UK and Ireland’s largest fresh produce company, Total Produce, went back to school last week to share some handy business tips with Ireland’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
Total Produce employees attended Réalt na Mara National School in Dundalk, to take part in the Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) Junior Dragon Den workshop.
JAI is an initiative that brings professionals from successful Irish businesses into local schools to teach basic skills to students and act as role models for budding entrepreneurs.
Established in Ireland in 1996, JAI is part of a worldwide organisation bringing entrepreneurship education to over 10 million young people each year.
Vincent Dolan, Miriam Williams, Una McCoy, Claire Roddy and Shane O’Reilly held the workshop helping students embark on the beginnings of an entrepreneurial journey, listening to business pitches from students.
Dolan said: “Everyone from Total Produce thoroughly enjoyed the workshop; the energy and enthusiasm of the children was infectious while the creativity they brought to developing their new product ideas was genuinely inspiring.”
Mrs Crory, Réalt na Mara National School said: “A huge thank you from myself and the class to the mentors from Total Produce. The children thoroughly enjoyed workshop, they learned so much from it, it was a fantastic experience for them.”
Patricia Friel, JAI added: “We are delighted to partner with Total Produce and Réalt na Mara National School. It is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn the basics of entrepreneurship and develop their own business ideas with the support of business mentor from their local community.”
“The Total Produce mentors have shared their own real life experiences with the students and inspired and motivated them to become future entrepreneurs in the making. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to pitch their ideas to business professionals for the first time.”
