“Enterprise This’’ winning team from the Mercy College, Sligo, students Amy Kelly, Helena O’Dea, Eden Esteves, Sarah Keating and Shauna McManus, pictured with judges Sean Gallagher (Dragon’s Den), Carole Brennan (Enterprise Ireland) and Pat Scanlon (Head of Department of Business); Head of School of Business of Humanities, Terry Young; Lecturer Catherine McGuinn; and representatives from the Bank of Ireland, sponsors of the competition.
Dragon’s Den Star Sean Gallagher was one of the judges at an enterprise competition organised by IT Sligo students for secondary school students in Sligo, South Donegal, North Leitrim, North Mayo and North Roscommon.
A team of students from the Mercy College in Sligo took home first prize in the competition for a business idea which involved the research and development of a collection of children’s books called Gary Glasses, Angi Asthma, Ellie Eczema, and Danny Diabetes.
The Managing Director of the winning team ‘Grow A Grin’, Amy Kelly from Templeboy, explained the concept behind the books; “We wrote, illustrated and produced the books ourselves. The idea behind the concept was to explain the medical conditions to the children who suffer from them and to encourage acceptance of the conditions amongst other children.”
The books have received approval from the Diabetes Federation Ireland, the Asthma Society, and Eczema Ireland and the business has already retuned a profit for the young entrepreneurs.
Other finalists in the competition came from Carrigallen Vocational School and Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford. The judging panel was made up of Sean Gallagher, Carole Brennan from Enterprise Ireland, and Pat Scanlon, Head of Department of Business, IT Sligo.
Entrepreneur Sean Gallagher was impressed with the calibre of the entries and the professionalism of the pitches; “The teams would be well able to hold their own with the entrepreneurs coming before the Dragon’s Den and I’ve no doubt that we might see some of the team members come before the Den in the future.”
Commenting on the importance of enterprise and the significance of the development of entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, Mr Gallagher said;”Local enterprise is the hub of any community and Ireland is just a collection of communities. While Foreign Direct Investment is very welcome, they don’t create jobs in the rural areas and we need more entrepreneurs to create local businesses to employ local people.”
“This competition organised by the IT Sligo students was very encouraging because it is fostering a sense of real life business in young students; all of the participating teams talked about their MD, their business plan and about managing their time. They’re learning in a way that is interesting and relevant to them and that is so important. If you do what you love, people will love what you do.”
Bank of Ireland was the main sponsor of the event.
Judges of the ‘’Enterprise This’’ competition organised by IT Sligo students for local secondary school students, Sean Gallagher (Dragon’s Den), Carole Brennan (Enterprise Ireland).
Other competition finalists:
Carrigallen’s Got Talent CD, Carrigallen Vocational School, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim.
Teacher: Veronica Edwards
Student team: Ailish Braiden, Katie McHugh, Fergal Donohoe and David Conroy.
SMART, Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford, Co. Mayo.
Teacher: Lisa Keane
Student team: Aaron McLoughlin, Paul Gavin, Siobhan Brennan and Orlagh Morris.
EUROMAZING Languages, Mercy College, Sligo.
Teacher: Anne Gorby
Student team: Niamh Merrick, Lauren Martyn, Shauna Stewart, Jeryly Ramos, Shaina McGovern.
Feabhsaigh agus Foghlaim, Carrigallen Vocational School, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim.
Teacher: Veronica Edwards
Student team: Niamh O’Malley, Tadhg Murray, Jessica Bohan and Aoife Tierney.
