St Catherine’s sitting cosy after winning top business award
Some of the members of the Cuddle me Cosy company, set up by pupils of St Catherine's College, Armagh. INPT02-010
A TEAM from St Catherine’s College in Armagh has won the award for Best Overall Company at a recent trade fair run by Young Enterprise.
The school’s company, Cuddle Me Cosy, consists of year 13 students Casey Campbell, Rachel Devlin, Aicha Jbara, Shannon Kelly, Shauneen Kelly, Susanna McQuade, Maeve O’Hagan and Lauren Pattison.
Their product, Fuillows, combines a top quality fleece blanket that folds into a cushion. A spokesperson for the school said, “Their product has met with great enthusiasm from customers, with many repeat orders being placed.”
The award for Best Marketing went to The Beech Company, Clounagh Junior High School; Mystery Shopper award to Picture Perfect, Southern Regional College, Portadown, and the Best Salesperson to James Donnelly, St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon.
St Patrick’s Academy also came runner-up in the Best Overall Company category with their company, Back to Basics.
Fifteen companies from nine schools pitched their stalls at The Outlet, Banbridge for the Company of the Year competition, with a wide range of products on sale, including Christmas crafts and gifts.
Judges from the local business community, including staff from The Outlet and Banbridge District Council, were on hand to evaluate each company, and this evaluation, along with the interviews the students will undergo to pitch their company, will help determine regional winners in May.
Chris Nelmes, centre manager of The Outlet, said, “The Outlet has been proud to support Young Enterprise’s Southern Region’s Christmas trade fair for three years now. The innovation and quality is incredible – some of the products on sale here today are worthy of high street chains.
“We are delighted to be able to encourage the next generation of young local business leaders, and would sincerely hope that we could be welcoming them back to The Outlet as future retailers.”
Under the programme, pupils set up and run a business to manufacture and sell products to learn about running a business first-hand. They elect a board of directors from among their peers, raise share capital, and market and finance a product or service of their own choice. At the end of the year they liquidate the company and present a report and accounts.
Cathy Morrison, senior development manager at Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, said, “Young Enterprise plants the seed for future enterprise, leading to job creation and sustainable business.”
The next trade fair will take place at Rushmere Shopping Centre in February.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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