County’s Best Young Entrepreneurs Win €50,000 Investment

Three of the county’s best young entrepreneurs have won a total investment of €50,000 through the Local Enterprise Office Louth, as part of the €2 million Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition (#IBYE).

Aimed at young and aspiring entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 30, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices.
At a ceremony in Creative Spark on October 2nd, awards were made for Louth’s best start-up, best new idea, and best existing business, as well as an overall award for the best young entrepreneur in the county.

The local winners and investments won were as follows:                                                                               

Best New Idea (winning a €10,000 investment): Andrew Nadin, Dooskey, Drogheda                                                                                                                                       
Best Start-Up (winning a €20,000 investment): Mark Reilly. Aphix Software, Drogheda
Best Established Business (winning a €20,000 investment): Keith Agnew, MVI Cleaning, Dundalk
Keith Agnew from MVI Cleaning in Dundalk was also named as Louth’s “Best Young Entrepreneur”.

All local winners will now represent Louth at the regional finals in Cabra Castle on November 3rd.  A total of 24 finalists will then compete at the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur National Finals in December.

Marking the occasion, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said:
“Central to our plans for jobs and growth is supporting more businesses to start-up. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups, so if we are to create the jobs we need we must support more entrepreneurs to start new businesses. 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 also ultimately Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. We have excellent start-ups and entrepreneurs in Ireland – we just don’t have enough of them. It is great to see so many excellent entrepreneurs and business-people getting involved in this competition, and I am delighted to congratulate the local winners. I wish all three winners every success in the later stages of the competition – and wish all participants every success as they grow their businesses and contribute to the job-creation we need”.

Special guests at the #IBYE County Awards included Peter Savage Cathaoirleach Louth County Council, Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council and Thomas McEvoy newly appointed head of Local Enterprise Office Louth.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sarah Mallon from the Local Enterprise Office Louth, paid tribute to all the young entrepreneurs in the region, saying: “As the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses, it is heartening to see a growing and vibrant community of young entrepreneurs locally. Through Business Bootcamps, mentoring and general business advice, the Local Enterprise Office plays a vital role in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, on a year-round basis. We will also be working closely with this year’s IBYE winners, to help maximise the return on the €50,000 investment that they have been awarded.”

This year’s judging panel were also thanked during the ceremony for their role in the competition and members included Sarah Daly Executive Director Creative Spark, Aidan Browne Regional Development Centre DKIT, and Breanndan Casey, The Mill Enterprise Centre, Drogheda.
Louth was represented in last year’s #IBYE competition by Hugh Thornton, Mega Future Games Drogheda, Richard Brennan Visit Carlingford, Carlingford and Niamh O’Neill from Niamh O’Neill Designs Dunleer  who was one of 24 National Finalists in December 2014.

Details around Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition are available through www.ibye.ie