Ballymena Students Bank Generation Innovation Experience

 

Students at Dunclug College had the opportunity to put their entrepreneurial skills to the test as part of an immersive one day workshop delivered by Catalyst and Bank of Ireland UK.

Generation Innovation is a Catalyst programme designed to inform and upskill the young people to thrive as the next leaders and innovators. Part of the programme involves ‘Impact Days’ – one-day, fully immersive design thinking experiences, which empower students to identify a problem and work through different stages to create a solution and design a prototype.

With financial wellbeing identified as a key life skill, the students were set the challenge of looking at how to help young people make better financial decisions so they make informed choices and take charge of their own financial future.

Speaking about the programme, Generation Innovation programme manager Judith Camblin, Catalyst said: “We are passionate about developing the entrepreneurial eco-system across Northern Ireland and a vital part of that is helping young people to see that they are the innovators and entrepreneurs of the future.

“Our Impact Days show the young people taking part that they have the skills to succeed, further developing their ability to think creatively with a focus on end-user solutions, all of which they need for entrepreneurship and employment.”

The Dunclug College students were supported on the day by Bank of Ireland UK Senior Community Engagement Manager Shirleen McCann and Partner & Business Engagement Manager, Colin Crangle. The event was part of a wider partnership between Bank of Ireland UK and Catalyst designed to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship across Northern Ireland.

Dunclug College Principal Mr Oliver said: “It’s so important for students to have access to the wealth of opportunities and careers that are available to them and today’s session brought entrepreneurship to life at the same time as providing a practical insight into the skills that employers look for.

“I would like thank you both the Catalyst and Bank of Ireland UK teams for bringing the Generation Innovation Impact Day to our students. ”

To date more than 1,700 students across Northern Ireland have taken part in an Impact Day, with a further 4,300 students in more than 50 schools involved in smaller Generation Innovation workshops with Catalyst. Further detail on the programme is available at: Generation Innovation – Catalyst (wearecatalyst.org).

As a responsible and sustainable business, Bank of Ireland UK provides a range of supports to enable communities to thrive.  Further detail on Bank of Ireland UK’s support for youth financial wellbeing is available at: Youth Financial Wellbeing – Bank of Ireland UK.