Two local entrepreneurs look set to fly the flag for Team Westmeath in the national finals of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur programme which takes place in the coming weeks.
Rebecca Butler from Streete and Dean Gammell from Milltownpass picked up two of the three awards presented at the regional finals of the enterprise programme, which included twelve entries in total from counties Westmeath, Offaly, Kildare and Laois at an awards ceremony in Westmeath County Buildings last Friday, 7 November.
For her business idea on growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, 22-year-old Rebecca Butler of Uisce Bia, won the award for Best New Idea, beating off stiff competition from other counties.
A graduate of agriculture from the University of Ulster and past-pupil of Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham, the goal of Rebecca’s business is to provide the horticultural, agricultural and equine market with a new feed product.
When asked what it means to reach the national finals, Rebecca spoke of her background in agriculture and how she hopes to progress her business idea in the coming months and years. “It’s fantastic PR for my business. Getting through to the national finals helps get my business out there and let people know what I do.”
The savvy business woman spoke of the demand and importance of agriculture in Irish society. “There’s a huge demand for agriculture, however the biggest problem in Ireland in the cost and sustainability factor. Prices of beef and meat being at an all time low doesn’t help. Finding a way of helping farmers reduce costs is my long term goal.”
For his useful solution to facilitate group bookings in the hotel and leisure industries, 27-year-old Dean Gammell from DG Ventures picked up the award for Best Established Business With New Add On.
“I’m over the moon,” said Dean. “The long, sleepless nights are clearly paying off and that’s no understatement!”
What set him apart from the other competitors in the regional final, Dean spoke of his product, which has a number of people employed at its base in Kinnegad.
“There was strong competition but I guess the innovation of the product stood out. There’s only one other company in the world offering this service in the United States, so it’s unique to this part of the world.”
The third award on the day for Best Business Start Up went to Emma Rose Conroy from Tullamore for her business Eurostallions, Ireland’s only fully dedicated stallion semen agency and Ireland’s first EU-approved semen storage centre.
The Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, Christine Charlton, said: “We are very proud and honoured to have two representatives at the national final in December, as over 1,000 businesses entered from every county in Ireland and competition for every place was intense. Our finalists now have a chance of being crowned ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ and to win additional investment of up to €50,000 in their business.
Rebecca, Dean and Emma now progress to the National finals of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur programme which takes place in early December. They will each be up against seven others in their respective categories.
