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MINISTER PAT BREEN T.D. LAUNCHES IRELAND’S LARGEST STUDENT BUSINESS PROGRAMME

Ireland’s largest business and enterprise programme for second level students, the Student Enterprise Programme, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, was launched on 17th December by Pat Breen, T.D., Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection in Portmarnock Community School in Dublin.

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 24,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2018 / 2019.  The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals in Croke Park on May 1^st.

Minister Breen was joined at the launch by professional rugby star, Josh Van Der Flier, the 2019/2020 ambassador for the Student Enterprise Programme.  Van Der Flier was a participant in the Student Enterprise Programme when he studied at Wesley College.

This year’s Programme will see two new pilot competitions across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories.  The first, the “My Entrepreneurial Journey” pilot will be run in the Junior and Intermediate cycle and is open to any students involved in the wider competition.  It requires them to map out the life of a successful entrepreneur and what is required.

In the Senior category there is a new “Most Creative Business Idea” section.  Under the theme “Go Green: Be Sustainable” students can push their most innovative ideas, without having to produce a product or service and it is open to all senior students taking part in the wider competition.

Speaking to some of the students involved in this year’s programme at the event, Minister Breen emphasised the importance of them engaging with enterprise and using it to innovate and create solutions for today’s world.  “The students of today are increasingly aware of the role they can play in changing the status quo.  Encouragement of entrepreneurial and innovative skills allows them to change things, to create new opportunities and to contribute to solving some of the many issues facing society today and in the future.  This spirit has always been very evident in the Student Enterprise Programme.  Every year we see creative young minds bringing fresh thinking to all areas of business, whether it’s innovative design, new software, revolutionary apps, or simply solving a daily issue in some area of life.

“These students are the entrepreneurs of the future, they will be our job creators, they are the ones we want to support and help on their entrepreneurship journey.  We want to foster those ideas because these students will provide the business success stories in the future. I wish all students the very best of luck in this year’s programme.  I know they will find it a richly rewarding experience.” Minister Breen said.

Student Enterprise Programme Ambassador, Josh Van Der Flier, said; “Having a good grasp of business will stand by you at any age and in any profession and that’s why the Student Enterprise Programme is such a great initiative by the Local Enterprise Offices. I know from having been involved myself at school how great it is to learn how to create that idea, make it happen and then make sales from scratch.  I certainly didn’t win any awards for my business, but it gave me a great knowledge of how a business works at an early age and the thousands of students who take part will always have that.” 

Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices, said; “The aim of the Student Enterprise Programme is to instil that little bit of entrepreneurship in every student that takes part.  The Local Enterprise Offices work closely with the schools to help spark their ideas but also ground them in what will help them make sales.  These skills are invaluable and to see the amazing ideas, year on year, many of which have become viable businesses, is inspirational not only to their fellow students but to anyone involved in business and entrepreneurship.”

Students from this year’s Student Enterprise Programme from Portmarnock Community School were in attendance at the launch, including 2018 / 2019 National Junior Category Winner, Ava Gilmartin and her business SpecRest from Fingal.  Inspired by her Mum, a nurse, who continually lost her glasses while at work, Ava created a 3D printed biodegradable clip that will secure glasses on clothing.  The invention saw Ava named as one of the 3 category winners at Croke Park last May along with Smooth Remove from North Cork, a device for shoe removal in the Senior category and Crios Mhadra from Kerry, a dog safety harness for car travel in the Intermediate category.

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 200,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.  The Student Enterprise Programme also has a new website for 2019 / 2020 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.

ENDS

For further information:

Declan Lee – Enterprise Ireland – 087 695 7451 / Declan.Lee@enterprise-ireland.com

Sarah Bohan – Enterprise Ireland – 087 653 9936 / Sarah.Bohan@Enterprise-Ireland.com

PREVIOUS STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME WINNERS

2019

Junior – Specrest – Educate Together, Portmarnock (in attendance at launch)

Intermediate – Crios Mhadra – Presentation Secondary, Castleisland, Kerry

Senior – Smooth Remove – Boherbue Comprehensive, North Cork

2018

Junior – Complete Caman – Presentation Secondary School, CastleIsland, Kerry

Intermediate – Lift Arm Assist – CBS Kilkenny

Senior – Abbey Bread – Cistercian College, Roscrea, Offaly

2017

Junior – Daisy’s Pawesome Bowties – Our Lady’s Secondary School, Drogheda

Intermediate – Scott Engine Tables – Colaiste Chill Mhantain, Rathnew, Wicklow

Senior – ROC Protection – Clonkeen College, Blackrock, Dublin

National Final 2020 – Date Announced

The National Final of the Student Enterprise Programme 2020 will take place on Friday 1st May 2020 at Croke Park in Dublin.

One student enterprise in each of the junior, intermediate and senior categories from the 31 Local Enterprise Office Areas will have the opportunity to take part in this exciting event.

The deadline for submission of business reports (senior) and business posters (junior and intermediate) is Wednesday 1st April 2020.

NATIONAL FINAL RESULTS 2019

JUNIOR CATEGORY

Special Merit Award:

Me, Myself and I:

Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Best Display Award:

Copperworks

Moate Community School, Co. Westmeath.

Best Commercial Potential Award:

The Nephin Turf Co.

St. Tiernan’s College, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo.

3^rd Place:

Twedelicious

Abbey Vocational School, Co. Donegal.

2^nd Place:

B Good Brownie

St. Patrick’s Classical School Navan, Co. Meath.

1^st Place:

Specrest

Malahide-Portmarnock Educate Together.

