Young Entrepreneur Programme Business Boot Camp

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TO DECLARE WAR ON RECESSION AT BUSINESS BOOT CAMP

Entrepreneurship seen as vital weapon in ⿿war for prosperity⿝

Leading economist David McWilliams describes Ireland⿿s current financial crisis as a ⿿war for prosperity⿝ in which everybody has to fight to ensure our economic recovery. If this is the case then the Business Boot Camp, which takes place in the Brandon Hotel, Tralee, on 30 January, is surely on the front line.

An army of leading Irish entrepreneurs and business people have once again signed up to put students through their paces at the Young Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) Business Boot Camp. The one-day event gives students an invaluable opportunity to learn and be challenged by business mentors who will advise on where business opportunities exist, how to win at business and what makes a good business plan.

Some of the notable speakers who will be imparting their expert advice include, founder Director of the Communications Clinic Terry Prone, Irish Times Managing Director Maeve Oâ¿¿Donavan, Cully & Sully founders Cullen Allen and Colum Oâ¿¿Sullivan, and Sarah Newman, Needahotel.com founder and the only female Dragon on the upcoming Dragonâ¿¿s Den series on RTE television.

The Young Entrepreneur Programme is the brainchild of businessman Jerry Kennelly and has been developed by the Institute of Technology, Tralee (IT, Tralee) and Shannon Development. Now in its second academic year, the programme targets second and third level students and aims to foster and nurture the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Jerry Kennelly says:  â¿¿Many great innovations â¿¿ nylon, synthetic rubber, the electric washing machine â¿¿ were unleashed during the Great Depression and put America on the road to economic recovery. By encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in Ireland there is potential to turn this crisis into opportunity.⿝

Michael Carmody, President of IT, Tralee, commented: ⿿The YEP is fostering a spirit of ⿿can do⿿ in students and empowering them to move outside their comfort zones to make their own opportunities.⿝

Marie Lynch of Shannon Development: ⿿By cultivating a spirit of enterprise in the next generation we are striving to ensure Kerry⿿s future competitiveness and prosperity.⿝

Other speakers of note include:

• Joe Daly, founder of Valentia Island Farmhouse Dairy, who turned his dairy farm into an entrepreneurial enterprise
• Colm Healy, MD of Skelligs Chocolate Company, an award winning maker of handmade chocolates
• David Slattery, owner and manager of Slatteryâ¿¿s Travel, one of the largest Irish-owned tour operators
• Cathal Oâ¿¿Connell, founder of Paddywagon Tours, the second largest backpacker tour operator in Europe
• Joanna Gardiner, MD of Ovelle Pharmaceuticals
• Hugh Reynolds, Director of New-Game Technologies and co-founder of leading gaming software company, Havok