The Student Enterprise Awards supported by Sligo County Enterprise Board were held in the Sligo Park Hotel on the 19th of March last with the winners in each category going forward to the National final in Tullamore this May.
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.
Teacher Gabriel Gilmartin has been working on this Mini Company Programme with transition year students at the Ursuline College since the mid 90’s and sees other benefits for the students as they learn vital life skills such as self belief, decision making and teamwork. ‘No other subject will provide them with this kind of practical opportunity,’ says Gabriel 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 September and the initial set up takes about six weeks. We look at areas such as entrepreneurship, report writing and finance. 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’
Frank has a background in manufacturing and feels this has been a great advantage. ‘Our library business involves a lot of preparation work, we have to research the market, know what books we should be buying, what new titles are of specific interest to the libraries, recommend good titles and then provide the data. We then cover the books, transfer bibliographic data and get the orders out. It’s our efficient manufacturing process that allow us such fast turnaround.’
Ursuline College came away with two awards on the day. The Corporate Social Responsibility Award went to company ‘Coco Hope’ and Overall Best Display went to company ‘Fall TY Towers’.
The level of work that Gabriel speaks of was very evident on the day. The students from first years to leaving certs had put together display stands to showcase their mini businesses that ranged from innovative study aids, domestic help and handy storage to food products, games, greeting cards and more. Young people so often and unfairly get a bad press but being among this group of second level students from across Sligo would do anyone good. You couldn’t but be impressed with their enthusiasm, their presentation, ideas and how articulate they all were, a real credit to their families and schools.
The awards were judged by Geraldine MacMenamin from Leitrim Enterprise Board and Michael Glennon from Sligo/Leitrim Development Company Winners on the day was:
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Junior Winner – |
Tasty Treats from Sligo Grammar, Sligo |
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Overall Intermediate Winner – |
Glitter Greeting Cards – Corran College, Ballymote |
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Overall Best Interview – |
Bruce’s Study Sheets – Coola Post-Primary, Coola |
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Best Report – |
E.M.P.T.Y – Colaiste Mhuire, Ballymote |
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Corporate Social Responsibility Award – |
Coco Hope – Ursuline College, Sligo |
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Overall Best Display – |
Fall TY Towers – Ursuline College, Sligo Senior |
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Category Runner Up – |
Bigger Shoes – Mercy College, Sligo |
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Overall Senior Winner – |
CNFC Enterprises (Authors of Fun Educational Books) – Jesus & Mary, Enniscrone |
The National Final of the Student Enterprise Awards will take place in Tullamore this May.
For more information on the awards or on other services to business contact Sligo Enterprise Board on 071 9144779.