Calling All Entrepreneurs: Nominations for 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme now open
The 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) programme is open for nominations. Entrepreneurs from emerging, established, and international businesses operating across all industry sectors are invited to submit their nominations by 29th Feb 2024.
The 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) programme is open for nominations. Pictured, Roger Wallace, Partner Lead for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, Sam Moffett, managing director and founder of Moffett Automated Storage Ltd and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023, Eimear McCrann, Director, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, at the launch of the 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) programme. Photograph: Naoise Culhane
The theme for this year’s programme is The Trailblazers. Entrepreneurial trailblazers are true leaders with the courage and capacity to plot and follow their own path, pushing conventional boundaries and limits.
Through their exploration of new technologies, sciences, applications and markets, Ireland’s entrepreneurs provide innovative answers and solutions to many of today’s greatest challenges. They are often pioneers within their respective industries both in Ireland and across global markets. They forge their own unique trail to enable their companies, people, and the wider economy to reach new heights and aspirations.
Calling All Entrepreneurs: Nominations for 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme now open
EOY Alumni, Vincent Cleary, Managing Director, Glenisk commented: “The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme is a positive and rewarding experience that offers so many benefits to participating entrepreneurs. I learned so much from the programme and forged friendships and connections with inspirational entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries. The alumni network continues to be an invaluable support group to me today and their collective experience and business expertise is second to none. It was whilst travelling to Seattle and Vancouver a number of years back with the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ group, that the inspiration gleaned from the discussions we were experiencing on a daily basis, led to the idea, Glenisk Protein Yogurt, that became a €10million line extension for Glenisk. I can wholeheartedly recommend this programme and I encourage other entrepreneurs based in Offaly who may be considering getting involved to go for it!”
Roger Wallace, Partner Lead for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland said: “We are very excited to invite entrepreneurs from across Ireland to submit their nominations for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2024 programme. Now in its 27th year, the programme exists to acclaim, drive, and inspire entrepreneurship across our island. This year we are celebrating the trailblazing entrepreneurs who are spearheading incredible businesses that are contributing to the growth of Ireland’s economy and local communities. Irish entrepreneurs continue to have a disproportionate global impact, reflecting an international scaling mindset and innate capacity to grow and succeed across borders and cultures.
“One of the greatest strengths of Ireland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is its diverse composition. For this reason, we are actively seeking and encouraging nominations from entrepreneurs of all ages and from all industries and locations.
“24 finalists will be selected for this year’s programme. As finalists they will participate in an exciting strategic growth programme over a 10-month period, including a week-long CEO Retreat to South Africa. They will also be welcomed into our acclaimed alumni community where they will have the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by many of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs who remain the heartbeat of the programme.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni community comprises more than 600 entrepreneurs representing some of the greatest business minds across the island of Ireland. Collectively these businesses employ more than 250,000 people and generate revenues in excess of €23billion.
About the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme is open to entrepreneurs from all sectors and growth stages in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The awards programme is divided into three categories – Emerging, Established and International – with eight finalists chosen per category.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Sustainability Award will also be presented to one of the finalists in recognition of their business’ significant contribution towards achieving and ensuring environmental sustainability.
EOY Judging Panel – Harry Hughes of Portwest to lead this year’s judging panel
The 24 finalists will be selected by an independent judging panel, comprising former winners, and chaired by Harry Hughes CEO of Portwest, who takes over the role from Anne Heraty CEO of CPL Resources plc.
Speaking at the launch, Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest and Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging™ Panel said: “I’m honoured to take up the role of Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging™ Panel this year. Since winning EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2017, I have remained very much involved in the programme through the alumni network. Being part of this programme and its network has been hugely beneficial for me, both personally and professionally. The programme strongly advocates for entrepreneurs knowing just how significant a contribution they make to the growth and success of our economy and communities. We know that across the island of Ireland there are many brilliant, pioneering entrepreneurs who are achieving incredible success and I want to encourage them to take the opportunity to submit their nominations for this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme. Taking part in the EOY programme could be the essential next step they need to take to elevate their business and scale new heights.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, and Government sponsors Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
Anyone interested can find out more or complete an online nomination form at www.eoy.ie. Those nominating someone else must do so with the entrepreneur’s consent.
ENTRY CRITERIA
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is an all-island programme. Nominees must either be Irish or running a company based on the island of Ireland. Nominees must own a minimum of 5% of the company and be primarily responsible for the recent performance of a company to be eligible to apply. Founders of publicly listed companies are eligible, provided that the founder is still active in management.
While most nominations come from the entrepreneurs themselves, anyone can nominate a successful entrepreneur with the entrepreneur’s consent, including employees, company advisors and financiers. Nominations close on 29th February 2024.
WHAT FINALISTS CAN EXPECT
This year’s 24 finalists will engage in a strategic growth programme over a 10-month period which includes a week-long CEO Retreat. As part of this retreat, the finalists will join a group of more than 100 previous finalists and winners of the programme where they will meet a range of world-class entrepreneurs, businesspeople and academics.
The finalists will also be welcomed into a community of more than 600 peers in the Irish EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ community. To date, three quarters (75%) of the alumni of the programme have conducted business with one another. Together, the EOY alumni community generates revenues of €23bn, and employs more than 250,000 across the island of Ireland.
The programme will include executive education sessions; networking fora; extensive media profiling; the annual Gala Awards. An award is presented for each category, and an overall winner will be announced at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in November. The overall winner will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards the following June.
AWARD CATEGORIES
Emerging: Nominees in the Emerging category run businesses that have been trading for a minimum of two years. They are ambitious entrepreneurs who have started a business which is growing quickly. They are high potential, dynamic, resourceful and ‘ones-to-watch’ for the future.
Established: Established, longstanding businesses with a pedigree of growth and innovation, contributing significantly as employers on the Island of Ireland. Including some of our greatest family businesses, our Established finalists are market leaders in their sectors and have made a significant contribution to the economy over a considerable period of time.
International: The International category consists of entrepreneurs who are global players. Their companies operate in multiple markets across the globe and can be headquartered here in Ireland or overseas.
The Sustainability Award: Recognising the critical importance of innovation leadership in meeting our collective sustainability challenges, we are introducing the new Sustainability award to the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland programme. This award is presented to the finalist who is making the biggest contribution towards environmental sustainability through their business. They are striving to protect our future by providing solutions and taking transformative business actions to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues and concerns.
ABOUT EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR™
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme is a global recognition programme run in 145 cities in more than 60 countries. Currently in its 27th year in Ireland, the programme works to recognise, promote and build a supportive community around Ireland’s high-growth entrepreneurs and is considered one of the strongest programmes globally.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Twitter: @EOYIreland Facebook: facebook.com/EOYIreland Youtube: youtube.com/EOYIreland
