St Mary’s PS Students turn idea into business

‘It’s My Business’ Junior Achievement Programme delivered by local AIB volunteer.

During June, fourth class students from St Mary’s Primary School, Mullingar, learned at first-hand what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur during the Junior Achievement ‘It’s My Business’ programme sponsored by AIB.

AIB volunteer, Fiona Dunning, head of Customer and Community team, AIB, visited St Mary’s over five weeks and helped the students identify their own entrepreneurial characteristics.

Encouraged by their AIB volunteer and working alongside their teacher, the students formed teams to generate business ideas, practise innovating and conducted market research to develop a business start-up.

All their work culminated in an opportunity to pitch their new business to potential “investors”.

On completion of the programme, students got the opportunity to visit the AIB Mullingar branch to see first-hand how the branch is run and learn about the various jobs in the bank.

Students generated innovative business ideas including the ‘IPillow’ an innovative pillow with built in alarm clock, a new app for shopping that takes into account your allergies allowing you to scan a product, customised runners that can be adapted to whatever sport you are playing and a barber’s chair for your home that has a built in hair cutting helmet with scissors – pop your head in and your will get an automatic cut!

The excitement for the St Mary’s students during their visit to the AIB branch was immense as they took turns and presented their ideas to the panel from AIB.

The potential investors heard some fantastic ideas and were most impressed with the way the students were so passionate about their business ideas. The Q&As which followed each presentation were fantastic and investors quizzed the young entrepreneurs about their businesses.

The teams handled the negotiations brilliantly ensuring they were given plenty of seed funding.

While having a great deal of fun, the students also got some invaluable practice in making a presentation, negotiating and demonstrated that they had acquired the fundamental business concepts having completed the programme.

Over five modules, students aged nine to 10, learned the steps involved in launching a business. Through identifying their own entrepreneurial characteristics, they worked in teams to develop business ideas, innovation, and market research to develop a business start-up, culminating with an opportunity to pitch their new business to potential ‘investors’.

It’s My Business, is now in its second year, and will enable more than 6,000 students in 250 classrooms schools nationwide to acquire and practice key entrepreneurial skills such as team-working, adaptability and critical decision-making, which are identified as fundamental to future success.

Bernie McVeigh, principal at St Mary’s, said: “The Junior Achievement It’s my Business programme was a really fun way for the students to benefit from business knowledge and meet people working in their local business community. The programme was aligned closely with the curriculum and the content matched the real world of business.

“The students enjoyed having their AIB volunteer Fiona Dunning visit them in the classroom weekly and take them through the modules. The final event where they got to participate in a Dragons’ Den style event with Fiona’s colleagues from the AIB branch in Mullingar was an amazing opportunity for them. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to participate.”

Ms Dunning, said: “I really enjoyed delivering this programme to the fourth class pupils in Scoil Mhuire. The students really embraced each of the five modules and enjoyed learning about key business processes and entrepreneurs.

“The pupils, with the support of their teacher, Alan McGuinness, were thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver their newly developed business ideas and initiatives on site at AIB Mullingar to branch manager Miles Gillespie and his team.

“The ideas were well received on the day and each student was rewarded with a certificate of achievement. AIB is committed to the communities we operate in and events like today are an important part of that commitment.”

CEO of Junior Achievement Ireland, Helen Raftery, adde: “Educators refer to school communities (not just schools) because the involvement of families and the wider community is inherent to the achievement of positive educational outcomes for all children. Students who have adult involvement in their schooling generally have better grades, better attendance, and higher graduation rates.

“Getting the opportunity to work with positive role models from the world of work makes a significant impact on young people. Our 25+ years of industry-education collaboration with organisations like AIB has had a direct positive impact on the lives of nearly 1,000,000 young people in Ireland and we are grateful to all our partners in business and education for their willingness to work with us to ensure students can enjoy the benefits of being involved in JA educational programmes.”

Junior Achievement programmes delivered by business volunteers support the Department of Education’s action plan, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS).