Write a commentPupils from Newry High School, St Colman's College, St Paul's High School and St Mark's High School were just some of 270 pupils from 10 local schools to have taken part in the southern heat of this year’s Step ‘N’ Zones competition.
The Competition organised by Invest Northern Ireland as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014 (17–24 November), Step ‘N’ Zones is a series of events across Northern Ireland designed to inspire young people to be entrepreneurs.
The competition is aimed at students aged 11–14 (Key Stage 3) and challenges them to develop a business idea during a 2.5 hour session.
Sharon Polson of Invest NI’s Enterprise and Employment Team said: “This is the fourth year we have run this competition as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week and yet again we have been very impressed by the enthusiasm of all the students who took part.
“Entrepreneurship is vital to the future of our economy so it is important that we inspire our young people and provide them with the knowledge and confidence they need to pursue their ambition. The Step ‘N’ Zones competition is a great way to introduce young people to the idea of entrepreneurship and to help them develop skills such as communication, negotiation and problem solving.”
To help them with the process, the students pass through four Step ‘N’ Zones (Ideas & Research, Brand & Customers, Resources & Finance and Our Business) where they get expert guidance. The zones are facilitated by W5, YENI, Advantage NI, Sentinus and HDB Deign.
Following the event the students can further develop their idea before finally submitting it online in December. Up for grabs are cash prizes of up to £1000 for the winning school and up to £100 in high street vouchers for each member of the winning team.
One group from each local event will be shortlisted to compete in a final Northern Ireland-wide event on Friday 23 January 2015.
The local heat of the competition was held in the Armagh City Hotel, Armagh yesterday.
Participating schools
St. Colman's College, Newry
Newry High School
St. Paul's High School, Bessbrook
St. Mark's High School, Warrenpoint
St. Patrick's College, Dungannon
St. Mary's High School, Lurgan
St. Louis' Grammar School, Kilkeel
The Royal School Armagh
St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon
The Royal School Dungannon
