Tipperary’s Best Young Entrepreneurs have been announced this week at the County Final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition. Run by the Local Enterprise Offices, IBYE is supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. Now in its 4th year, this year the competition attracted almost 1,500 applications nationwide.
Rita Guinan, Head of Enterprise in LEO Tipperary explained: “The search to find Ireland’s best young entrepreneur commenced 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 Tipperary is bright.”
There was joy for Patrick Ryan, aged 34 of PRWS Ltd in Thurles, Co Tipperary as he was named winner of the Best Established Business award. They were joined by Philip Martin, aged 29 of Blanco Nino in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who took the runner-up title in this category.
The Best Start Up category was a particularly hard-fought contest. Bryan Davis, aged 25 of Solar Pump Solutions in Borrisokane, Co Tipperary was named winner while Evie Ward, aged 26 of Nutshed Ltd in Nenagh, Co Tipperary was named runner-up.
Many innovative new business concepts emerged in the Best Business Idea category. The winner was Grace Tooher, aged 28 of Jamforest in Nenagh, Co Tipperary while Cian Farrell, aged 22 of Recroot in Cahir, Co Tipperary scooped the runner-up title.
Patrick Ryan, PRWS Ltd, Winner Best Established Category
Bryan Davis of Solar Pump Solutions was named the Overall Winner of IBYE for Tipperary.
Bryan Davis, Solar Energy Solutions, Winner, Best Start Up Category
The adjudicators in this year’s competition were Vincent Reynolds, Chief Executive of Cavan County Enterprise Fund/CITC, Catherine Hogan, Senior Regional Development Executive of Enterprise Ireland, Mid West Region and Mary Fogarty, Manager of Service & Sales of AIB Bank, Thurles, Co Tipperary. The awards ceremony was attended by other special guests including Rita Guinan, Head of Enterprise, Jennifer Nickerson, 2016 IBYE County Winner, Matt Shortt, Deputy Chief Executive, Tipperary County Council and Sinead Carr, Director of Community & Economic Development, Tipperary County Council.
IBYE Co-ordinator for Tipperary, Geraldine Manning, concluded “Each of the winners and runners-up will share in an investment fund of up to €50,000 from the Local Enterprise Office to help grow and develop their business.
The 3 category winners go forward to the Regional Finals in Ballingarry House, Tralee, Co Kerry on 16th January. The team in Local Enterprise Office Tipperary will be providing intensive supports between now and then to prepare them for the regionals and hopefully Tipperary will have a representative at the IBYE National Final in March”.
Grace Tooher, JamForest, Winner Best Business Idea Category
Stay up to date with the competition by following on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and Youtube. Find out more about supports available to entrepreneurs of all ages by visiting www.localenterprise.ie
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