2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Programme – Ireland

The EOY programme not only ensures national and international recognition for successful finalists and alumni, but also provides an invaluable network and business development opportunities within a strong and supportive EOY Alumni community with over 600 members.

The theme of the 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme is The Trailblazers which feels especially right for this moment of big change and disruption both locally and globally.

• The Trailblazers
  • Irish entrepreneurs are increasingly making a name for themselves as trailblazers, redefining business models and creating new opportunities. They’ve showcased extraordinary innovation, resilience, and a capacity for technological advancement that sets them distinctly apart in the business landscape. Not only are they excelling on the island of Ireland, but they are also branching out and making a significant impact on a global scale.

What’s Involved?

Initiatives

• They passionately believe in promoting entrepreneurship across the island and empowering entrepreneurs to grow their businesses both in Ireland and around the world. As a finalist your prize includes, but is not limited to:
  • Peer mentoring and network
  • Media profiling across print and broadcast media
  • Alumni-specific events such as conference days and dinners
  • Finalist specific digital content creation and profiling to a global audience
  • An invitation to join the annual CEO Retreat
  • Bespoke EY Enterprise Evolution Sessions with EY Partners
  • In-depth profiling on the website and on the social media platforms
  • Business development opportunities with the programme sponsors.
• By becoming a finalist, you will also be automatically inducted into the Alumni community.
• This network of the best entrepreneurial minds across Ireland grows every year.

Categories

• The categories in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme apply to a wide range of businesses across all sectors on the island of Ireland.
• These range from fast growth entrepreneurial businesses, established international groups to longstanding family enterprises. This wide range of business leaders and entrepreneurs is the backbone of the alumni community and what makes it such a valuable and unique network.
  • 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 highpotential, 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 the greatest family businesses, the 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

• This award is presented to the finalist who is making the biggest contribution towards environmental sustainability through their business. They are striving to protect the future by providing solutions and taking transformative business actions to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues and concerns.

Eligibility Criteria

• EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is an all-island programme
• Nominees must own a minimum of 5% of the company (publicly listed companies will be assessed on a case-by-case basis)
• Nominees must be primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company
• Nominees must either be Irish or running a company based on the island of Ireland
• Turnover in excess of €1 million or £1 million
• The nominee’s company must be trading for a minimum of two years (companies with a long R&D process pre-commencement of trading, early-stage life sciences and technology companies and companies that have received significant investment are dealt with on a case-by-case basis)
• If nominees have previously applied and not been shortlisted to the final 24, the judging panel welcomes and encourages them to apply multiple times. Some of the previous finalists and even winners have successfully been invited into the programme after multiple applications

Who Can Nominate?

• Anyone, including employees, company advisors and financiers, can nominate a successful entrepreneur, with the entrepreneur’s consent. Many of the nominations come from the entrepreneurs themselves.

For more information, visit Ernst & Young.