Students from Mallow and Kanturk scoop top prizes at Dragons’ Den-style event

A DIY Easter egg making kit and a line of children’s story books with the aim of making kids more aware of recycling and healthy eating were two of the top ideas presented at a Dragons’ Den-style competition held by the North Cork Enterprise Board on 1st May in Mallow GAA Complex where the top 10 teams from North Cork battled it out for the title of ‘Best Business Idea’. Calls for submissions were sent out to all North Cork schools last December and a total of 80 student teams submitted proposals, hoping to make the final 10 teams to pitch at the live finals.

The students presented their business ideas to a panel of 4 judges including Dan Murphy, Dan Murphy Life & Pensions, Geraldine O’Brien, Subway, Mallow, and Jerome O’Sullivan, Bank of Ireland, Mallow

The girls from St. Mary’s Secondary School in Mallow won the top prize in the Senior Category for ‘Best Business Idea’ with their product Lesson In a Line. Their idea was an innovative range of high quality children’s story books which are designed to teach young kids about the importance of recycling and healthy eating.

The boys from Coláiste Treasa in Kanturk took the top prize in the Junior Category with the Make Your Own Easter Egg Kit.

The Dragons’ Den Style event is just one element of a comprehensive enterprise programme organised each year for second level students in North Cork by the North Cork Enterprise Board. Other initiatives include the Student Enterprise Awards, an Applied Business Question competition, and in-school talks by local entrepren-eurs. The Enterprise Board is staunchly committed to fostering a real spirit of innovation and entrepre-neurship in schools in North Cork. The Dragons Den-style competition generates a lot of interest amongst the schools in the region and the students really enjoy pitching their business ideas to the judges.

Other prizes awarded on the day included:

Junior Category: 2nd: The Highs and Flows of Ireland, Coláiste Treasa Kanturk students Sinead O’Sullivan and Nicole O’Connor

3rd: Shopping Basket for Disabled People, Coláiste Treasa Kanturk students Caoimhe Flaherty, Jordan Fullerton, Cliona McCrory

Senior Category: 2nd place, Wiser Visor, St. Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow, students Kate Nyhan, Claire Long, Rita Doherty.

A sun visor attachment for camogie helmets

3rd: Step Robe, Colaiste Treasa Kanturk students Gillian Scanlan, Catriona Murphy, Ciara Buckley, Sarah O’Reilly, Bill O’Donoghoe; an innovative step system for wardrobes to help users reach the top shelf.