PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, 15th February 2011

New Competition to Encourage the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

- €1,000 prize fund and Apple iPads up for grabs -

A new competition aimed at introducing entrepreneurship to young people was launched today (15.02.11) by Sean Gallagher, one of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs and a judge on the ‘Dragons’ Den’ television show.

‘Generation Next’ is a competition for third-level students, developed by the South-East Regional Authority (SERA) and supported by the nationwide network of County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs).

For the competition, third-level students are invited to submit ideas on how to introduce entrepreneurship as a subject in primary-school classrooms.  A prize fund of €1,000 and a number of Apple iPads are up for grabs for winning entries.

Cllr. John Cummins, Cathaoirleach of the SERA, said the competition is seeking creative entries from third-level students throughout Ireland, with a view to eventually implementing winning ideas in primary-school classrooms.

“We’re looking for innovative, creative entries from third-level students – ideas that would encourage primary-school children to start thinking about what it means to be an entrepreneur, and help them begin to develop the skills-set needed to set up an enterprise or business,” he said.

“‘Generation Next’ should be of interest to a wide range of students – in addition to those studying enterprise and education, it also offers students of disciplines such as digital media, art and communications an opportunity to submit their ideas and possibly see them implemented in classrooms throughout Ireland.   Entries can be based around the idea of a website, for example, or a series of animated drawings, or even a toolkit with games and role-plays for primary-school children, focusing on enterprise education.

“We have great prizes up for grabs; we’ve developed a judging panel that includes high-profile businesspeople; and we have Sean Gallagher – one of the country’s best-known entrepreneurs – as our competition ambassador.  So we’re looking forward to receiving a high level of entries and, over the coming weeks, we’ll be travelling to colleges throughout Ireland to meet students and encourage them to enter ‘Generation Next’.”

Speaking at today’s event, Sean Gallagher said: “This is a great initiative to get young people – both students at third level and children in primary schools – more interested in, and aware of, the role of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Irish society.  I have no doubt that this competition will help encourage the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs and help them develop Ireland’s future business successes.”

Students now have seven weeks to come up with ideas for ‘Generation Next’: the deadline for receipt of entries is Friday, 8th April 2011.   The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in late April 2011.  Further information and full guidelines are available at www.generationnext.ie.

ENDS