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The 2011/12 JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business.

This year's JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business organised by Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland, Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) and Irish Farmers Journal and sponsored by JFC is open for entries. It's time to start working on your business plan!

Entry is open to farmers and rural entrepreneurs with well thought out business ideas or with new and innovative businesses that have commenced trading in the last 5 years.

The awards, now in their sixth year, have highlighted excellent ideas that rural entrepreneurs and farmers have used to set up new businesses.

The overall prize fund for the competition is valued at €40,000. This includes cash prizes totalling €12,000 provided by JFC Manufacturing, advertising in the Irish Farmers’ Journal valued at €16,000, and mentoring and business support worth €16,000.

 

Objectives of the Competition

  • To encourage a flow of new ideas from the farming and rural community
  • To help people develop their business idea into a reality
  • To motivate individuals to take an innovative approach to new business

Benefits to Competition Applicants

  • Encouragement and motivation to develop their business
  • Feedback on their business idea from the expert judging panel
  • Opportunity to win up to €40,000 worth of prizes
  • Network with like minded people during the competition
  • Get good publicity for their potential business

 

  

The categories for entries are:

  • Energy / Manufacturing
  • Value Added / Speciality Food
  • Services / Rural Tourism
  • Startup (for those who are just developing plans and not yet trading)

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Hard copy entry kits will be available from your local Teagasc office or by contacting Teagasc Athenry at 091-845200.

Competition Timetable .

        

  • Closing Date for entries:                     December 16th 2011
  • Entries Assessed:                                             January 2012
  • Interviews to select competition finalists:  Mid January to mid February
  • All Ireland Final:                               Mid April 2012. All finalists will be invited to a special awards event. At this event the Overall and Category winners will be announced.

Information from previous years awards