Derry Credit Union - Business and Entrepreneurship Award 2024

PICTURED ABOVE: Seated, from left, are Amanda Johnson, special guest, Ethan Diamond, winner of the Business and Entrepreneurship Award, and Sarah Doherty. Standing from left, Alannah Deeney, Katie O’Neill, John Akhionbare, Ava Foley and Lucy McCaul. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

The Derry Credit Union Young People’s Awards took place on Monday, 25th March, in the City Hotel.

The awards scheme, now in its 19th year, recognizes the outstanding work, accomplishments, courage, and generosity of our local young people. It is open to all aged from 11 through 18 who live or attend school in the BT47 and BT48 post code areas.

This year, 90 nominations were received from 10 post-primary schools, sporting teams, family, and friends. 17 individuals and 7 groups were recognized as runners-up or winners across 8 award categories.

Congratulations to all the nominees, runners-up, and winners.

IN PICTURES: Celebrations at Derry Credit Union Young People’s Awards

Well done to the Derry Credit Union Youth Committee for their superb hosting skills. And thank you to all the nominators without whom the awards could not take place.

Business and Entrepreneurship Award Winner – Ethan Diamond

Business & Entrepreneurship Award winner Ethan Diamond started his own garden maintenance business in 2022, choosing the neighbouring properties as his target customers. A wise businessman, he reinvested his profits in improved equipment.

In 2023 he launched a Facebook page to promote his business and increase his customer base. He produced flyers and commissioned a custom uniform to enhance its corporate image.

Demand for his services increased to the point that has now hired two friends to help him. And his ambitions do not end here. He is currently completing market research for plans to branch into the Golfing sector.

For his commitment to building on success, expanding his business to include two friends, and refusing to accept anything other than perfection, Ethan is the winner of this year’s Business & Entrepreneurship Award.

Business and Entrepreneurship Award Runner-Up – Ava Foley

Business & Entrepreneurship Award Runner-up Ava Foley was recognised for her baking business ‘Avas Bakes’ grew out of her passion for baking. Although Ava is self-taught, her high standard would make her a worthy competitor on the Bake Off. She designed her label and logo and promotes her business in her Instagram page.

Ava keeps a customer database, tracks her costs, and keeps separate cash totals for costs and another one for profit.

She does all of this while studying full-time - taking GCSE's this year - at Thornhill. She is a very focused and driven young businesswoman who is committed to her craft and strives to produce the best product for her customers.

Business and Entrepreneurship Award Runners-Up – St Mary’s YENI Group

The St Mary's Young Enterprise Company created their company Simply Tote which produced Positive Affirmation Tote Bags. They ordered sustainably sourced tote bags, and heat pressed their logo and bespoke design onto them. The bags were sold at lunchtimes.

At January’s Young Enterprise Company Trade Fair, they won 'Best Instagram' and 'Best Social Media'. They are now awaiting the results of the 'Best Company'.

Just as impressive as their business skills is the way in which a group of girls who had not worked together before bonded and worked as a team to produce a popular product. For these reasons, the St Mary’s College Young Enterprise Group was a runner-up tonight for the Business & Entrepreneurship Award.