Ernst & Young has announced details of its 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year competition, which is to culminate in the announcement of the winner on October 31st.The closing date for entries to the competition is March 31st, and a list of 24 finalists will be announced in early May.

The shortlist is to be selected by a panel of judges chaired by Padraig O’Ceidigh, chairman of Aer Arann and winner of the 2002 award.The entrepreneur of the year programme (launched this year by, above, managing director of The Irish Times Liam Kavanagh and Ernst &Young partner in charge of the competition Frank O’Keeffe), has been in existence for more than 15 years.

It allows participants access to the alumni community that has developed.Past participants created more than 12,600 new jobs in 2012, according to Ernst & Young.

The programme, which will include a chief executive retreat in Chicago and New York where participants can network with senior multinational executives, is being supported by The Irish Times, RTÉ, Enterprise Ireland, Invest NI, Intertrade Ireland and Newstalk.