Success at the Student Enterprise Awards
On Friday 1st March, two Transition Year mini-company teams travelled to the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery with their enterprise teacher Ms Maria Brosnan and Year Head Ms Niamh Hay to take part in the Regional Finals of the West Cork Student Enterprise Awards. The Student Enterprise Programme is Ireland’s biggest student enterprise competition. Each year over 22,000 secondary students from 620 schools take part in this Programme by setting up and running their own student business. Students get to find out what it’s really like to be an entrepreneur and get a practical, hands-on taste of real life business.
Prior to the SEA’s the two groups, ‘Lithoframe Nightlights’ and ‘Picture This’ were selected to represent KCS at the awards at an in-school Christmas trade fair. In preparation for the competition both teams had to submit a 20 page detailed Business Plan to the Enterprise Office outlining their product idea, finances, production process, sales and marketing strategies and social media campaigns.
Lithoframe Nightlights mini-company is run by CEO Oisin Coyle, Production Manager Adam Kearney and Marketing Manager Michael Hurley. The company produce custom, modular nightlights using modern technologies such as 3D Printing and Laser Cutting/Engraving. The product is a fantastic way to brighten your home and bring your precious images to life in 3D. To find out more about this fantastic product visit http://lithoframenl.tk/ or follow on Instagram and Facebook @lithoframenl or @lithoframe on Twitter.
Picture This mini-company is run by CEO Emma Meaney and Finance Manager Cordelia Foody. The company has one simple goal: to make the lives of children easier. Picture This produce bespoke visual aid laminate flashcards which present to children their daily routine broken down into simple drawings. The aim is to guide children through each step of the day and to steer them away from anxiety or stress which can come with an inconsistent routine. To find out more about this quality product you can visit Facebook and Instagram @picturethisminicompany or @PictureThisMini on Twitter.
It was an early start for the three teams who departed Kinsale at 7.30am to make the scenic journey to the West Cork town of Rosscarbery. Although tired from the early rise the students were delighted to be one of the first teams to arrive at the Celtic Ross Hotel and had the opportunity to select a prime location for the setup of their display pods! Over 18 mini-companies from schools across West Cork were in attendance and the air swirled with anticipation and excitement as they anxiously awaited their interviews by a panel of three judges.
Much to the delight of all the students, a sit-down lunch followed the judging and students could take a few minutes to gather themselves before results were announced. A variety of prizes were awarded including
· 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
· Best innovation
· Best display
· Young Entrepreneur of the Future
It was a highly successful day for KCS who came away with two of the six awards! Congratulations to Emma Meaney and Cordelia Foody of Picture This Mini-Company on being awarded 3rd Place in the Senior Category. Congratulations also to Oisin Coyle, Adam Kearney and Michael Hurley of Lithoframe Nightlights on being awarded Best Innovation.
The panel of judges were very impressed by the level of hard-work, determination and quality of the produce. Both teams were presented with a glass trophy and came away with orders - even from some of the judges! It was a very insightful and enjoyable day and students had the opportunity to speak with other teams and teachers in the West Cork area and learn more about the world of enterprise.
