SERVICES
Secondary school students from all over County Monaghan are gearing up to compete in the County Student Enterprise Awards, to take place on Tuesday 7th March. For the first time this event will be held in Monaghan Institute and the Local Enterprise Office are delighted to be working in partnership with MI and Cavan/Monaghan ETB. The winning team in each category – Junior, Intermediate & Senior will represent County Monaghan in the national finals in May.
The participating students have been learning how to be enterprising by participating in the Student Enterprise Programme, coordinated by Monaghan’s Local Enterprise Office. Beginning last September, students have learned how to set up and run their own businesses.
The programme is designed to give students practical experience of running a business. During the business development process students face the challenges that occur in business across the country every day from idea generation to creating initial funds, working with a team, and learning how to market their products and generate sales.
The programme is part of Monaghan County Council’s and Monaghan LEOs actions to support the next generation of entrepreneurs in the county. It is hoped that taking part in this real life experience will encourage more students to consider entrepreneurship in the future. The programme is being delivered in 9 schools in the county.
The schools participating in the county finals are Patrician High School, Inver College, Monaghan Collegiate, Castleblayney College, Our Lady’s Secondary School, St Macartan’s, St Louis Monaghan, Coláiste Oiriall and Beech Hill College.
This year the judging panel is made up Brendan McAree, McAree Engineering, Dr Cecelia Hegarty of Plato EBR ,Eamonn Callaghan, Fern Ross of Effista Ltd, and Shane Hill from Dundalk IT.
Students are currently finalising their business exhibition stand for the competition, having already submitted a detailed business plan will face the pitch panel during the awards final.
For further details on the Student Enterprise Programme and Awards log onto www.localenterprise.ie/monaghan or contact Blaithin O Reilly, Enterprise Development on 047-71818.