The Best Established Business category is one of three categories in the IBYE competition, which is aimed at young business owners aged 35 and under. Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny has a county investment fund of €50,000 and the local winner of the Best Established Business category will receive €15,000 with the runner-up receiving €5,000.

Last year’s national winner of the established business category was James Keogh of Rathwood Home and Garden in Wicklow, which welcomes 300,000 visitors every year. Other national finalists in the same category last year included the milliner Jennifer Wrynne from Leitrim and Alicia Treanor of Nutri-Snax in Cavan. They were joined by Mark Sheahan from Recycle Right in Limerick, Tim Dunleavy of Dunleavy Bespoke in Kildare, Oz Ibrahami of Hex CNC in Roscommon, Eddie Lynch of Suir Sprayers in Waterford and Peter Roberts of Roberts of Dalkey seafood company in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

The local winner of the Best Established category last year was Jack Hahessy Madigan from Kilkenny Rosē Veal in Windgap, Co. Kilkenny

Speaking about IBYE, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. said: “It is our nation’s young people who will create the jobs of the future and I want more of our young people to make running a business a career choice. So, be brave, this is the opportunity to realise your dream.  IBYE offers funding investment and mentoring to young and ambitious entrepreneurs which has proven to be invaluable to previous entrants. I would encourage all between 18 and 35, and in particularly those with established businesses, to grasp the opportunity that IBYE offers and get your application to www.ibye.ie by the 14th October deadline.”  

Fiona Deegan, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny said: “Once a company successfully comes through the start-up phase, growing an established business presents its own unique set of challenges. In addition to the significant investment funding on offer through the IBYE competition, every Local Enterprise Office will be inviting young entrepreneur entrants, including young established business owners, to take part in regional Business Bootcamps, with access to expert guidance and mentoring to help them overcome these challenges.”

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) is an initiative of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland, and is run by the 31 LEOs across the country.  The other two categories in the competition are Best Business Idea and Best Business Start-Up.

Further details about the IBYE competition, which is open to 18 to 35 year-olds, are available from the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, through www.localenterprise.ie and from the IBYE website at  www.ibye.ie

Closing Date this Friday 14^th October