Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry are pleased to announce the two national winners who will represent Ireland at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2013. The Awards aim to recognise successful promoters of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Europe, raise awareness of the value of entrepreneurship and encourage and inspire potential entrepreneurs.

The two national award winners who will go forward to the European competition are;
The Student Enterprise Awards Programme as submitted by the City and County Enterprise Boards for the Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit Category.
Senior Enterprise submitted by The Mid East Regional Authority and Fitzsimons Consultancy for the Investing in Entrepreneurial skills Category.

Participation in the European Enterprise Awards is open to national, regional or local authorities, and public-private partnerships from anywhere in the EU. The Awards ceremony will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania as part of the 2013 SME Assembly on 25-26 November.

Tom Hayes, head of Micro Enterprise and Small Business Division at Enterprise Ireland, who is a judge for the overall competition on behalf of Ireland, said: ‘We are delighted to be working on this event with the European Commission. I warmly congratulate our two national award winners for projects which are shining examples of excellence in promoting SMEs and entrepreneurship in a tough economic climate in Ireland. There are a lot of innovative projects in Ireland and it’s important that we recognise the organisations which actively encourage entrepreneurial spirit’.

Since 2006, the European Enterprise Promotion Awards have rewarded excellence in promoting entrepreneurship and small business at a national, regional and local level. Over 2 000 projects have entered since the awards were launched and together they have supported the creation of well over 10 000 new companies. Its objectives are to identify and recognise successful activities and initiatives undertaken to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship, showcase and share examples of best entrepreneurship policies and practices, create a greater awareness of the role entrepreneurs play in European society and encourage and inspire potential entrepreneurs.