5 May - STREET SMART ENTREPRENEURS ARE THE BUSINESS IN YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
Twenty street smart go-getters aged between 12 and 17 from seven start-up businesses will gather in the Mansion House in Dublin today hoping to be crowned the ‘Foróige Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016’. The youths from Tipperary, Sligo, Donegal and Dublin made the final from 1,000 young entrepreneurs who set up start-up businesses as part of the Foróige Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) programme this year. The winner will be determined by a competitive twenty minute Elevator Pitch to the judging panel.
The NFTE programme empowers young people who need additional supports in their lives to develop core skills in business and enterprise to help them unlock their individual talents and potential. The cutting edge, world recognised programme has shown to be successful in increasing school completion and college attendance rates.
Overall 390 businesses with a combined turnover of €250,000 participated in the programme this year. Over 10,000 young people have participated in the programme since its inception in 2004. The programme operates in a variety of settings including schools and youth services.
Sean Campbell, Chief Executive, Foróige said, “The programme empowers Ireland’s next generation of entrepreneurs and gives them the skills to understand, participate and succeed in business. The young entrepreneurs chosen to compete in the final today are fearless when it comes to making things happen. They are creative, assertive, idea generators that have their fingers on the pulse and have a steely determination to succeed. Their entrepreneurial passion is unquenchable and I have no doubt that many will go on to run successful businesses in their future lives.”
Businesses/products developed by the seven finalists include Organic Face Masks, tech products to prevent phone chargers and earphones from breaking, handmade chocolate confectionery, memory foam crutch covers to prevent hand pain when using crutches,next generation desk organisers, good morning mugs with inspirational quotes, an uplifting book for people battling cancer called ‘When Life Gives you Lemons….’. (Full details of each finalist below).
The judging panel includes Stephen Vernon, M.D., Green Properties; Laura Lunch, Head of Youth Banking, Bank of Ireland; Ed Walsh, Director, Drug Product Development, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Judging Panel Chair, John Cahill, Assistant Chief Executive, Foróige.
For further information
Maria Whitmore
Gordon MRM
maria@gordonmrm.ie