Offaly Student Enterprise Awards 2009/2010
St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry win “Professional Business” award at the National Student Enterprise Awards Final!
The National Student Enterprise Awards, now in its 8th year, took place on Tuesday April 27th last in Croke Park. This was the first time for the awards to be held outside Tullamore since its inception.
Bill Cullen was the guest speaker and Minister Batt O’Keeffe presented the awards. But it was Bobby Kerr, (owner of Insomnia Coffee House and well known Dragon from Dragon’s Den) whose daughter was an entry in the Junior section who stole the show. He was there to support his daughter but went to every stand, got photographed with all of the students and really impressed everyone with his genuine interest. Gavin Duffy, another Dragon, arrived later and thrilled the Banagher College girls by posing with Bobby Kerr for photos.
The Offaly entry in the Senior Category was a project called “S.O.L.E. Saver Cards” from St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry. The business provides a discount/special offer card for the town of Edenderry. This innovative scheme to encourage shoppers to stay in Edenderry paid off for the four students in the end. They definitely impressed the judges with their sheer professionalism – this was not just a project for school. They are committed to continuing the scheme until the end of 2010 and will review its performance at that stage before determining whether to continue into 2011. They won a special “Professional” award as a direct result of their commitment and professionalism. So impressed were the judges that this was an additional award to the original six prizes in this category. Their website http://www.solesavercards.com is well worth checking out – you can purchase your discount card on line for only €6.
The Intermediate category entry “Poddy Pockets” hailed from Banagher College who made personalised iPod pockets. The Junior category entry “The Bizz” was also from Banagher College, Colaiste na Sionna. They produced a business magazine.
This year there was a total of 36 Senior entries from every county in Ireland at the Finals in addition to 21 Intermediate and 21 Junior. Publicity for the event included appearances on the Late Late Show and Ireland AM.
About the Student Enterprise Awards
The Student Enterprise Awards was introduced in the 2002/03 academic year. Now more than 15,000 student businesses are set up annually in schools all around Ireland.
We believe in the importance of educating students at an early age to gain practical experience of how business works. Through the Student Enterprise Awards the students experience, at first hand, the reality of a commercial environment and develop the skills and knowledge of running a business.
The competition starts at county level with representatives from each category – Junior, Intermediate and Senior – going forward to represent Offaly in the National Final.
St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry win “Professional Business” award at the National Student Enterprise Awards Final!
The National Student Enterprise Awards, now in its 8th year, took place on Tuesday April 27th last in Croke Park. This was the first time for the awards to be held outside Tullamore since its inception.
Bill Cullen was the guest speaker and Minister Batt O’Keeffe presented the awards. But it was Bobby Kerr, (owner of Insomnia Coffee House and well known Dragon from Dragon’s Den) whose daughter was an entry in the Junior section who stole the show. He was there to support his daughter but went to every stand, got photographed with all of the students and really impressed everyone with his genuine interest. Gavin Duffy, another Dragon, arrived later and thrilled the Banagher College girls by posing with Bobby Kerr for photos.
The Offaly entry in the Senior Category was a project called “S.O.L.E. Saver Cards” from St Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry. The business provides a discount/special offer card for the town of Edenderry. This innovative scheme to encourage shoppers to stay in Edenderry paid off for the four students in the end. They definitely impressed the judges with their sheer professionalism – this was not just a project for school. They are committed to continuing the scheme until the end of 2010 and will review its performance at that stage before determining whether to continue into 2011. They won a special “Professional” award as a direct result of their commitment and professionalism. So impressed were the judges that this was an additional award to the original six prizes in this category. Their website http://www.solesavercards.com is well worth checking out – you can purchase your discount card on line for only €6.
The Intermediate category entry “Poddy Pockets” hailed from Banagher College who made personalised iPod pockets. The Junior category entry “The Bizz” was also from Banagher College, Colaiste na Sionna. They produced a business magazine.
This year there was a total of 36 Senior entries from every county in Ireland at the Finals in addition to 21 Intermediate and 21 Junior. Publicity for the event included appearances on the Late Late Show and Ireland AM.
About the Student Enterprise Awards
The Student Enterprise Awards was introduced in the 2002/03 academic year. Now more than 15,000 student businesses are set up annually in schools all around Ireland.
We believe in the importance of educating students at an early age to gain practical experience of how business works. Through the Student Enterprise Awards the students experience, at first hand, the reality of a commercial environment and develop the skills and knowledge of running a business.
The competition starts at county level with representatives from each category – Junior, Intermediate and Senior – going forward to represent Offaly in the National Final.
