Young would-be entrepreneurs from around the Republic are competing in the final of the "Irish Company of the Year Awards 2000" which are taking place in the Regency Hotel, Dublin.

The finalists have already competed at regional and county levels, are all aged between 15 and 18 years, and are all involved in the transition year, Leaving Certificate Vocational and Leaving Certificate Applied programmes in second level schools.

The awards are organised by Young Enterprise Ireland, which promotes business education links and partnerships at local and national level through its core "company programme". This programme encourages students to set up and run a small enterprise supported by mentors from the local business community.