Golden Vale is the new sponsor of a competition designed to encourage post-primary students to consider setting up their own businesses as a career option.

The Golden Vale Young Entrepreneurs Scheme was launched in Dublin yesterday by the Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy. This is the first year of a three-year sponsorship deal between Golden Vale and the Young Entrepreneurs Association.

More than 8,300 students, from 250 schools, participated in the scheme last year. This year, organisers of the event plan to expand the competition to Northern Ireland. "The scheme teaches students about the basics of business in a very practical way," said the chairman of the association, Mr Monty Tinsley.