Entrepreneurs among Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Alumini were responsible for creating 12,600 new jobs in the past year and collectively these entrepreneurs employ 140,000 people and are responsible for turnover of €15bn.
The company, which is itself creating 30 new jobs in Dublin, also revealed that companies that participated in the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme created 1,000 of these new jobs in the last 12 months, bringing their collective employment to 5,000 people.
The Ernst & young Entrepreneur of the Year alumni, generated in excess of €15 billion in revenue last Financial Year, with 83pc experiencing an average growth rate of 30pc. The 2012 finalists collectively generated revenue of almost €600 million and grew at an average rate of 51pc last year.
“Whether at home or abroad, in good economic times or bad, entrepreneurs are constantly looking for new opportunities to expand their business and service offerings,” explained Frank O’Keeffe, partner-in-charge of the Entrepreneur of the Year programme in Ireland.
“Despite the uncertain global economy, entrepreneurs are actively looking to recruit highly qualified, innovative and most importantly experienced staff,” O’Keeffe said.
Entrepreneurs’ exports in 2012
Some 73pc of the Ernst & Young Alumni exported goods and services last year. The total amount of goods exported by 153 of the entrepreneurs totals €3.2bn.
This is mainly spilt across the three industries represented by our Alumni including; Technology (21pc), Manufacturing (20pc) and Food and Drink (15pc).
In terms of networking 45pc of the entrepreneurs in the Alumini community have done business with each other. Those that have done business with other members tend to do so multiple times.
“Government alone cannot create jobs – but it can focus on key areas to create the conditions for entrepreneurial businesses to grow and thrive – such as: fostering an entrepreneurial culture; providing a good education system and training to produce high quality people; the provision of access to funding; and instilling confidence through an improved regulatory environment,” O’Keeffe said.
