Sasha Griffin (front left) and Aisling McCauliffe (front right) with (Back left to right) Lauren Shine with Ella Louise Glynn, Niamh Horgan and Kimberly McCarthy, 6th class pupils from Presentation Primary School from Listowel, Co. Kerry who were crowned overall winners of the Bank of Ireland BIZ WORLD GRAND FINAL with their “Kool Kiddies Pack” at the grand final held in Athlone Institute of Technology.A primary school from Co Kerry has been crowned overall winners for their most original business idea in a Bank of Ireland competition for children. Presentation Primary in Listowel scooped the top prize in the BizWorld grand finale in which more than 40 primary school children from 10 schools nationwide took part. Their idea of a children’s activity pack to keep young children occupied called Kool Kiddie Packs first won the 'Most Original Business Idea' category. Over 8,300 children have participated in 277 workshops run by Bank of Ireland since September 2016.BizWorld by Bank of Ireland has seen over 1,385 new businesses created and started by primary school children over the past 9 months. The ten ideas that have reached the grand finale range from a farm clothing to a games app for children which encourages children to exercise."In addition to sowing the seeds of enterprise, creativity and money management, our Bank of Ireland BizWorld tutors facilitate primary school children learning important skills such as critical thinking, decision making, risk analysis, teamwork, active learning, entrepreneurship and leadership, whilst also having fun," Rory Carty, Head of Youth Banking, Bank of Ireland said. Fiona McKeon CEO of BizWorld said: "I never cease to be amazed by the quality of ideas from children, generated over only two days in a Primary classroom."
The 2017 Grand Finalists category winners were:
•Scoil Fhursa from Taylors Hill in Galway who won the award for Most Innovative Business idea for their project Safety Lines, reflective strips on cars to avoid.
•Knocktemple National School from Oldcastle in Meath who were crowned winners in the Best PowerPoint Presentation category for their business idea, Padded Power, A padded overcoat for farmers to provide protection against kicks to prevent injuries.
•St. Michael’s National School from Castlepollard in Westmeath who won the award for Best Business Jingle for their battery business idea, Pro Glow, a Battery and wire operated visual indicator located in the back of a high viz vest and gloves for cyclists to indicate whether they are turning left or right.
•Kil O’ The Grange Primary School from Blackrock in Dublin who were crowned winners in the Most Customer Focussed Business category for their cinema idea, CINE Tray, a tray with compartments for your cinema food that you can pre-order online and get your deposit back on return.
•Craughwell National School from Galway who won the Best Business TV ad category for their board game idea called Planet Protectors a board game to raise awareness of global warming.
•Sacred Heart National School from Huntstown in Dublin who were crowned winners in the Most Socially Conscious Business category for their Bits 'N' Books idea, a cost-effective way of equipping your child for school with 'just' the essentials they need rather than wasting money on unnecessary items that appear in usual packs.
•Scoil Iosaf from Newcastle West in Limerick who won Best Marketing Plan for their idea, Doggie Pause, a retractable lead that incorporates a treat, reflector, litter bags and container for water.
•Presentation Primary School from Listowel in Kerry who were crowned overall winners and winners in the Most Original Business Idea category for their idea of a children’s activity pack to keep young children occupied called Kool Kiddie Packs.
•Sacred Heart National School from Granard in Longford who won the Best Financial Plan award for their idea for a ball to promote the learning of Irish.
•Scoil Mhuire National School from Shankill in Dublin who were crowned winners of the Most Informative Q&A Session for their idea of a gaming app for children which incorporates exercise called Gecko Games.