David Manley Award Winners announced
Jan 21 2010
Rendez-Vu are announced as the overall winners of the David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur 2009
Two entrepreneurs who developed a ‘gaming approach’ to help students learn foreign languages have won the 2009 David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards. Paul Groarke and Garrett Hussey established their company, RendezVu in January 2008 with the aim of attracting and maintaining students’ interest in learning through Virtual World technology. RendezVu is based at NovaUCD and was the winner of the Business category, as well as the overall winner of the David Manley Awards.
Krystian Fikert was announced as the David Manley Emerging Social Entrepreneur 2009. His organisation, The PPD Psychological Centre in Dublin, brings psychological services out of the formal health system and into local communities enabling much greater access to these vital services for all. In 2006, Krystian, a Polish psychologist living and working in Ireland, set up the Psychological Centre in Dublin (PPD), initially to address the psychological needs of Polish immigrants in the country. In Poland, even small towns have easy access to psychological teams without the need for a professional referral or long waiting times.
Krystian saw the need for such a service in Ireland. “The HSE provides mental health services based on a medical model but access to these services can be difficult and waiting lists are long,” he says. “We offer a self-referral system with a relatively short waiting period – maximum two weeks – and in emergency cases, appointments can be made within 24 hours.” www.theppd.eu
Krystian is a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland 2009 Level 2 Awardee.
Jennifer Jennings and Phillip McMahon of ThisIsPopBaby are the winners of the David Manley Emerging Arts Entrepreneur 2009.
Jennifer and Phillip describe ThisIsPopBaby as a theatre production company; an arts festival; a touring agent and an events management company that looks at bringing new audiences to theatre by redefining the very notion of what theatre can be.
The 2009 David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards were presented at a in the RHA Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin by An Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D, and Dr. Chris Horn. RendezVu’s prize is €10,000 in cash and over €100,000 worth of mentoring and consultancy services from a variety of blue chip companies. Businessman, Alfie Kane chaired the panel of judges for the Awards.
The aim of the Awards is to nurture and recognise the entrepreneurial spirit in Business, the Arts and in Social/community.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Tanaiste said, “I cannot overstress the importance of entrepreneurship, particularly in today's economy. An active entrepreneurial sector can continue to assist Ireland in facing the challenge to sustain growth, deepen competitive advantage in a knowledge economy and strengthen the enterprise base. It can also make a significant contribution to creating vibrant regions and to achieving greater social inclusion."
Dr. Chris Horn commented, “To re-build our economy, Ireland needs a new wave of smart entrepreneurs who can create many export-led innovative firms. These will earn further foreign income for us; create sustainable employment and generate both wealth and tax revenues to support the more vulnerable members of our society.”
Rowena Neville, Chairperson of the Awards organising committee, said, “The David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards is unique in leveraging a diverse set of talents who contribute time and experience to mentor and guide companies in their formative early years.”
Inaugural Media Award:
The inaugural ‘David Manley Media Award’ was also presented today and the first ever winner is John Murray, presenter of RTE’s “The Business”. John was commended on his dedication and commitment to regular coverage of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs. Dr. Chris Horn chaired the judging panel for this Award and the other judges were Dr. Thomas Cooney, Director - Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship at DIT and Nicola Byrne, founder and managing director of 11890. The Media Award was run with the support of TNS MediaMarket and Managing Director, Dan Halliwell presented John with his Award.
Awards Prize Package:
The overall winner receives €10,000 in cash and the ‘Gift of Time’ - over €100,000 in mentoring and consultancy. Each of the two runners-up secures €1,000 in cash. For the first time in the seven year history of the Awards, all nine short-listed entrants will receive mentoring, courtesy of Enterprise Ireland. Previously, only the overall winner benefited from mentoring from a variety of sponsor companies.
Award Background:
The David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Award was established by a group of David Manley’s friends in the Dublin Chamber of Commerce to honour his contribution to, encouragement and mentoring of SMEs during his short life time. David had been President of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce in 2000 and sadly passed away in 2002. Throughout his life, he gave freely of his time advising entrepreneurs across the spectrum in Business, the Arts and Social/Community.
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Business to Arts, Business Innovation Centres, Incubation Centres and Enterprise Support Agencies work with the David Manley Award Committee in implementing the Award scheme.
www.davidmanleyawards.ie
