'Popping' win Young Enterprise Company of the year
The top award was awarded to the company at this years Young Enterprise event at Belfast City Hall.
The winning company, 'Popping' from Banbridge academy, scooped the top prize at this years prestigious black tie event in Belfast City Hall.
It recongised the hard work and dedication from students across Northern Ireland who completed the Young Enterprise Company Programme this year.
With support from professional services firm EY, Ulster University Business School, FSB, Home Care Independent living, Mallusk Enterprise Park and Cool FM, the leading education and enterprise charity, Young Enterprise NI, staged its annual awards ceremony.
'Popping' will go on to represent Northern Ireland in the Young Enterprise UK Finals at County Hall, London in July.
Young Enterprise NI Chief Executive Carol Fitzsimons MBE said: "Over 90,000 young people across Northern Ireland participate in our Programmes each year and this is the pinnacle event.
"The Company Programme gives young people the chance to run their own business over the academic year with guidance from a business volunteer, sell their products at trade fairs and compete with other schools. The process to get to this stage involved a daunting pitch and interview at Invest NI’s Headquarters in Belfast facing a panel of some of Northern Ireland’s top business moguls.
Derek Baker, Permanent Secretary for the Department of Education, said: “My Department is pleased to support Young Enterprise Northern Ireland and the Company Programme has provided the opportunity for school children to develop new entrepreneurial skills, work with local businesses and ultimately prepare them for their future career paths. I want to congratulate the students who have completed this year’s Programme and to wish the winning company good luck in the upcoming finals in July.”
Professor Mark Durkin, Executive Dean of Ulster University Business School, commented: “Ulster University Business School is delighted to support Young Enterprise. Experiencing how businesses actually work through the YE programme is an invaluable way of encouraging more young people to actively pursue a business career and ultimately contribute to creating a more entrepreneurial economy within Northern Ireland.
"Our vision is to be the leading centre for entrepreneurial education in the UK and Ireland by 2021. The young people who have completed this YE programme will now have had a taste of the excitement which business success brings and we look forward to them becoming part of our entrepreneurial vision for opportunity creation across Northern Ireland and globally through our 60,000 strong alumni network.”
The Young Enterprise Company Programme runs every year in schools across Northern Ireland, allowing students to develop their entrepreneurial skills whilst connecting with local businesses. If you would like to get involved contact Young Enterprise at info@yeni.co.uk or on 028 9032 7003.