Offaly's young entrepreneurs prepare to go head to head

THE not insignificant sum of €50,000 is up for grabs this week when Offaly's best young entrepreneurs go head to head.

The search to find Ireland's best young entrepreneur (IBYE) is advancing to the county final stage, which takes place on Thursday December 1 in the Tullamore Court Hotel and is being organised by Local Enterprise Office Offaly.

At the upcoming IBYE County Final on December 1st, Local Enterprise Office Offaly has an investment fund of €50,000 to award to up to six local entrepreneurs across three categories: Best Business Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business.

Thirteen young entrepreneurs have made it through to this year’s IBYE county final and are ready to face the judges, whose members include: Liam Holton of Future Ticketing Ltd, Tullamore and Mark Atterbury of Enterprise Ireland. Among the special guests at the awards ceremony will be Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD, Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council and Leas Cathaorleach of Offaly County Council, Noel Bourke.

The county finals follow successful bootcamps all over Ireland involving enthusiastic entrepreneurs from a variety of business backgrounds. This year’s competition attracted a record 1,800 entries around the country, up by a third on the 2015 competition.

The competition is now in its third year and Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Offaly said that the standard of entries is higher than ever. “The exceptionally high standard of entries will make the competition tough and challenging, but it will also help bring out the full potential of entrants and inspire them to succeed whether they win at the County Final stage or not.

We see the IBYE initiative as a springboard for young entrepreneurs here locally, who want to start or expand a business. They will have the support of their Local Enterprise Office all year around.”

This year’s county finalists are hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s local winners. They were: David Payne, Best Business Idea, Maria Byrne, Arderin Distillery, Best Start up and Keith Lambe, Keith Lambe Diesel Services, Best Established Business.

Details on the competition and supports are available through www.localenterprise.ie and from the IBYE website at www.ibye.ie