Arvalee ‘Bizzy Bees’ reach young enterprise finals

BUDDING young businessmen and women at Arvalee school and Resource Centre have made it through to the finals of the Northern Ireland Young Enterprise Awards.

The 13 pupils created their own business ‘Bizzy Bees’ building picnic tables and bird boxes, travelling to craft fairs to sell their produce.

They even sold shares in the business within the school community to get the business off the ground to purchase the supplies. Recognising their entrepreneurial skills, Arvalee’s Bizzy Bees won every category possible at the ‘Your Future in Business’ Gala Graduation, at the Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena, having staved off the challenge of over 100 other student companies.

Bizzy Bees was named both Team Programme winner and

Team Programme Best presen- tation. In addition, Arvalee also was named as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ with Kevin Douch receiving the Team Pro- gramme Outstanding Individ- ual Award.

The awards are a culmination of a year long programme which encourages students who are still at school to develop a business plan, set up their business, raise share capital, develop, produce and market their product or service and manage company accounts.

Dr Nicholas O’Shiel, director of Omagh Enterprise Company, recently visited the school to present the pupils with their award. Arvalee School will now proceed to the Young Enterprise NI Final to be held at Titanic Belfast next Thursday, when the Northern Ireland overall winners will be announced.

The school’s proud principal, Jonathon Gray, said their success is reward for the hard work and endeavours of the pupils since September when they officially set-up the young enterprise company.

Mr Gray said, “They called themselves Bizzy Bees and they have certainly been busy and worked extremely hard under the direction of John Dil- lon, Patricia Higgonbotham and Pamela Adams who have been the main staff involved in the young enterprise project.

“The pupils sold shares to purchase the required supplies to create their produce and sold them at various trade fairs and the open day in the school. They made a variety of craft items as well as the picnic tables and bird boxes and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“They have also made some items from the school and this recognition at the regional awards where they won every prize the could possibly win was fully deserved. They are know all really looking forward to going to the Titanic building for the black tie finals next week and are getting their dresses and suits ready.”

BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

• Team Programme winner – ‘Bizzy Bees’ Arvalee School.

• Team Programme Best presentation – ‘Bizzy Bees’ Arvalee School.

• Team Programme Outstanding Individual Award – Kevin Douch, Arvalee School.

• Company Programme winner (sponsored by Omagh Enterprise Company) – ‘Panache Co’ – Loreto Grammar School.

• Company Programme Innovation Award – ‘Sweetfit’ Christian Brothers Grammar School.

• Company Programme Marketing Award (Sponsored by Rutledge Recruitment) – ‘Panache Co’ – Loreto Grammar School.

Source: ulsterherald.com