Enterprising students secure funding to develop business idea

Entrepreneurial students from SERC have been successful in securing funding to help develop their business idea after presenting to a panel of experts in a Dragon Den style event.

Students Daniel McClements and James Coffey from Newtownards secured £1,000 of funding from Seafish NI and the NI Fisherman’s Safety Group to help develop their innovative fishing trawler safety device.

The students, along with their chief mentor and tutor Kelvin McGreeghan pitched their idea to a panel of experts where they explained their business concept and the challenges they are currently facing.

The panel were impressed with the entrepreneurial talent of the students and didn’t hesitate to make them an offer to support their idea. The funding will be used to develop a working prototype which will then be tested.

The presentation was made possible thanks to the University of the Third Age (U3A) who are also providing expert mentoring the students. This is the first time U3A have provided mentoring in this capacity.

Harry Wick from the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation said “The presentation was excellent, and we are delighted to be able to help in the development of a prototype. The students demonstrated a tremendous amount of entrepreneurial talent, displayed professionalism throughout the presentation and have developed an idea with real commercial viability. The innovative business idea sparked a real interest and we see great potential in it.”

Kieran McKenna SERC enterprise manager, said: “SERC is committed to providing every student with the opportunity to improve their employability skills. In an increasingly challenging job market this has never been more essential. I congratulate the students on securing this funding and we are looking forward to the next phase of the concept. The students’ futures look bright and we are delighted to be able to support them along the way.”

Students Daniel McClements said “We are delighted to have secured this funding which will, when developed, improve safety on small fishing vessels. Our inspiration came from our ancestors who have fished the Irish Sea for hundreds of years.”

Adrianne Brown from U3A said “We were extremely impressed by the quality of the work and the enthusiasm of the students and are delighted to be supporting them as they develop their idea.”

Tutor Kelvin McGreeghan said: “The students used their personal experience to conjure a viable product idea.  enterprise competition was an excellent opportunity for the students to gain recognition for their business skills. The students have worked extremely hard all term perfecting their idea and I am delighted that it has all paid off for them."

The Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Safety Forum aims to highlight the importance of fishermen's health and safety as well as develop industry-led initiatives and projects that address the most significant causes of fishing-related loss of life and accidents amongst the Northern Irish fleet.