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18/11/2008
Foster Backs 'Big Ideas'
A competition aimed at encouraging a greater culture of enterprise and innovation through the development of creative business proposals has received an official welcome.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated the participants in 'The Big Idea!' business competition.
Pictured here at the final with two of the winners and celebrity television presenter and singer, Myleene Klass who hosted the ceremony, the Minister commended all participants for their demonstration of strong entrepreneurial talents.
Arlene Foster said: "An even more competitive and export focused economy in Northern Ireland can be achieved by a higher number of people developing creative business ideas, and our young people have the commercial acumen required to do that.
"The winners of 'The Big Idea!' competition have demonstrated their vast inventiveness, and it is vital that our business leaders of the future have the necessary support to nurture their talents and realise their full potential.
"Through Invest NI and its enterprise partners, young entrepreneurs have access to a range of mentoring advice and financial help to bring their business concepts to fruition and sell their products and services outside Northern Ireland.
"Growing a modern, dynamic and sustainable economy is a top priority in the Northern Ireland Executive's Programme for Government and the establishment of more small to medium sized enterprises, led by today's younger generation, is key to achieving this objective."
It was funded by Invest Northern Ireland, the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning, and the regional stages were delivered by Advantage and other enterprise partners.
Winning business ideas included a new film festival, the expansion of a music enterprise and an ecological waste paper disposal system.
The winning teams were Portstewart Primary School; Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Newry; South West College, Omagh; University of Ulster, Belfast; and Music Theatre 4 Youth, a social enterprise based in Belfast.
The winners of the post-primary category won a trip to the New York Stock Exchange, sponsored by NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions, the innovative commercial technology division of NYSE Euronext.
(BMcC)
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated the participants in 'The Big Idea!' business competition.
Pictured here at the final with two of the winners and celebrity television presenter and singer, Myleene Klass who hosted the ceremony, the Minister commended all participants for their demonstration of strong entrepreneurial talents.
Arlene Foster said: "An even more competitive and export focused economy in Northern Ireland can be achieved by a higher number of people developing creative business ideas, and our young people have the commercial acumen required to do that.
"The winners of 'The Big Idea!' competition have demonstrated their vast inventiveness, and it is vital that our business leaders of the future have the necessary support to nurture their talents and realise their full potential.
"Through Invest NI and its enterprise partners, young entrepreneurs have access to a range of mentoring advice and financial help to bring their business concepts to fruition and sell their products and services outside Northern Ireland.
"Growing a modern, dynamic and sustainable economy is a top priority in the Northern Ireland Executive's Programme for Government and the establishment of more small to medium sized enterprises, led by today's younger generation, is key to achieving this objective."
It was funded by Invest Northern Ireland, the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning, and the regional stages were delivered by Advantage and other enterprise partners.
Winning business ideas included a new film festival, the expansion of a music enterprise and an ecological waste paper disposal system.
The winning teams were Portstewart Primary School; Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Newry; South West College, Omagh; University of Ulster, Belfast; and Music Theatre 4 Youth, a social enterprise based in Belfast.
The winners of the post-primary category won a trip to the New York Stock Exchange, sponsored by NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions, the innovative commercial technology division of NYSE Euronext.
(BMcC)
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