Business
Limerick entrepreneur reaches Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur National Final
Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur National Final. Adrian and Diana Fleming (centre) accepting the Regional IBYE award from Minister Pat Breen, Minister of State for Employment and Small Business (3rd from left) with (L-R) Anthony Coleman, Chris Clancy, Nicole Quinn and Bernie Moloney from the Local Enterprise Office Limerick.
Limerick entrepreneur reaches Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur National Final
Adrian Fleming from Accuvio Sustainability Software in George’s Quay, Limerick has been selected to compete in the Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur National Final competition in Dublin this March.
The 33-year-old was competing in the established business category in the Regional Finals held in Bunratty.
Accuvio Sustainable Software was founded by Adrian Fleming in 2009 after he was made redundant by DELL when they ceased manufacturing at their plant in Raheen. Accuvio provides large multi-national companies in 44 countries with a software platform to report their global energy and sustainability performance for regulatory and voluntary purposes.
The Regional winners across three categories who will go forward to the Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur National Final were announced at the Regional Final in Bunratty, Co. Clare by Pat Breen TD, Minister for Employment and Small Business.
In addition to Adrian, the judging panel chose Damien Mason, Flexibod from Scariff, Co. Clare in the Best Business Idea Category and Derek Counihan, Harpoon from Tralee, Co. Kerry in the Best Start-Up category.
Adrian now has the opportunity, along with 23 other national finalists, to become Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur and share in a €100,000 winners’ investment fund.
Speaking at the event, Minister Breen said: “IBYE is not just a competition, it is a training ground to guide and mentor young entrepreneurs through all the stages of developing and sustaining a business. The aim of the initiative is to support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately create and sustain jobs.”
“What we have witnessed here is the proof that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in this region. We need more of this energy and commitment in order to create and sustain more jobs across the regions”.
“I want to congratulate the winners here tonight and to all of you who entered the competition in the region which comprises LEOs Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry. It takes courage and commitment to start up a business. I hope that your participation in IBYE has set you on a path to continued success. We should all look forward to the final with great enthusiasm and I wish all three category winners the very best of luck at the National Final on 5th March.”
Eamon Ryan, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Limerick, congratulated Adrian on his achievement, saying: “We started the search to find and support Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs in September last year, and after a very successful boot camp, County Final and now Regional Final, Limerick will be proudly represented in the ultimate stage of the competition – the IBYE National Final in March.”
Pat Daly, Deputy Chief Executive Limerick City and County Council congratulated Accuvio and added: “the future of enterprise in Limerick is very bright judging by the entries to this year’s IBYE and the positive attitude of all of the young entrepreneurs. We want to create and foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, to allow us to grow into the future.”
Judging takes place in early March and each finalist will have the opportunity to pitch their business plan to the judging panel. They will be assessed on criteria such as the level of innovation in their business, the potential for future job creation and their leadership skills.
Aimed at 18 to 35-year-olds, the IBYE initiative is run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide, and supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The investment awards will be used by the young entrepreneurs to help fund business start-ups, create new jobs locally and help develop new products for international markets.
Competition details and results are available here
information on supports available to young entrepreneurs through the Local Enterprise Offices available here