DkIT Student Secures Place on New Frontiers Enterprise Programme

Posted on February 12, 2020

Turing a business idea into reality is a challenge for any budding entrepreneur, but for one young undergraduate Business Studies student at DkIT, that challenge became a reality.

Linda Meegan, a 2nd year student on the Bachelor (Hons) of Business programme just received confirmation that she has secured a place on the New Frontiers national enterprise programme. In 2015 DkIT launched the programme where students from Monaghan and the surrounding areas can access year 1 and year 2 of the three year programme in Monaghan Institute. The programme has been hugely successful so far, with the first intake graduating in 2018. A new intake of students will commence this September 2020.

The programme, delivered on behalf of Enterprise Ireland by Institutes of Technology and Universities nationwide, helps entrepreneurs gain the skills and confidence to develop their business idea within a supportive and encouraging environment. The format of practical and interactive workshops, personalised one-to-one mentoring, financial support and co-working space, means that for many entrepreneurs the New Frontiers programme can be a game changer.

Linda’s idea combines a small device with an app for the home and potentially the commercial oil heating sector. Oil is still a major source of home heating in Irish homes with some 43% of rural homes still rely on oil as the main source of heating. The device also can easily be adapted for bio fuel, that allows homeowner to monitor remotely oil levels. Linda had the idea two years ago, but it was last semester when she undertook a module in Applied Market Research along with the help of her lecturer, Dr. Kate Johnston, the research confirmed the idea had real potential.

Speaking about her project, Linda noted;

“The research not only enabled me to scope out the size of the potential market but also that there was no real competition. My lecturer suggested I apply for the New Frontiers programme. Up until then I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I wasn’t even aware of the New Frontiers programme but I thought why not!”

Linda submitted her application and following an interview was offered a place on the programme. Over the next 6 weeks Linda, along with other budding entrepreneurs, will be exposed to expert training to test her idea. Lecturers Dr Johnston and Maeve Carraher are overwhelmed “that one of our students has been offered a place on the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Programme. This is a very competitive programme and it is a great achievement for Linda but so deserved.”

Certainly the three year (hons) Business Sudies degree played a huge part. According to Linda “the Degree programme run in Monaghan Institute played a huge part along with my lecturers, particular Kate and Maeve, who have supported me throughout the last two years. We are small group so we have a really supportive learning environment and this has been crucial”.

Combining her full time degree programme and the New Frontiers programme, which takes place two evening per week for six week will be challenging, but that’s doesn’t faze Linda. “I know this is a great opportunity and it will give me access to people and mentors that will be crucial to take the idea further.”