Fair Play among six student companies from across Northern Ireland vying to be ‘Company of the Year’ at Belfast City Hall ceremony
Fair Play from Strathearn Grammar is among six student-powered ‘companies’ from schools across Northern Ireland to have reached the final stage in this year’s Young Enterprise NI awards – YEA26.
The company won their respective regional competition and pitched their business ideas to an esteemed panel of judges and in front of an audience at Queen’s University Belfast Business School earlier this month.
They’ll now be hoping their business idea and entrepreneurial approach secure the top award at the ceremony in Belfast City Hall in April.
Fair Play is a fun and interactive memory game designed to entertain players while encouraging. concentration and problem-solving skills. The team from Strathearn impressed the judges not only with their product, Fair Play, but with their commitment to innovation. Since starting the project in September, the students have managed everything from prototype design to local market research, gaining invaluable real-world experience.
Young Enterprise NI chief executive, Carol Fitzsimons MBE, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to reveal this year’s shortlist and to celebrate the exceptional standard of talent, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking shown by students from right across Northern Ireland.
“This year’s finalists have demonstrated real innovation, teamwork and determination in developing products and ideas with genuine commercial potential. Supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs is vital to the future strength of our economy, and the Young Enterprise NI awards play an important role in helping young people build the confidence, skills and ambition they need to succeed.
“We are hugely grateful to the many businesses and partners who continue to support our work and make opportunities like this possible. Congratulations to every student who took part, and especially to our finalists as they prepare for this year’s awards.”
Principal of Strathearn School Nicola Connery said:
“Being recognised as a finalist in the Young Enterprise NI awards is a fantastic achievement for our students. Through Fair Play, they have shown real creativity, teamwork and determination, while developing a product that is both engaging and thoughtfully designed. We are incredibly proud of the way they have embraced the challenge and represented Strathearn School with such confidence and professionalism.”
Northern Ireland’s leading enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise NI is dedicated to inspiring and educating local young people about the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Queen’s University Belfast is the lead educational partner for Young Enterprise NI’s flagship company programme.
Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast at Queen’s University Belfast, added:
“At Queen’s University Belfast, we are proud to support an initiative that gives young people the opportunity to develop these skills and build their confidence. Activities like
this play an important role in nurturing early entrepreneurial ambition, encouraging students to think creatively, solve problems and take their ideas further.
“It is hugely encouraging to see so many young people already demonstrating the qualities of the next generation of business leaders, and we are delighted to be part of helping them on that journey.”
This year’s judging panel included Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive at Young Enterprise, Adam Ewart, Founder and CEO at Send My Bag, Judith Totten MBE, Founder and CEO at Upstream ABL, Julie McCandless, Professor of Practice Organisation, Work and Leadership at Queen’s University Belfast, Vera McWilliam, Trustee Director at Institute of Export Foundation, Donna Parker, Managing Director – NI Network at Staffline and Lorna McAdoo, Head of ESG at Version 1.
The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in Belfast City Hall in April.
Last year, students from Omagh Academy won Company of the Year with their company, Minted Minds, which tackled entrepreneurial skill development and business management, with a financial management book for children.
For information on Young Enterprise NI and how you can help its vital work, visit www.yeni.co.uk.
