Entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland are being invited to enter the eighth annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards Programme.
Previous winners of this award include Dr Peter Fitzgerald, managing director of Co Antrim-based Randox Laboratories; Mr Liam Shanahan, managing director of Shanahan Engineering; and Aer Arann chief executive, Mr Pádraig O Ceidigh.
The programme runs in over 34 countries and since its launch 20 years ago some 10,000 entrepreneurs from every business sector have taken part annually.
Those who enter the programme can either nominate themselves or be nominated by an individual associated with their business. The Irish winner in 2005 will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of the Year Summit in Monte Carlo in May 2006.
The 2004 winner, Dr Fitzgerald, joined winners from other countries at the inaugural summit in Singapore last week. Dr Fitzgerald's firm specialises in the supply of medical and veterinarian diagnostic products and employs 650 people in 24 countries.
Nominees for the awards programme can be owner-managers who are primarily responsible for the performance of a company that is at least two years old. They can also be owner-managers of an e-business, less than two years old, where the business model planning and execution show a strong trend towards profitability. Founders of public companies who are still active in top management are eligible to enter.
There are three different categories: emerging entrepreneur of the year, industry entrepreneur of the year and international services entrepreneur of the year. Nominations will be accepted until the end of March and a shortlist will be announced in June.
Commenting on the launch of this year's programme, Ernst & Young partner, Mr Enda Kelly, said it gave special recognition to the Irish community of modern visionaries.
"Through Ernst & Young's global office network they have linked into the worldwide community of entrepreneurs. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards ceremony is the moment of national acclaim for those who are driving, building and sustaining the successful, confident, modern Ireland."
The Irish Times and RTÉ, together with Enterprise Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Shannon Development, support the programme.
An independent panel of judges chaired by businessman, Mr Denis O'Brien, will choose the shortlist and the eventual winner. Other members of the judging panel include previous winners, Mr Brian Long of Seers Partners, Mr Pat McDonagh of Riverdeep, Mr Gerard McCaughey of Century Homes, Dr Fitzgerald, Mr Shanahan and Mr O'Ceidigh.
Other members of the panel are Mr Pat Maher of Enterprise Ireland, Ms Mary Martin of AGI Therapeutics, Mr Kevin Thompstone, Shannon Development, and Ms Terri Scott of Invest Northern Ireland.
For further information and nomination forms contact Hillary Copeland, Entrepreneur of the Year coordinator, at 01-475 0555, or Hilary.Copeland@ie.ey.com.
