Entry and judging criteria

Entries are invited from Ethnic Entrepreneurs, members of the public including employees and consultants associated with successful Entrepreneurs, as well as Enterprise Centres. To be eligible, candidates must own at least 5 per cent of the business they manage. The business must not be less than two years old and must be viable. Franchisers are also included in the nominations. Nomination for the Best Business Idea is open to both new and existing Entrepreneurs. Nominations are to be submitted on official entry forms, or through our website: www.ethnicentrepreneurs.com accompanied by all necessary documentation. Strategic and financial information submitted with the application will be confidential and will only be seen by the judges, who are completely independent.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Measuring success is always a difficult thing to do. This is why the Ethnic Entrepreneur Awards have selected a unique mix of key mainstream and ethnic business people and educationalists as judges. All of them have been tested and trusted in their different fields and also have an outstanding commitment to valuing and encouraging the participation and community integration of evolving Entrepreneurs. The criteria for judging nominations covers innovation and vision as well as growth and impact on employment. Mainstreaming and marketing will also be considered.

AWARD CATEGORIES:

Nominees will be considered in five different categories with winners emerging from:

1. Best Business Idea of the Year

   sponsored by The Irish Times

2. Service Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year

   sponsored by Metro Eireann

3. Emerging Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year

   sponsored by Tullow Oil PLC

4. Technology Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year

   sponsored by Communicorp Group

5. Social Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year

   sponsored by Newstalk 106- 108 FM

Following the selections, judges will then decide on the overall winner from the list of the five winners above for the permanent tsb Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year.

This year a special Judges’ Award will be given where, in the opinion of the judges, a special contribution has been made by an individual in entrepreneurship. This award will not be based on any nomination received.

What entrants and winners will receive

Although winners will be commended at the Awards and a trophy presented to them in recognition of their great achievements, Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year is about even more than that. We aim to create Ethnic Entrepreneur Development Events for Ireland’s fast growing Ethnic Entrepreneurs to:

• Celebrate, promote and encourage others to emulate their achievements
• Provide excellent business supports to help Ethnic Entrepreneurs grow their businesses
• Develop a positive appreciation of Ethnic Entrepreneurship among the wider mainstream business community
• Value participation and community integration of Ethnic Entrepreneurs.

As a participant and Ethnic Entrepreneur:

1. Other Entrepreneurs nominated for the Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year will be formally informed about you and your business
2. You will receive information about ways of growing your business
3. You can network with other Entrepreneurs at discussion and AwardsForums

For those on the Short-list:

1. Free business advice for short-listed Entrepreneurs to help them develop their 6 brands
2. Participation in various Ethnic Entrepreneur initiatives, such as:
   • Exclusive membership of Ethnic Entrepreneurs network/Club for annual finalists
   • Ethnic Entrepreneurs education retreat
   • Provision of business advice and insight from leading Irish Entrepreneurs and key educationalists
   • Social Responsibility awareness programme
   • Media coverage in Metro Éireann
   • Free media product/service promotion strategy

As a Winner:

1. You will get free media coverage in Metro Eireann, Newstalk106- 108 FM, The Irish Times and various other outlets
2. Special Citation and Irish-recognised Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year winners branding
3. A Crystal Prize
4. Introduction to funders/investors
5. Participation in an Exclusive Mentoring Programme with Aidan Heavey, founder and Chief Executive of Tullow Oil PLC, the world's fastest growing independent oil company with drilling in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Aidan and his staff will host the half-day Exclusive Mentoring for finalists in Dublin.