Omagh students win major award for their new business

AN Omagh school who devised a business to teach children how to look after their money has won the top prize of an annual enterprise competition.

With their creative flair mixed with key information that young people need to make sound financial decisions, Omagh Academy’s ‘Minted Minds’ won ‘Company of the Year’ at Young Enterprise Northern Ireland’s annual awards, titled ‘YEA25’.

The students wowed judges by developing a financial management book for children to be chosen as overall winners from six student-powered ‘companies’ in the major award ceremony at Belfast City Hall.

Minted Minds, which also won the Export Award on the night, will now go forward to represent Northern Ireland at the Young Enterprise UK Company Final Awards, providing the chance to secure their place in the Young Enterprise European Company of the Year final in Athens later this year.

Northern Ireland’s leading enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise NI is dedicated to inspiring and educating local young people about the world of business and entrepreneurship.

Supported by many of the biggest names in the region’s business community, by providing fun, practical business experiences, the organisation empowers young people to develop critical skills such as teamwork, leadership and financial literacy. The annual awards are a key part of its work.

Lucy Rennie,managing director at Minted Minds, Omagh Academy, said that the group are ‘absolutely thrilled’ to win Company of the Year’.

“Creating Minted Minds has been such an exciting journey – we’ve learned so much about business,teamwork and ourselves,” she said.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are so excited to represent Northern Ireland at the UK finals.”

Young Enterprise NI chief executive, Carol Fitzsimons MBE, said that the competition has, once again, ‘demonstrated the talent, creativity and ambition of the North’s young people’.

“We are so proud of all the teams who took part, and particularly of Minted Minds, who developed a product with real purpose and commercial potential,” she said.

“All the teams are shining examples of what can be achieved when young people are given the opportunity to innovate and lead.”

Awards were also made to Beez Kneez, Bangor Academy & Sixth Form College as Runners-Up, while there were Special Recognition awards to Printed Petals, Strathearn School, Belfast, and Paws & Pieces, Larne High School.

This year’s judging panel included Young Enterprise alumni Adam Ewart,founder and chief executive of local award-winning baggage shipping company Send My Bag.

Congratulating Minted Minds, he said, “As a former Young Enterprise participant, I know first-hand how impactful this experience can be.

“The standard of entries this year was incredibly high, and Minted Minds really stood out with their thoughtful product, clear vision and professional delivery. They should be very proud.”