30 Businesses take part in Schools County Final
The Student Enterprise Awards organised by Sligo County Enterprise Board were held in the Sligo Park Hotel on the 19th of March last with the Overall Winner going forward to the National Student Enterprise Awards Final, being held in the Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin on April 27th next. Times may be tough at the moment but clearly the spirit of enterprise is alive and well as seven Sligo schools produced 30 businesses for the event! According to Stephen Walshe of Sligo County Enterprise Board, standards at the competition continue to rise from year to year.
‘The aim of the awards is to promote a spirit of enterprise in the classroom and raise the possibility of enterprise in student’s minds as something they could consider in future years even after college or other work,’ says Stephen. ‘Every year we in Sligo County Enterprise Board see confident Students who rise to the challenge of setting up and running a business within the timeframe of the competition, and often, the Students continue to run the business beyond it. Also, Students have to confidence to deal with suppliers over the ‘phone or via the internet, sub-contract out manufacturing and market their products and services creatively and cost effectively using the internet.’
Teacher Ann Gorby has been working on this Mini Company Programme with Transition year students at the Mercy College for a number of years, and sees other benefits for the students as they learn vital life skills such as self belief, decision making and teamwork. ‘No other subject provides them with these kinds of practical skills,’ says Ann who goes on to explain the level of work and commitment required by the students in order to fully realize a working company. ‘We start work in partnership with the County Enterprise Board in September. We look at areas such as entrepreneurship, idea generation, sales & marketing & report writing. Roles in each company have to be agreed on and the teams have to work together, taking on responsibilities and meeting deadlines. Often they will work outside of school hours in order to get everything done. It’s a lot of responsibility for young students, but its something they seem to thrive on’.
The level of work that Ann speaks of was very evident on the day. The students from all 7 schools had put together display stands to showcase their mini businesses that ranged from innovative websites, tri-lingual learning aids, high-quality scenic photographs, calendars, a young persons magazine, greeting cards and more. The Judges, Liam Kiely of Sligo County Enterprise Board & Nicola Mc Manus of Leitrim County Enterprise Board had the uneviable and challenging task of selecting both the Overall Winner and the Category Winners on the day.
Follwoing the Judges deliberations, Mercy College came away with the Overall Winner Award. The ‘Grow with a Grin’ mini-company was selected by the Judges, due primarily to the quality of their product, market research and sales.The Company have produced a series of illustrated childrens books, featuring children who suffer from a variety of medical conditions. As well as an interesting story, the books also contain medically approved information for parents, enabling them to better understand and support their children.
The full breakdown of Winners was:
- Overall Winner – ‘Grow with a Grin’, Mercy College, Sligo
- Runner-up – ‘Photosnap West’, Colaiste Iascaigh
- Third Place – ‘Blooming Surprise’, Coola Post-Primary
- Innovation Award – ‘Talent for Tots’, Ursuline College
- Corporate Social Responsibility Award – ‘North-West Xmas Products’, Sligo Grammar School
- Best Report Award – ‘DainTY’, Ursuline College
- Best Display Award – ‘Cracky Cases’, Jesus & Mary Secondary School
- Best Interview – ‘MC Hoodz’, Colaiste Mhuire.
The County & City Enterprise Boards National Student Enterprise Awards Final will take place in Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin on April 27th next. Sligo County Enterprise Board would like to wish ‘Grow with the Grin’ the very best of luck in the All-Ireland Final, and also to commend all of the participating Students, Schools & Teachers for all their hard work!
For more information on the Student Enterprise Awards or on other services to business, contact Sligo County Enterprise Board on 071 9144779.