Businesses set up scholarships for student entrepreneurs

WITH the spiralling cost of university education a major concern for students, a number of Cork businesses have established university scholarships for budding student entrepreneurs.

Cork Taxi Co-Op, based near the Western Road campus, along with city centre hairdressers Salon 33 are providing scholarships of up to €1,500 per year to two lucky students.

The organisers of the scholarship drive, RD Marketing, are hopeful that over the next year another 12 local businesses will launch their own scholarships.

Up to 84 drivers with Cork Taxi Co-Op have contributed towards the scholarship project which will be given to the winner of a Bright Ideas competition being run by UCC’s Entrepreneurial and Social Society.

To date, up to 50 students have entered the competition.

Meanwhile, a Dragon’s Den-style event is to be held to decide the winner of the Salon 33 scholarship.

Cian Barrett of the Entrepreneurial and Social Society said, despite financial hardship, the mood among the society’s members was “resolutely upbeat”.

“There is a ‘can do’ attitude among them, a feeling that we can get out of the economic mess that we’re in. It would be great if the university and wider country could maximise this potential,” he said.

Students’ Union vice president Daithi Linnane said he wished more people could avail of such scholarships.

“Things are incredibly rough for students and we are expecting it to be worse next year when college registration fees go up to €2,000. There is a huge amount of people who are suffering as they are not entitled to the grant and their parents are experiencing financial problems. Demand for the hardship fund has skyrocketed,” he said.

“Financial difficulties are the most common query from students dropping in to us. It used to be academic support or mental health issues but it has all changed as people can’t find part-time jobs or even summer work to pay growing registration fees.

“For the few that get it, it will be fantastic. We wish more people could avail of an opportunity like this.”