Teenage entrepreneurs from schools in Limerick City and Newcastle West will represent Limerick at the National Finals of Student Enterprise Programme. Nine student entrepreneurs from two local schools have been chosen to fly the Limerick flag at the finals in Croke Park on Friday 03 May 2019.
More than 1,000 students from 21 schools across Limerick took part in this year’s programme with the Limerick Final taking place at the South Court Hotel, Raheen.
Every September through LEO Limerick, entrepreneurial secondary school students begin their business journey as they are encouraged to research, set-up and run their own real-world businesses.
The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland, and delivered by the 31 LEO offices, is the most successful student enterprise programme of it's kind in the country.
An estimated 26,000 students from 490 schools around the country begin their entrepreneurial journey every year with the help of their teachers, student enterprise co-ordinators and Local Enterprise Office.
The winners are:
Category |
School |
Business |
Junior |
Laurel Hill Coláiste |
Georgeous Gruaig |
Intermediate |
Desmond College, Newcastle West |
Hy-Geenie |
Senior |
Desmond College, Newcastle West |
Safety Harness Attachment |
The local students will compete against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park at the Annual Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on 03 May 2019.
The businesses were judged by Pat Rickard, Accountant, Mark Sheahan of Recycle Right, Chris Kelly of Pinpoint Innovations and Chris Clancy & Norma Purtill from LEO Limerick.
Speaking at the Limerick final, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr James Collins said: “I can see from the exhibitions that you have put an awful lot of time into creating your products, selling them and then promoting them at this ‘tradestand’ of sorts.
"But the Student Enterprise Programme and Awards are so much more than just a way to make (or lose!!) money. They will teach you valuable lessons in dealing with people and the way business works. You may not believe it now but the steps you will go through as part of the programme, will lay very good foundations for you in later life."
Eamon Ryan, Head of Enterprise with LEO Limerick, congratulated the students.
“We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Limerick, with over 1,000 students from 21 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck in Croke Park on May 3rd,” he said.
“What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers,” he added.
Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.
Full Results:
Category |
Business Name |
School |
Senior |
|
|
1st |
Safety Harness Attachment |
Desmond College |
2nd |
Hurlíní |
Laurel Hill Coláiste |
3rd |
Mugbakes |
Gaelcholáiste |
Merit |
Sigigraph |
Desmond College |
Intermediate |
|
|
1st |
Hy-Geenie |
Desmond College |
2nd |
Jack’s Handcrafts |
Castletroy College |
3rd |
Amore Macaroons |
Mungret College |
Merit |
Irish Crafts |
Desmond College |
Junior |
|
|
1st |
Georgous Gruaig |
Laurel Hill Coláiste |
2nd |
The Empty Chair |
Desmond College |
3rd |
Bracelet Bandits |
Laurel Hill Coláiste |
Merit |
Farm Futures |
Scoil Trionada Naofa, Doon |
Most Innovative Product |
Globe Trotter |
Colaiste Iosaef, Kilmallock |
Best Stand |
Buttons Galore |
Hazelwood College |
Best Business Plan |
Farm Safety - Who am I? |
Scoil Trionada Naofa, Doon |
Best Marketing |
Home for Hurleys |
Scoil Trionada Naofa, Doon |
Teacher’s Award |
Gina Clifford |
Scoil Pól, Kilfinane |
Names of participating schools in Student Enterprise Programme
Ardscoil Mhuire
Ardscoil Rís
CBS Sexton St.
Castletroy College
Coláiste Ciarán
Coláiste Iosaf
Coláiste Mhuire
Crescent Comprehensive College
Desmond College
Gaelcolaiste Luimnigh
Hazelwood College
Laurel Hill
Mungret Community College
Nano Nagle Presentation School
Scoil An Trionoide Naofa
Scoil Mhuire Agus Ide
Scoil Pól
St. Clements
St. Munchin’s
Thomond Community College
Villiers School