NI Schools' Business Challenge

Two groups of our sixth form Business Studies students competed in the annual NI Schools' Business Challenge competition at Queen's University last week. The competitors tackled a real-life case study in conjunction with Henderson Group, presenting their findings to a panel of judges from Henderson Group, BDO and lecturers from Queen's University.

Both groups did exceptionally well and were unfortunate not to claim the top spot! Well done to all students and staff involved!

On Tuesday 17th February, myself and my teammates; Ailbhe, Amelia, Minnie and Belle, attended the NI Schools’ Business Challenge at Queen’s University Belfast, along with the other team (Ashley, Roisin, Eva, Robert and Niall) and Miss O’Boyle. It was a highly rewarding and enjoyable experience, giving us the opportunity to develop our analytical skills in preparation for our Business A-Level in the summer. We tackled a real-life case study on the well-known “Henderson Group” and presented our findings to a panel of judges. This consisted of board members from Henderson Group, BDO and senior lecturers from Queen’s University.

We broke down financial accounts, evaluated the groups social responsibility, emphasised the need for contingency planning and discussed the impact of the new upgraded fiscal policy. We came up with unique, creative suggestions for improvement and were successful in progressing to the final round. We presented in front of a room full of judges and peers, which was an achievement in itself.

Throughout the day, we were able to chat with partners, directors and staff from various backgrounds as well as peers from other schools in attendance, who we may encounter at University next year. We allowed our creativity to shine through and performed confidently - a testimony to our hard work and determination over the last 6 weeks, using endless free periods and lunch times for preparation.

Despite not achieving the result we had hoped for, the experience was incredibly worthwhile. It helped us develop our interpersonal skills and business knowledge while working as a team. I would highly encourage future business pupils to participate.

Dearbhla, Year 14