The Biz Factor will begin in Co Leitrim on 6 August, letting 12-13-year-olds develop business ideas in workshops and present them on YouTube.
It’s taking place at Allen Gaels Club House in Leitrim and will involve students from national schools in Longford, Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon.
Nine local entrepreneurs will mentor the students on the day, helping them come up with an idea within teams. They will then present a two-minute promotional video, which will be uploaded to YouTube. The video with the best response and the best individual idea will win prizes.
It was set up by IT consultant and business owner Eamon McGrenaghan, who describes it as “The Apprentice, Dragons’ Den and The X Factor all rolled into one.”
“The business entrepreneurs have agreed to voluntarily give up a day of their time to help on this project which I see as a pilot study for something which could be replicated throughout each county in Ireland in the coming years,” said McGrenaghan.
“When I was growing up, there wasn’t much in the line of exposure to being what an entrepreneur is all about. I now find myself as a self-employed business person and want to help the community by giving something back to 12-13-year-olds.”
