This year’s programme will celebrate entrepreneurs that are Shaping the Future with Confidence
Dublin, 16 January 2024: The 2025 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ (EOY) programme is officially open for nominations today, with entrepreneurs from emerging, established and international businesses across all industry sectors from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland invited to submit their nominations between now and 27th Feb 2025.
This year, the programme celebrates entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland whose vision and innovation are creating long-term value and helping to shape the future with confidence. Business leaders that have the tenacity and determination to push conventional boundaries, think differently and create new solutions that change our collective future for the better are being encouraged to apply.
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™ 2025 programme. Now in its 28th year, the purpose of the programme is to acclaim, inspire and encourage entrepreneurship across our island.
“Geopolitics, technology and environmental concerns are redefining our world. Irish entrepreneurs are leaning into the uncertainty that the modern-day business world presents and are identifying and realising opportunities for growth and innovation. Through their ingenuity, resilience and vision, Irish entrepreneurs are future proofing the prosperity of our island and our people. They are shaping their future and the future of our island with confidence.
“Over the almost three decades that we have been running this programme in Ireland, we have seen first-hand just how impressively diverse the entrepreneurial community is on this island, and we are actively seeking and encouraging nominations from entrepreneurs of all ages and from all industries and locations across the country.
“There will be 24 finalists selected to take part in this year’s programme, who will participate in an exciting strategic growth programme over a 10-month period, including a week-long CEO Retreat to Tokyo, Japan. The finalists will also be welcomed into our acclaimed alumni community of more than 600 of Ireland’s greatest and most successful entrepreneurs, where they will have the opportunity to forge valuable connections, learn from each other and in many cases do business together.”
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.
Roger Wallace added: “The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Sustainability Award recognises entrepreneurs that are providing sustainable solutions to today’s most important environmental challenges. This award shines a light on the business leaders that are developing and executing innovative ideas that will help protect our planet for future generations.”
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 €25 billion.
EOY Judging Panel
The 24 finalists will be selected by an independent judging panel comprising of former winners and chaired by Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest. Speaking at the launch, Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest and Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging™ Panel said:
“Ireland has an incredible pool of innovative entrepreneurs who are leading businesses that are achieving significant national and global success. Despite the challenges that face any entrepreneur they show relentless determination and resilience in their pursuit of excellence, continuing to create jobs, strengthen communities and bolster economies. We want these brilliant entrepreneurs across all sectors to submit their nominations for this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme. As an alumni of the programme I can attest to its incredible value and I’m looking forward to welcoming the next generation of inspiring leaders from across the island to the programme."
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.
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For further information, images and interview opportunities please contact:
Jocelyn Grant, Communications Manager, EY | e: Jocelyn.grant@ie.ey.com | p: +353 83 013 8650
Notes to Editor
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 27th February 2025.
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 €25bn, 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 in Monaco.
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 28th 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.
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