Enterprising students hear entrepreneurial stories

The Meath County Enterprise Board hosted a special Enterprise Day for students participating in the Student Enterprise Awards competition on Monday 22nd September in Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim. The Student Enterprise Awards, or SEA, is a competition run by the County and City Enterprise Boards where second-level students set up and run their own business. Some 326 students and their teachers attended the event, which ran from 10am to 2pm. Schools present included Ashbourne Community School, Boyne Community School, Trim; Dunshaughlin Community College, Eureka, Kells; Loreto St Michael"s Secondary School, Navan; Scoil Mhuire, Trim; St Fintina"s, Longwood; St Joseph"s Mercy, Navan, St Patrick"s Classical School, Navan, and St Peter"s College, Dunboyne. The aim of the day was to introduce students to the Student Enterprise Awards competition and also to give them the experience of listening to speakers expert in the areas of sales and marketing (Rob Marr delivered a talk under the heading 'Catalyst") and motivation and qualities of an entrepreneur (Vincent Steadman). In addition, two local entrepreneurs, James Gibbons and Andrew Reilly of Cohort Recruitment and Training Agency, Dublin Road, Trim, gave a presentation on how they set up their business. Two groups of students who have enjoyed tremendous success with their businesses, set up last year as part of the Student Enterprise Awards, also made presentations on their enterprises. They were Anup Dambal, Bradley Murphy and Shane O"Brien of Dunshaughlin Community College with their business, which manufactures locker organisers, and Justine Stafford and Darrell O"Brien of O"Carolan College, Nobber, who won third prize at the national final of the SEA in May of this year with their business, Stylie Stickers. The Enterprise Day MC was Gerry Moan and two lucky students won a Wii console, complete with games, sponsored by the Meath CEB. They were Ann Sheerin, St Peter"s College, Dunboyne, and Sarah Dunne, Scoil Mhuire, Trim. The Meath CEB is also offering schools the services of a consultant who will conduct workshops in the areas of idea generation, marketing and communication skills. Any teacher who is interested in availing of these should contact Caroline Lynch at the Meath CEB on (046) 907 8400.