Student Samantha ready to display business skills

Student Samantha ready to display business skills

16 August 2023

BALLYNAHINCH student Samantha Brown is gearing up to show off her business skills in a nationwide competition.

The Side Hustle Initiative provides young people aged between 13 and 18, who either already have a side business or who have a business idea they want to launch, the platform to show off their business and turn their ideas into reality.

The best competitors have a chance of winning a share of a £10,000 prize pot to help grow their expanding businesses. 

Samantha, who is Level 3 Technical Diploma in Art and Design student at the South Eastern Regional College,, is competing in the competition with her creative art and design business.

Available on Etsy, she designs and handcrafts a unique range of products and artwork, including quirky clay earrings, crocheted plushies, artistic tee-shirts, paintings and holiday-themed items. 

The teenager was selected to progress to the second stage of the competition for being one of the top 100 entrants, with a chance of reaching the final.

"I am extremely grateful to have been shortlisted in The Side Hustle Initiative competition, as it will not only help me expand my business but will allow me to show new people my ideas and creativity,” said the delighted teenager.

“The fact that I've got so far from starting my business last October to now is incredible and I'm very excited for the future."

As a member of the Virtual Entrepreneurs Club at the further education college, Samantha has access to daily updates on funding and competition 

opportunities, which is where she discovered the Side Hustle Initiative and decided to compete. 

In addition, she has also taken part in one-to-one mentoring programmes available to Virtual Entrepreneurs Club members. 

"My personal experience working with the SERC Enterprise team has been amazing,” she continued.

“They have really allowed me to take creative liberty, but also taught me some important business techniques and advice. Overall, I would fully recommend anyone who has a business idea to reach out and get mentored as it has helped me a lot.”

Samantha is hoping local people will vote for her before the closing date this Friday to progress to the Dragon’s Den style final in London. To vote for her visit www.yourgameplan.co.uk/shi-vote/#Strawberry-Art-Pie