A Generation of Changemakers – The Impact of Irish Entrepreneurs Over 25 Years
Belfast, 10 November 2022: EY Northern Ireland is delighted to announce the premiere of a new documentary celebrating 25 years of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme on the island of Ireland. The documentary entitled ‘A Generation of Changemakers – The Impact of Irish Entrepreneurs Over 25 Years’ was co-produced by Record Media.
The documentary tells the story of the economies on the island of Ireland over the last 25 years, through the eyes of some our most resilient, inspiring, and successful entrepreneurs. It features contributions from Anne Heraty, Mark Dowds, Denis O’Brien, and Peaches Kemp, to name but a few and explores the economic highs and lows experienced over the last 25 years.
Speaking at the premiere, which was held at Stella Cinema in Dublin, Rob Heron, Managing Partner for EY in Northern Ireland commented:
“Celebrating 25 years of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme is a momentous milestone and an opportunity for us all to pause and reflect. ‘A Generation of Changemakers’ serves as a showcase of the incredible contribution our fantastic entrepreneurs have made not only across the island of Ireland but also throughout the world.
“The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme continues to go from strength to strength. Its alumni network comprises of more than 580 entrepreneurs on the island of Ireland alone with 18% of the alumni from Northern Ireland, a fact that I am particularly proud of. The collective impact of these businesses is hugely significant – employing more than 200,000 people and generating revenues in excess of £23 billion for the island of Ireland.
“Entrepreneurs are essential contributors to the strength and vitality of the business community in Northern Ireland. Their unrelenting focus and drive to create successful business ventures creates significant growth for our economy and our society. Acknowledging and supporting entrepreneurship helps to stimulate an entrepreneurial culture in Northern Ireland and the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme is dedicated to championing our entrepreneurs for many more years to come.”
At the screening, Mark Dowds, CEO at Responsible, programme finalist in 2019 and member of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Alumni Board highlighted the support that the programme offers to participants, saying:
“The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme and the access it opens up to the Alumni has been instrumental in Responsible’s growth and ongoing success. Over 80% of the EOY alumni have done business together and it is this that makes the programme, and indeed Irish entrepreneurship so special. Entrepreneurs are currently facing an incredibly challenging business environment but what we’ve seen in this film today is that with relentless determination, a commitment to resilience and a willingness to support each other, success cannot be halted.”
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