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY

Special Merit Award:

Ear Buddys

St. Clare’s Comprehensive, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim

Best Display Award:

Wrap it Up

Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

Best Commercial Potential Award:

Lightning PC Customs

St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, Co. Meath.

3^rd Place:

Imagination

Mercy College, Sligo.

2^nd Place:

JCJ Get a Grip

St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath.

1^st Place:

Crios Madra

Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, Co. Kerry.

SENIOR CATEGORY

Special Merit Award #1:

Lumpfish

Mean Scoil Nua, An Leith Thruigh, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry.

Special Merit Award #2:

Growth

Abbey Vocational School, Co. Donegal.

Best Display Award:

Fainne Rathuil

Roscommon Community College

Best Commercial Potential Award:

MIRR

CBS Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.  

3^rd Place:

The Struggle is Real

St. Mary’s College,Naas, Co. Kildare.

2^nd Place:

Hurl Standz

St. Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise.

1^st Place:

Smooth Remove

Boherbue Comprehensive School, Cork.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CATEGORY

Junior IP Award:

Eary Fix, Presentation secondary School, Castleisland, Co. Kerry.

Intermediate IP Award:

Sparkless

Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Gortnor Abbey, Co. Mayo.

Senior IP Award:

Worry Bear Co

St. Mary’s Convent, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

SOCIAL MEDIA CATEGORY

Most Effective Social Media Campaign:

Sister Scrunchies

St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

Most Creative Use of Social Media:

Smooth Remove.

Boherbue Comprehensive School, Cork.

Most Interactive Business on Social Media:

Plugpics

Loreto Secondary School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Congratulations to our 2019 National SEP Winners!

SMOOTH SHOE REMOVAL STUDENTS SECURE 2019 ENTERPRISE AWARD

IRELAND’S LARGEST STUDENT ENTERPRISE AWARDS CROWN CLASS OF 2019

The best and the brightest of Ireland’s secondary school entrepreneurs were in Croke Park today for the National Finals of the Student Enterprise Programme, run by the Local Enterprise Offices.

An enterprise inspired by a grandparent’s inability to remove their shoes took top prize in the senior category. Smooth Remove from Boherbue Comprehensive School in Mallow, North Cork designed an ergonomic wooden device that enables the easy removal of footwear for those who may have back problems or have difficulty bending down to take off their shoes.

Pet safety was to the fore in the Intermediate category as Críos Mhadra from Presentation Secondary School in Castleisland, Kerry won the judges vote. Designed by 14-year-old students Katelyn Curtin and Kelly Anne Nix the 3-point safety harness provides comfort and safety for those travelling with pets in their car.

In the Junior category, a practical solution by a daughter for a parent’s tendency to misplace glasses at work was a big hit with the judging panel. Ava Gilmartin from Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together School in Fingal vowed to solve her mother’s issue of her glasses constantly falling off, while working as a nurse. Ava created Specrest, a small biodegradable clip which is made using a 3-D printer that keeps glasses secure.

Over 26,000 students took part in this year’s programme from across the country and today 222 representing 78 student enterprises have reached the National Final competing across 3 categories; Junior, Intermediate and Senior, with the winners being announced and presented with their trophies by Pat Breen, T.D., Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection.

The programme delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Office is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in partnership with Enterprise Ireland across every local authority area.

Congratulating the winners Minister Breen said; “These student entrepreneurs are the future of Irish business and job creation across the country. The skills attained by these young students during the Student Enterprise Programme will be invaluable to these young entrepreneurs and provide them with a fantastic foundation for a future in business. Many congratulations to all the students here today. By making it to Croke Park you have shown you can create and run a business. And congratulations also to their teachers who play such a significant role in sparking and encouraging their entrepreneurial imagination. If these students decide that being an entrepreneur is the path they want to take in their future, I can assure them their Local Enterprise Office will be there to support them every step of the way.”

Michael Nevin, Chair of the Education Enterprise Committee, Local Enterprise Offices, said; “This year we’ve had over 26,000 students involved in creating, setting up and running a business, learning a whole new range of skills. We have finalists looking to address environmental issues, mental health issues and climate change issues so the class of 2019 is very much committed to creating businesses who can make the world a better place and that is a great thing. Many businesses of today could learn a lot from these students particularly in their clever use of social media to promote their enterprises. No doubt the finalists today have a bright future in business in whatever form that takes and we hope to see them walking through the door of their Local Enterprise Office in the near future.”

The runners-up this year in the senior category were Hurl Standz from St. Mary’s CBS in Laois who create wall-mounted, handcrafted metal stands to hold hurls and helmets. In the Intermediate category, second place went to JCJ Get a Grip from St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Westmeath whose enterprise was a pre-cut and pre-measured and scored tape which is applied to the underside of Irish dancing shoes to prevent slipping without affecting the sound. The runners-up in the Junior category went to B Good Brownie from St. Patrick’s Classical School in Navan, Co. Meath, who make gluten and lactose free brownies with unique blend coffee.

Awards were presented for intellectual property awareness by the Irish Patents Office and for social media by Essential French. Twenty students in the Senior Category also win a place at the residential ‘Winners’ Business Bootcamp’ over the summer to help them further develop their business skills. Further details about the next Student Enterprise Programme, which begins in September through the Local Enterprise Offices, are available through www.studententerprise.ie

ENDS

For all media information and interview requests with students, please contact:

Sarah Bohan, LEO Communications at Enterprise Ireland / 0876539936

Declan Lee, LEO Communications at Enterprise Ireland / 0876957451

Fuzion Communications Contact / Ciara Jordan 086 8684555 / Suzanne Meade 086 4133031