Cork City Schools win at the Annual Cork City Schools Enterprise Programme, Christmas Trade Fair,
Rook Book, Colaiste Spiroad Naoimh won the Best Overall Mini - Company at The Annual Cork Schools Enterprise Programme Christmas Trade Fair which was held in Blackpool Shopping Centre on, Thursday December 6th,
Run by the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City, the event featured 30 mini-companies chosen from thirteen schools across the city, where they were given the opportunity to showcase and put on sale to the public some of the innovative new products and services they have developed as part of the programme.
Students from St. Aloysius Girls’ School, Bishopstown Community School, Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Scoil Mhuire,Nagle College, North Presentation Girls’ School, Christ the King, Presentation Boy's School, Mardyke, St. Angela’s School, St. Vincent’s School, Colaiste Daibhead, Christian Brothers College, St. Francis College Rochestown took part in the Christmas Trade Fair this year.
Speaking at the Christmas Trade Fair, Olive Guerin, Assistant Business Advisor, Cork Schools Enterprise Programme, said:
“We are delighted to see such talent, innovation and creativity coming the Cork City Schools for 2018. Shoppers at Blackpool Shopping Centre are in for a real treat on December 6th when they see what these innovative young entrepreneurs have on offer”
The event showcased businesses from across a range of sectors including craft, education, social entrepreneurship and technology. The Christmas Trade Fair was open to the general public giving students the opportunity to increase sales of their product/service, as well as helping them learn valuable lessons in customer relations and promotion.
Representatives from companies at the forefront of local and international business were part of the judging panel. These included OtterBox, an international company that makes protective solutions for mobile devices. Joining OtterBox will be representatives from local business Firemole Ltd and Russell and Chartered Accountants
On the day, the following prizes were awarded:
- Best Display Stand - Sweet Surprise, St Vincent’s
- Best Sales Plan - Eventi, Colaiste Spiroad Naoimh
- Best Business Idea - Qwickcard, Presentation Boys School Mardyke
- Best Market Research - Beosaol, Colaiste Spiroad Naoimh
- Best Endeavour - Cosmetic Cleaner, St Angelas
- Best Overall Mini-Company - Rook Book, Colaiste Spiroad Naoimh
Adrienne Rodgers, Head of Local Enterprise:
"The Student Enterprise Programme is an excellent initiative which we are delighted to be part of and able o offer. It gives students an opportunity to have a taste of what running a real business is like. Once students take part and actively get involved in this programme, the learning is a natural part of the process. We are delighted to have such a successful programme in Cork City, and we would like to thank the teachers and schools involved. Participation in the Student Enterprise Programme is paramount for us, it is the taking part and learning which is most important. It is as a result of the cooperation, collaboration and support of the Teachers and the schools which make the Student Enterprise Programme the success it is in Cork City.”
The Local Enterprise Office Cork City's Schools Enterprise Programme is an enterprise education programme that gives second level students in Cork City the opportunity to set up and run a mini-company over the course of the academic year in order to learn what it’s really like to be an entrepreneur.
A range of interactive enterprise activities are organised during the school year to encourage students from 1st – 6th year to learn more about entrepreneurship and what is involved in setting up and running a business.
The Programme runs from September to April with high profile national finals taking place in Dublin in May each year.
