HSBC Youth Enterprise Awards attract increasing numbers of young Sri Lankans
View(s):Several Sri Lankan entrepreneurs have won the HSBC Youth Enterprise Awards after taking part in an entrepreneurship contest jointly organised by the British Council and the HSBC. The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the British Council in Colombo recently where the next competition was launched. The awards signify business ideas aimed at recognising and supporting young entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka to start their own businesses.
The contest, for the next year, is now open to Sri Lankan undergraduates, postgraduates and graduates aged 18 to 35 years, representing universities, technical and vocational education institutions, private higher education institutions, vocational training institutions and professional bodies in Sri Lanka.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their business ideas to industries that fall under the category of agriculture, education and health. The HSBC Youths Enterprise Awards presented by the British Council is now in its fifth year of operations. The panel of judges include Patrick Gallagher, CEO of HSBC for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Keith Davies, Country Director for British Council in Sri Lanka, Rohan Jayaweera (CEO – Antyra Solutions) and Niroshi Siriwanse, Manager International and Higher Education of the British Council in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Davies, welcoming the gathering, said that it was good to see the HSBC Youth Enterprise awards being held for the fifth consecutive year. The idea was to promote entrepreneurship to young people to explore their innovation and skills of business activity. He said this year’s programme was one of the most exciting events with a group of young people competing for the awards. The programme has been expanded to cover Kandy and Jaffna where a new office has been set up.
The event will culminate with the National Entrepreneurship week from November 16-22. Apart from winning the prize it is the mentoring and the training that goes along the way to make an entrepreneur. “You need to have entrepreneur skills and experience to succeed in competitive global markets than having an academic qualification from a university. We have been helping Sri Lanka in a small way in that direction. I think the programme has lasted for five years and has been going from strength to strength,” he said.
Mr. Gallagher said the event has been growing over the years. In 2012 there were 70 applications followed by 150 in 2013 and 215 in 2014. HSBC’s participation was because it was great to promote and inculcate entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka, he said, adding that there was a need for more entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.
“It is not the winning part that is important but the mentoring and the training part. This year’s winning team will receive Rs. 500,000 and the first runner up Rs. 200,000, the second runner up Rs. 100,000 and two commending prizes of Rs. 50,000 each. We are absolutely delighted to take part in the competition and we are looking for more numbers to take part,” he said.
Mr. Jayaweera said the British Council programme was different to other models because the workshops helped participants to focus on relevant and important issues. “I am glad to see the programme going out of Colombo to other areas as well.” Tharinda Basnayake, last year’s main award winner, said that the workshop gave them insight and knowledge to start his own business. Nuwan Wanninayake, last year’s runner up, said guidance and personal attention given by the British Council helped him to win an award.