Local Enterprise Office

Prize Winners 2015

SENIOR CATEGORY: Overall Winner

OVERALL WINNER

Overall winner of the senior category was Exerdice, from Colaiste Craobh Amhann in Kilcoole, Eimear Jordan & Rachel Kennedy have designed and manufactured dice which have various exercises on each side rather than the traditional dots, and is designed to make exercise a little more fun.

JUNIOR CATEGORY: Overall Winner

Overall winner in the Junior Category by two 1^st year students from Colaiste Chill Mhantain, Mark Britchfield and Adam Henry, with their enterprise ‘The Write Choice’ which is a range of beautifully crafted pens

Clermont Campus in Rathnew was a hive of activity on Thursday 19^th March as enterprising students from schools from around County Wicklow showcased their enterprises at the County Final of the Student Enterprise Awards. Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Office, Wicklow, over 1100 secondary school students took part in the programme this year, making it the largest Wicklow programme ever. There were a record 33 entries in the Senior Category at the final, with businesses as diverse as Irish Language fridge magnets (from St. Gerard’s, Bray) to bracelets made from Parachute cord (from C.B.S. Arklow). In addition to their overall business and marketing skills, competing companies are judged on the quality and content of their business report, a three minute presentation made on the day and the quality of their display in the exhibition hall.

The overall winner of the senior category was Exerdice, from Colaiste Craobh Amhann in Kilcoole, who will represent County Wicklow in the Senior Category at the National Finals in Croke Park on Wednesday 22^nd April. Eimear Jordan & Rachel Kennedy have designed and manufactured dice which have various exercises on each side rather than the traditional dots, and is designed to make exercise a little more fun. This year, Wicklow will also be represented in the Junior Category by two 1^st year students from Colaiste Chill Mhantain, Mark Britchfield and Adam Henry, with their enterprise ‘The Write Choice’ which is a range of beautifully crafted pens.

The award for Most Innovative Idea was won by All Star Storage from Colaiste Bhríde, Carnew. Best Presentation went to TYnz from Loreto College in Bray, while Best Stand Display went to Bubbalicious Soaps from Dominican Convent in Wicklow Town. The award for Best Market Research went to Multee Colour Inc. from St. David’s School in Greystones and the Most Innovative Sales Strategy was presented to Bottled from Colaiste Bhríde in Carnew. Best Quality Product was a really tough category this year, and was won by another Colaiste Bhríde enterprise, Wood Wax.

The judges gave a Special Commendation to DrifTY from St Killian’s in Bray and the award for Best Social Media Campaign went to Protonia from St. David’s school in Greystones. Second Runner Up went to Bolgain Solas from Colaiste Bhríde, Carnew, and First Runner Up was awarded to Fork Ends, from Avondale Community College – both presented a very high standard of mini-company.

Praising the teachers and local schools involved in the programme, Sheelagh Daly, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Wicklow, said: “The Student Enterprise Awards encourages and enables students to take on the world of business and develop an entrepreneurial mind-set. By fostering an enterprising culture in the classroom, the Local Enterprise Offices are working with teachers and schools to help nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.”