Cork students bring new business ideas to the table

Cork students bring new business ideas to the table

Students from twelve Cork city secondary schools were this week given the opportunity to gain some first-hand knowledge into the running of a thriving business when they attended an entrepreneurial mentoring day at the offices of OtterBox on George’s Quay. The students were invited to participate in a working business day at OtterBox, an international company with European, Middle East & Asia (EMEA) headquarters in Cork – participating in a conference call, being involved in a business development, marketing strategy and business planning session, while gaining valuable insight from one-to-one mentoring sessions with OtterBox staff.

group photo otter box md day Oct 2018

The students were also invited to discuss their own business ideas while receiving feedback from their respective mentors. The initiative was developed by the Cork City Local Enterprise Office Schools Enterprise Programme and brought together 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.

Claire Lyons, General Counsel at OtterBox, complimented the Cork students on their budding business acumen: “This is our third year involved with the Local Enterprise Office Cork City’s  Schools Enterprise Programme and once again the staff here at OtterBox have been delighted to work with the students on any number of potentially good business ideas. It is in keeping with our mandate to focus on young people and by coming to our offices here, we hope they get an opportunity to see a little of what is at the end of the journey for a successful business idea.”

 

During a busy day at the OtterBox office, the students were advised in areas of business by OtterBox staff such as E-Commerce, Marketing, HR, legal, sales, customer service, supply chain and finance. 

 otter box md day OCt 18

Theresa Mulvihill, Coordinator for Student Enterprise Programme for Cork city, said, "Student Enterprise Programme is an amazing opportunity for students to explore the endless possibilities available to budding entrepreneurs today. Technology has made access to global markets easier than ever and students are creating businesses and driving sales with a laptop and phone. We are really excited this year to see the amazing talent and innovative ideas that Cork city students have come up with. The involvement of schools and teachers are vital to the success of the Student Enterprise Programme and we are delighted to have such support here from both here in Cork city."

 

Adrienne Rodgers, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Cork City, said: "The Student Enterprise Programme is a fantastic initiative to promote entrepreneurship as a viable option to young people today. We are delighted to be part of this national programme which is offered through the Local Enterprise Offices nationally.  Each year we work with the teachers and students to improve our own programme. As part of that, we have the opportunity to work together with local businesses who have a genuine interest in promoting entrepreneurship. One such business is OtterBox and we would like to say thanks to Claire Lyons and Barrie Collins, who hosted and facilitated the MD day at their offices on George's Quay." 

The Local Enterprise Office is located at City Hall, Cork City Council, and it is excited to announce the next event on the Student Enterprise calendar is set for Blackpool Shopping Centre on December 6.

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’s 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.