trying hard to show the first real shoots of recovery – and entrepreneurs continued to play an enormous part in creating that growth.
“As participants in an increasingly-buoyant export sector who are capitalising upon the presence of a highly-skilled workforce, an open economy and moving with global ambition, Ireland’s entrepreneurs – North and South – continue to push the boundaries of possibility and deliver a brighter future for all.”
In this, its 15th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme, which is supported by a range of organisations including Invest NI and Intertrade Ireland, acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland.
Jeremy Fitch, managing director of Business International, with Invest Northern Ireland, said: “This initiative provides the opportunity to celebrate Northern Ireland’s business community and the global success achieved by entrepreneurs who started with no more than a great idea.”
Margaret Hearty, director of Programmes and Business Services at Intertrade Ireland, said in order to grow North-South economic co-operation, it was vital to encourage and support entrepreneurial excellence among home-grown companies which would inspire others.
The names of the 24 finalists from across the island will be announced in May, and those short-listed will travel on a CEO retreat to Silicon Valley in California where they will avail of the chance to further enhance and develop their entrepreneurial skills, increase their business network and share their commercial experiences with local entrepreneurs.
Then in October, all finalists will gather at a celebratory Entrepreneur of the Year banquet where their achievements will be acclaimed before a glittering array of 1,300 guests, culminating in the announcement of three individual category winners in addition to that of the overall recipient of the 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year accolade.
The overall winner will then go forward to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year finals in 2013, where he or she will compete with over 55 country winners for the prestigious global title.
l Entry forms are available on www.eoy.tv
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
