21 May 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
This year’s Transition Year Business Projects Awards were announced at a prize-giving ceremony in the Aula Maxima, University College Cork at 5pm today. The Transition Year Business Project Awards is an initiative of the College of Business and Law, UCC and Cork Chamber and are kindly sponsored by BNY Mellon, a global investments company and major employer in Cork. Now in its eight consecutive year, the 2015 competition received 19 entries from counties as diverse as Galway, Tipperary, Carlow and Cork.
The awards aim to foster entrepreneurialism in students by encouraging them to develop collaborative, business related projects with their peers and write about their experience of their Mini Company or School Bank. By encouraging and fostering interest in business and entrepreneurial activities in Transition Year, it is hoped that students will be encouraged to pursue business courses at degree level and subsequently develop careers in business and entrepreneurship.
This year’s competition paid tribute to George Boole whose bicentenary is being celebrated this year. Boole was the first Professor of Mathematics at University College Cork and is described as the ‘fore father of the information age’. Students participating in this year’s competition were required to demonstrate creative and original ideas in the development of their business or bank, highlighting how their experience mirrored George Boole’s entrepreneurial ability and creative genius.
The 2015 winners are:
· 1st Place: “Changes“, Bishopstown Community School, Cork.
· 2nd Place: “Cúpla Úlla”, Nagle Rice Secondary School, Doneraile, Co. Cork.
· 3rd Place: “School of Sound”, Tullow Community School, Tullow, Co. Carlow.
Commenting on the awards Cork Chamber President Barrie O’Connell said, “The Chamber is delighted to once again have the opportunity to support this excellent initiative in conjunction with main sponsors BNY Mellon and partners University College Cork. As the national and regional economy continues to improve it is critical that industry and academia join forces through projects like the TY Awards to encourage and cultivate business and entrepreneurship skills in young students who will be the drivers of future innovation and economic development. We hope this year’s competition will stimulate further interest in entrepreneurship and encourage students to consider studies in a business related discipline at third-level.”
Eoin Motherway, Head of Ireland Fund Accounting with BNY Mellon said “The quality of entries in this year’s competition was very impressive. The imagination, creativity and overall familiarity of business, accounting, marketing and presentation skills by all teams was remarkable. The winners are all well deserving recipients, having displayed innovative and creative approaches to creating and providing products and services. Understanding the target market of their respective products through smart research coupled with solid business planning was very apparent in the winning submissions.”
Heather Crowley-Kerr, General Manager of the BNY Mellon Cork Office continued, “BNY Mellon is delighted to continue to be associated with this thoroughly positive initiative. It resonates with our focus on innovation and our company values of Client Focus, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence. We welcome the opportunity to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the next generation of business leaders. ”
Anne Wallace, Student Recruitment and Liaison Officer with the College of Business and Law stated, “This competition allows students to explore current business issues and the university environment in an innovative way. On the bicentenary of George Boole it is exceptionally rewarding to see the ingenuity displayed in the projects which is reflective of the creative genius of George Boole. The sponsorship of BNY Mellon is instrumental to the continued success of this initiative. I am also very grateful to Cork Chamber, the College of Business and Law, UCC and Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland Ltd for their continued support.”