This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week and Ernst & Young is launching its 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year award to coincide with the event.
Previous winners include easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Simon Woodruffe of Yo Sushi and the award is designed to celebrate entrepreneurial strength and success.
Richard Hall, partner at Ernst & Young, said: "It has never been more important to recognise the achievements of our entrepreneurial community in the UK.
"Educating young people about entrepreneurship and reinforcing the value that they bring to their respective countries are critical to long-term prosperity – more so now than ever before."
The award was established in the 1980s and recognises achievements in more than 50 countries, welcoming the first entrants from Kazakhstan, Chile, Korea, Mozambique and the Middle East this year.
UK finalists compete for the chance to enter the World Entrepreneur of the Year award in Monte Carlo.
Part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, the fifth Enterprise Week was launched yesterday by prime minister Gordon Brown to encourage more people to start a business or social enterprise.
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