The Davis College Mallow team that won the Junior Category with theri Snoozers Scarves product at the Cork North & West LEO Schools Enterprise Programme Christmas Fair, pictured with judges Ita Madden and Colm Walsh, at Mallow GAA Complex.
Over 350 students from second level schools all over North Cork took part in a Christmas Trade Fair run by the Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West, at Mallow GAA complex on Thursday last. A total of 57 mini-companies from second level schools all over Cork, from 1st year, 2nd year and Transition Years, set up and put on display products they have produced since the school year began in September. The event was organised as part of the Student Enterprise Programme, run by the LEO. To reward their efforts, LEO put up a number of trophies and the competition was fierce. The Best Overall Winner in the junior category was Snoozers of Davis College who made wonderful scarves and snoods. Winner of the intermediate category was 4 Lego of the Patrician Academy, Mallow. Such was the number of entrants in the senior category, it was decided to split the entrants into two halves and award trophies in each group. The Best Overall Prize in Group A was ‘CE2 Design’ from Colaiste Mhuire in Buttevant. They produced very imaginative framed Christmas tree decorations. The Best Overall Prize in Group B was Tie Dye Tees from Presentation College, Mitchelstown, who had a wonderful range of hand-dyed t-shirts.
Speaking at the event, Head of Local Enterprise at the North Cork Local Enterprise Office Kevin Curran thanked all the teachers and parents for the support they provide to their students. He said he was very impressed with the standard on display and that he hoped “to see some of these students back as entrants to Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Awards in the future.”
The Student Enterprise Programme is a national initiative which instils entrepreneurial skills in young people, and the showcase gave the students experience at putting together a presentation stand, pitching to judges and honing their sales skills. For more information regarding this initiative, visit www.studententerprise.ie. The next leg of the North Cork Local Enterprise Office Schools Programme Competition takes place in March 2018 – the Regional Final.
There were also trophies presented under the headings of Best Display, Innovation, Interview, Sales Techniques, Team Spirit as well as an overall winner. The winners chosen were as follows:
Most Innovative Product Group A: Hold Us, St Mary’s Charleville
Most Innovative Product Group B: Motivational Month, Colaiste Treasa Kanturk
Best Display Stand Group A: Aiders, St Mary’s Charleville
Best Display Stand Group B: Viva Las Vegan, St Mary’s Mallow
Best Interview Group A: IT’s for Girls, St Mary’s Charleville
Best Interview Group B: 30 Second Science, Davis College
Best Sales Technique Group A: Colaiste Calenders, St Colman’s Fermoy
Best Sales Technique Group B: Best Case Scenario, Presentation Mitchelstown
Best Team Spirit Group A:Snack Pack, Colaisite Chraoibhin Fermoy
Best Team Spirit Group B: KJ Candles, Patrician Academy Mallow
Judges at the event included: Sinead O’Connor, AIB, Tadhg Curtis, former Chairman of North Cork Enterprise Board, Valerie Murphy, Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, PJ McCarthy, Charleville Chamber of Commerce, Ita Madden, LEO Cork City, and Colm Walsh, LEO Tipperary.