Kehoe calls for Best Young Entrepreneur competition to be reinstated

Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe has called for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition to be reinstated after being paused during the pandemic.

Deputy Kehoe said the program provided valuable publicity and funding to fledgling businesses or existing companies who wish to take their brand or product to a new level.

Deputy Kehoe, party spokesperson on Research and Innovation, said: “I am calling for this valuable competition to be reinstated as soon as possible.

“Over 600 young entrepreneurs nationwide received more than €8 million in funding before it was suspended due to Covid-19.

“The programme was critical to many businesses, not only for finance but for the mentorship, credibility and press coverage it gave to young entrepreneurs and their businesses.”

Deputy Kehoe continued: “The beauty of this program was that almost any young person with a business idea could enter, no matter what your background was.

“Maybe you have been to university and researched a business idea, maybe you have always wanted to be your own boss, maybe you are an existing young entrepreneur – it doesn’t matter what you want to do, all that matters is you have a good business idea that works.

“I have raised this with my colleague, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, and I understand a Working Group has been established with representatives across the Enterprise Ireland Centre of Excellence and the Local Enterprise Office Network to consider the possibilities and opportunities of such an entrepreneurship programme.

“I hope the decision will be reached to continue this invaluable programme as soon as possible.”

ENDS