The 1999-2000 Transition Year Mini-Company was called Web Tec, made up of five Functional Directors and their assistants. They came up with the brilliant idea of disigning web sites. They had three web sites under construction. One was a site based on the town of Monasterevin, another formed the basis of the web site of the school and the third was their own site Web Tec.

They have been very succesfull: they won the Young Enterprise Ireland Best Company Report 2000, which was sponsored by Kildare County Enterprise Board.

Written By: Barry Walshe.

For us it was our first foray in the high-flying world of business, in other words it was learning by doing in our transition year business module. We chose the name ‘Nifty Crafts’ for our mini-company and were interviewed for director positions. There then followed a most hectic, stressful and fun year as we made and marketed our products.

Time flew and soon it was time to wind-up the company and submit the final report to the Kildare area board to be judged. This was to consist of a written report and a presentation at our local trade-fare at the Ambassador Hotel. So we set off laden down with boxes of products and making last minute changes to our speeches. When we arrived it was obvious that we would triumph over all opposition except for nemesis the ‘Fairy Friends’, who would follow us to the National Finals via ‘the back door’. The funny thing is that I wasn’t there when they announced the winner, I was auditioning for the television gameshow ‘Gridlock’, there I failed , so it was an anxious few hours until we heard the good news; we had won against all odds; we were going to the National Finals!!!

So in late May we found ourselves giving up a portion of our school holidays and setting off for Dublin. In true executive style we had rooms in Jury’s Hotel, Balsbridge. In contrast to other mini-companies which were represented by the directors only, we decided that we all had a part to play in the success of the company so we should all be allowed go, and we did. Catriona Ahern, Raymond McNamara, Amanda Murray, Deirdre McArdle, Steven O’ Rourke, myself and all the others of the team all attended the awards. As I recall we all had a great time, at least everyone else did while I made last minute adjustments to my speech.

So in the exhibition hall we set out our stand and received wave after wave of judges and competitors. Then came the moment of truth!