Bonuses, dividends, titles - what about some meaningful human work?

IF YOU want to lead the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs, then you’d better get your skates on, because you have just a few days in which to get your application on the desk of the Endeavour people.

Endeavour is setting out to find Ireland’s 10 outstanding entrepreneurs and fast-track them so that in five years’ time, they’ll be turning over more than €5m a year, exporting their wares or service, and making a profit. Those selected will get a base for around seven months in the Tom Crean Centre in Kerry and the backing of a bunch of state agencies. They will, in addition to all the normal supports, be mentored by household name industrialists with massive track records behind them, and coached by experts in everything from venture finance to corporate communications. More details are at www.business-startup.ie.

With luck, what could be called the Entrepreneurial Paradox will kick in when the 10 fast-trackers are selected: they will be people who would have made a success of their idea anyway, but with the help of Endeavour will do so faster and on a bigger scale. Because enterprise is like the urge to write: an inborn urge which finds expression regardless of context or of state support.