Griffith College Enterprise Competition
This year for the first time TY mini-company students entered the Griffith College Business Enterprise Competition.
Stage 1 of the competition began with the submission of a 2,000 word proposal describing an enterprising business idea and/or product. Three mini-company teams submitted proposals.
We were absolutely thrilled when mini-company teachers Ms Maria Brosnan and Ms Sinead O’Donovan received an email from the organisers announcing that one of the three teams who applied had been shortlisted. Ocean Memories a team of four students Orlaith Cummins, Amanda Draper, Kelly Coughlan and Maya Mahendaran were one of only twelve teams in Ireland to move forward to Stage 2 of the competition. Stage 2 required students to use their social media skills to market their business idea by creating a Facebook page and promoting it to as wide an audience as possible.
After a few weeks of preparation, campaigning and practicing public speaking skills the team travelled to Griffith College in Dublin with their teachers Ms Brosnan and Ms O’Donovan.
The bleary eyed team and their supporters assembled in Cork Kent train station at 5.45am on Thursday 15th March. After a cup of tea and a Danish the teachers and their students regained the energy for the day that lay ahead! It was a relaxing journey for the students who had the opportunity to practice their speeches and spend some time with their classmates. Time was of the essence when students arrived at Heuston Station so it was a quick turnaround to squeeze into the busy Luas Green Line at morning rush hour to the next stop on South Circular Road. It was a twenty minute walk from the stop to Griffith College and everyone’s map reading skills were really put to the test!
On arrival to Griffith College students were welcomed by guides and checked in at the reception. Team finalists were then whisked away by their mentors for a 2 hour session on presentation skills and set up of their display pods. Supporters and visitors had the opportunity to attend business workshops by the Business Faculty on areas such as Entrepreneurship, Accounting and Finance, Marketing, HR, Hospitality, Job Skills and Presentation Skills. After the mini-lectures students enjoyed a packed lunch before returning to the arena to view the display pods and meet the finalists. Over a period of an hour a panel of three judges interviewed each team at their stand.
At 1.30pm all the finalists and supporters were gathered in preparation of the Oral Presentation. Teams were randomly selected and invited up to the podium to complete the final stage of the competition – the oral presentation. This was a very nerve-wracking time for all the finalists as each team gave a 6 minute presentation to a huge audience which was followed by 2 minutes of questions by the panel of judges.
As judges deliberated each team was invited to the podium to be photographed and presented with Certificates of Participation. Finally the results were announced and although our team didn’t win it was a very insightful and rich learning experience for all involved. Students left with a greater confidence, improved oral presentation skills, a bank of business ideas and knowledge, some new friendships and even some life skills on how to navigate the Capital!
The students who competed and supporters who travelled were a credit to Kinsale Community School and represented their school with great pride. Well done to all involved and to their teachers Ms Brosnan and Ms O’Donovan.