Students learn steps to success

WE are all given the same number of 168 hours in the week and it is up to each of us to make the most of that time.

That was the message that Caheragh native and past pupil of St Fachtna’s in Skibbereen, Eoin Leonard, told a Student Enterprise conference for 300 transition year pupils from schools throughout the area. 

 The Steps to Success conference was hosted by the Local Enterprise Office for students undertaking the West Cork Schools Enterprise Programme which sees them set up and run their own mini enterprises. Schools in attendance at the conference in the Celtic Ross Hotel included Mount Saint Michael Rosscarbery, Skibbereen Community School, Beara Community School, Ardscoil Phobail Bantry, Maria Immaculata Secondary School, Dunmanway, Sacred Heart Clonakilty, Clonakilty Community College, Kinsale Community College and Coláiste na Toirbhirte Bandon. 

 Students were addressed by a diverse line-up of speakers including Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 finalist Eoin Leonard, i3PT (a technological innovation company who have made great strides in developing processes and software solutions which greatly reduce risk on major construction projects); Stephanie Tenier, Feltastik; Maurice Allshire, Rosscarbery Biltong; Aisling Reardon, Tastefinder and James Gale, Stamp Owl and Swift Fox Apps. 

Eoin told the students: ‘You don’t have to be academic to be successful and success shouldn’t just be about financial gain.’

Maurice Allshire told them to ‘find what you love to do and don’t get disheartened with knock-backs.’

Christine Heffernan, West Cork Enterprise Board added: ‘Events such as this bring students in to the real world where they are shown what real business people are doing to create a better future for themselves and others.’

Each of the 10 West Cork schools will compete with their mini enterprises in the regional finals next February where one team will be chosen to represent West Cork and their school for a place at the National Finals which will take place in Croke Park.