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Students of Loreto, Fermoy, who took part in the business ‘bootcamp’ organised by North Cork Enterprise Board which was held in Mallow last week. Photo: Michael McGrath

Some 350 second level students from all over north Cork were put through their paces at a new ‘Business Bootcamp’ style event held at the Mallow GAA Complex last week.

The event was part of the north Cork Schools Enterprise Programme, which encourages students to set up and run a business over the course of the academic year to help them learn about entrepreneurship.

Some of Cork’s most successful business figures and entrepreneurs attended the event in a voluntary capacity to offer advice and guidance to students on running their mini-companies.

Student mini-company teams were given an opportunity for a series of 10 minute question-and-answer sessions with each business mentor so they could learn key lessons in the following areas of business such as understanding customers and how to give them what they want, using social media to promote business and win customers, costing products and services, successful selling, event management and PR, marketing and product development.

Mentors gave the benefit of their own experience and hands-on advice to the students and got them thinking hard about what it takes to be a success in business today.

The mentors who took part were Maurice O’Keeffe, AIB, Damien Mulley, Mulley Communications, Brian Cahill, Programme Manager, Mallow Systems Innovation Centre (MSIC),
Geraldine O’Brien, Subway Mallow,
Cathy Fitzgibbon, Cork Independent,
Aoibhinn Twomey, Springboard PR,
Barry Murphy, NBC Computers,
Stephanie Lynch, On the Qt.ie,
Dan Murphy, Dan Murphy Life and Pensions,
Natasha Lynch, Essential French,
Jerome O’Sullivan, Bank of Ireland,
Jackie Gowran, Business Mentor and Trainer, Aoife Rigney, Digital Marketing and Social Media,
Donal Murphy, Donlouco Engineering,
Cllr. Dan Joe Fitzgerald and Joan Kelleher, North Cork Enterprise Board.

Speaking at the event, Co-Ordinator of the North Cork Schools Enterprise Programme, Yvonne O’Neill said: "We are really delighted with the huge turnout at today’s event. We have almost 350 students from 36 student businesses from all over north Cork brainstorming and networking with some of Cork’s most successful business people and entrepreneurs. There was an exhilarating atmosphere in the room here today, plenty of positivity and energy coming from our students, who are really enjoying the experience of being first time entrepreneurs!"

The next event in the north Cork Schools Enterprise calendar is the Christmas Trade Fair which takes place on December 12 at the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co Cork. Students will set up stands and put their products and services on display to the public.

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