- Three finalists from Northern Ireland – Douglas Adams (Connected Health), David Beggs (Pure Pharmacy) and Andrew Woods (CATAGEN).
- Record number of nominations received in 2023 and highest number of female finalists to date.
- 24 finalists collectively generating revenues of more than £614M (€700M) and employing over 5,000 people.
Belfast, 13 April 2023: The finalists of the 2023 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland and Northern Ireland programme have been revealed today. The 24 shortlisted entrepreneurs span a range of sectors including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, retail, consumer products and engineering. Collectively this group of world class business leaders are already generating annual revenues of more than £614M (€700M) and employ over 5,000 people.
The finalists who hail from across the island will compete across three categories – Emerging, Established and International – with a special Sustainability Award presented to the finalist who is making the biggest contribution towards environmental sustainability through their business. One overall winner will be selected as The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2023 at a gala awards ceremony which will take place in November.
Commenting on the announcement, Rob Heron, EY Northern Ireland Managing Partner, said: “We received a record number of nominations for this year’s programme and the highest ever number of nominations for female entrepreneurs which we are delighted to see. This year’s finalists represent a broad spectrum of industries, including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, retail, consumer products and engineering to name but a few. Our finalists come from diverse backgrounds and communities across Ireland north and south, showcasing the depth of entrepreneurial spirit and talent running through the island.
“The theme for this year’s programme is ‘The Art of Entrepreneurship’. Both Artists and Entrepreneurs are creators, thinking differently and bringing new ideas and concepts which inspire and challenge. The EOY alumni group welcome and foster that spirit of innovation like no other, collectively impacting the ambition and culture of our Island. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our 24 eminent finalists into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ community and I look forward to working with them closely over the coming months.”
The 2023 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ finalists are:
Emerging
Established
International
Denis Collins of ActionZero
Ciaran Marron of Activ8 Solar Energies
Andrew Woods of Catagen
Chris Kelly of EasyGo
Douglas Adams of Connected Health
Abhilash Borana of Failte Solar
Rosie Connolly & Paul Quinn of 4TH ARQ
John Desmond & John O’Callaghan of Cygnum Timber Frame
Tom Keogh of Keogh’s Crisps
Deirdre O’Neill & Helen O’Neill of Hertility
Michael McCambridge of McCambridges
Nick Keegan of Mail Metrics
Sam Moffett of Moffett Automated Storage
David Beggs of Pure Pharmacy
Brian Fahey of MyComplianceOffice
Lauren Duggan, Fiona Parfrey & Aine Kilkenny of Riley
Sheena Bailey & Louella Morton of TestReach
Neil Skeffington of Novelplast
Declan Wynne of Skanstec Engineering
Lorraine Heskin of Gourmet Food Parlour
Tom Walsh of Staycity
Ray Nangle & Geraldine Killian of The Lunch Bag
Charles Cosgrave of Village Vets
Ted Wright of Writech Industrial Services Ltd
This year’s finalists have been shortlisted out of more than 150 nominations by an independent judging panel of previous winners, chaired by Anne Heraty, Founder of CPL Resources Plc, and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2006 who commented: “The calibre and number of nominations received for this year’s programme was incredibly high. The process of selecting 24 finalists posed a very real challenge to our judging panel. It highlighted in a very big way that the spirit of entrepreneurship right across Ireland and Northern Ireland is very much alive and thriving and gives much hope for optimism for the future of our island. I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists and extend a very warm welcome into the EOY community. I know first-hand just how incredible an experience awaits them and along with my fellow alumni I look forward to them playing a valuable part in our network.”
Since its inception, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland™ community has grown to a tight-knit network of more than 600 alumni who harness each other’s wealth of experience, with three quarters (75%) conducting business with one another. Together, the EOY alumni community generates revenues of €25 billion, and employs more than 250,000 people across the island of Ireland.
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.
For further information, please visit www.eoy.ie
