Localschools staratthe Student Enterprise finals

LOCAL Enterprise Office Louth hosted the County Finals of the Student Enterprise Programme on Tuesday 13 March and were delighted to welcome over 200 students to the event.

The competition is an exciting and rewarding experience for young people, creating a culture where students think more readily of becoming entrepreneurs and setting up their own business in the future.

It enhances their creativity, improves communication skills and provides practical uses for business studies topics. This year saw 51 mini companies from second level schools in the county making it to county final. Companies ranged from dog beds from recycled tyres to handcrafted gifts from recycled horse shoes and personalised pictures using bottle caps in 3D frames.

There was a price comparison website for video games to a prepaid teenage card, fidget boards, a picture guide to help children with Autism and natural mineral based eyeshadow & lip scrubs.

There were also high quality handmade wooden chopping boards to a phone activated lighting system on training pitches and a published multi sports handbook. Food products included delicious homemade spread for crackers from cookie butter, brownie ingredients in a jar and a sole trader manufacturing frappuccinos and milkshakes. We also had a company producing sea themed products from shells and sea glass.

It was great to see the levels of enterprise and innovation amongst the students. Student Enterprise Awards continues to offer students the opportunity to take a business from the idea stage, through market research to production, selling, record keeping, management and finally writing a comprehensive report on their activities. Thanks to the teachers who support and encourage these mini companies year after year and our thanks also to our judges, who are an independent panel of business experts. 1st place in Junior, Intermediate & Senior categories will represent Louth at National Finals in Croke Park in May.

Best Creative Award - Scoil Ui Mhuiri Dunleer, Bits and Bobs.

Best Food Co - Our Ladys College Drogheda, Kookie Butter

Innovation Award - Drogheda Grammar School, Storyboard

Best Craft Award - St Louis Secondary School Dundalk, Shoe In

1st Senior - Ardee Community School. Tyred Dogz

Best Sole Trader - Ardee Community School, Advent Calendars

Best Social Project - Ballymakenny College Drogheda, SAFE

Best Branding Award - Ballymakenny College Drogheda, BaD Candles

1st Intermediate - Sacred Heart Secondary School Drogheda, Makes Cents

1st Junior - Sacred Heart Secondary School Drogheda, SOLAzy Products

Runner up Junior - Sacred Heart Secondary School Drogheda, Spaoolicious.

Best Food Award......Hannah Horan, Glodie Matondou, Caroline McEvoy and Agnieska Kalmuk, Our Lady’s College Greenhills and members of the mini company ‘Kookie Butter’, winners of the Best Food award

Hugo Collins and George O’Carroll, Drogheda Grammar School, winners of the Innovation award

Sola Plue, Sacred Heart winner of the Junior Section in the LEO Louth Student Enterprise Competition pictured receiving her award from Cllr. Colm Markey, Chairman of Louth County Council and Thomas McEvoy, Head of Enterprise, LEO Louth.