Entrepreneurs in the making
It’s that time of year again when teenagers will be judged on their business ideas!
Next Monday will see more than 100 students on Leeside descend on the Devere Hall in UCC where they will compete for the Best Student Enterprise of the Year accolade as part of the Cork City Schools Enterprise Programme 2019/20.
Run by the Local Enterprise Office in Cork city, the event is open to the general public, giving student mini-companies the opportunity to showcase their new business ideas and exhibit their products to a wider audience from 9.30am-1.30pm.
Devere Hall will accommodate 45 exhibition stands and over the course of the morning and students will be judged on their business ideas and acumen. The overall winning team will receive a cup and €500, while their school will also be presented with a cup and €1,500.
The winning team will also go on to represent the Local Enterprise Office in Cork city, at the National Student Enterprise Awards final in Dublin on 1 May at Croke Park. Other categories include Best Commercial Potential, Best Business Report, Best Sales, Best Display Stand and teachers will also have the chance to win Enterprise Educator of the Year.
Speaking ahead of the event, Head of Enterprise, Paul McGuirk, said: “We are really excited about this year’s city final. Students have been working really hard since September 2019 and this is their opportunity to shine.”
Students from Colaiste An Spioraid Naoimh, St Angela's College, Bishopstown Community School, Scoil Mhuire, St Aloysius Girls School, Christ King Girls' Secondary School, Cork Educate Together School, Glanmire Community College, Presentation Brothers College, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, St Patrick's College and Ursuline Secondary School will be represented at the event.
Co-ordinator of the Cork Schools Enterprise Programme, Theresa Mulvihill said: “We’ve arrived at the most exciting and demanding part of the programme where the finalists are so close to being the best in the city and also to representing Cork in the National Final at Croke Park. It’s been another fantastic competition so far this year and we look forward to seeing how each team presents their ideas in the city final at UCC.”