Keeping the spirit of business alive

THE ENTREPREURIAL spirit in Clare isn’t dead, as schools and youthreach groups from around the county brought 66 projects to the county final of the Student Enterprise Awards.
The awards are supported by the Clare County Enterprise board and its spokesperson, Lucy Reidy, said there had been a lot of quality entries.
“Standards at the competition continue to rise from year to year and there has been a huge increase in the number of mini companies from the schools with 16 of the 19 second level schools participating.”
Chief executive of Clare County Enterprise Board, Eamonn Kelly, said he was struck by the ability of the participants.
“Speaking to some of the young entrepreneurs, I was very impressed with the confidence, enthusiasm and business acumen displayed by the students. The Student Enterprise Awards are a great learning opportunity for students as they gain invaluable, on the ground experience outside of the conventional classroom environment.”
Teacher Maireád Ryan has worked on the Student Enterprise programme with transition year and junior pupils at St Anne’s Community College and feels the programme is very beneficial.
“No other subject will provide them with this kind of practical opportunity. We start work in September and the initial set up takes about six weeks. We look at areas such as entrepreneurship, report writing and finance. Roles in each company have to be agreed on and the teams have to work together, taking on responsibilities and meeting deadlines.
“Often students will work outside of school hours in order to get everything done. It’s a lot of responsibility for young students but the mentor visits provided for students by Clare County Enterprise board is invaluable.”
The board also sponsored prizes for the Small Business Game, an online educational game where players run their own football shop. David Diamond was the overall Clare winner, winning a set of GAA jerseys for his school and a Nintendo Wii for himself.
First prizewinners in the junior intermediate and senior categories will represent Clare in the national final of the Student Enterprise Awards at Croke Park on April 14.

Junior category winner: 1. Natural Hampers, St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe; 2. Little Runaways, St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe.
Intermediate category winner: 1. Christmas Fair, Ennis Community College.
Senior category winner: 1. Starling Records, St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe; 2. Dynamaths, St Caimin’s Community School, Shannon; 3. JerseySure, St Anne’s Community School, Killaloe.
Special award for project planning: Model Students, St Flannan’s College, Ennis.
Special award for project presentation with a craft focus: St Joseph’s Community College, Kilkee.
Special award for innovative concept: MaeRia, Rice College, Ennis.
Special award for scope of project: School Magazine, Kilrush Community School.