Search is on for Gorey’s future business leaders

The search is on for Gorey’s business leaders of the future.

The primary schools Junior Entrepreneur Programme has begun its search for the next Michael O’Leary, Norah Casey or Lord Alan Sugar.

Children will get the chance to participate in a programme which brings their existing curriculum and the world of business together in a fun environment.

Fifth and sixth class primary students in schools in Gorey are being invited to get involved in an award winning programme which will see them mentored by business people from the local community who are willing to share their experience with them.

The organisers say the Junior Entrepreneur Programme brings entrepreneurship into primary schools and helps students develop existing skills such as literacy and numeracy but also new skills such as problem solving, technology, communication, team building, confidence and creative thinking.

Children from Monaseed National School were among those who took part in last year’s programme.

The Junior Entrepreneur Programme is available free of charge to all fifth and sixth class pupils in the country.

It is a 12 to 16-week programme which helps them learn and develop business skills in collaboration with their classmates.

Close to 40,000 children have taken part in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme since its inception in 2010. It has been developed and supported by entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly of Tweak.com and some of Ireland’s other leading entrepreneurs.

The children involved in the programme during the last school year created businesses that generated total sales of over €320,000 and profits of almost €230,000. The classes themselves made decisions on how to spend their profits.

Applications are currently being accepted for inclusion in the next Junior Entrepreneur Programme which will start in schools in September. Further details are available on juniorentrepreneur.ie or by contacting the JEP office at 066 7169553.