Twenty-four company directors were short-listed across three categories for the coveted 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® award, including Stephen Grant, founder of Grant Engineering who was selected for this highly acclaimed position for the second year running.
Over 115 entries were received and nominees all interviewed by Ernst & Young, followed by a rigorous assessment by a 12-strong panel of judges, chaired by telecoms entrepreneur, and previous recipient of the award, Mr. Denis O’Brien. Eight companies were chosen in each of the three categories – international, industry and emerging, and covered a cross section of business interests. Established in 1980, Grant Engineering Ltd, was awarded winner of the Industry category.
Enda Kelly, Ernst & Young Partner-in-Charge of the Programme said “Entrepreneurs play a vital role in economic development and act as invaluable role models for a new generation of entrepreneurs. Our finalists confirmed the pattern of previous years of vibrant entrepreneurship present right across the country. All displayed exceptional entrepreneurial vision, and it is important that we celebrate and recognise their achievement. Their creativity and risk-taking ability acts as the very foundation of our economic prosperity”.
The 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® programme continued to educate around the strategic value of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and this year’s emphasis was on creating a sustainable environment. The CEO retreat returned to Haiti in June, where finalists, past and present, worked with some of the world’s poorest communities. Here they demonstrated their knowledge and expertise to develop the sustainable businesses set up by last year’s finalists, and also helped create practical solutions to Haiti’s environmental disadvantages – deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution.
“Successful entrepreneurs constantly adapt to changes in the business climate, and now that the age of physical climate change is upon us, these are the visionaries who will make global sustainability a reality, added Kelly. In our part, we complemented the hands-on initiatives in Haiti through the provision of a series of ground-breaking presentations on Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility, led by one of the most prominent figures in the field. These sessions highlighted the enormous strategic value of ‘Green Business’, and hopefully encourage participants to place eco-friendly practice at the core of business operation”.