MAKING ENTERPRISE WORK FOR STUDENTS
LOCAL Enterprise Office Louth has revealed that winning entrepreneurs from Dundalk Grammar, Drogheda Grammar and Bush Post Primary will represent Louth at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in Croke Park on the May 1.
The students all took part in the County Louth Final recently which was held at the Fairways Hotel. An estimated 800 students from 18 schools took part in the annual programme locally.
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 25,000 students from over 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.
In the Junior Category, the students representing Louth at the National Finals in Croke Park are: Sasha Lenox, Hazel Martins and Shayla Hollywood from Super Sewers at Dundalk Grammar. Runners Up in this category were Skye Kasozi and Gaia Ryder of Beezneez also from Dundalk Grammar.
In the Intermediate Category, Grace O’Kane and Alex Hayes of I’m Buzzing from Drogheda Grammar will be representing the county in Croke Park. Runners Up in this category were Zofia Bajer, Eimila
Febank from Gifts from Nature, Sacred Heart School Drogheda.
In the Senior Category of the competition, Louth will be represented on May 1st by Peter Hanlon, Nathan Mills, Cathal Malone and Lorcan Rice from Heated Clothing Company at Bush Post Primary. Runner Up in this category was Conor Nolan with his company Throw and Tell from St Mary’s College Drogheda.
The following Special Category Awards in recognition of outstanding achievements were given on the day to the senior students in the following categories: Innovation: Sean Mullen and Joshua Moran of PTI Portable Tech Ireland from St Mary’s Diocesan school Drogheda; Best Sales Presentation: Stephanie Callaghan, Caoibhean Brady, Esme Mac Donagh, Leah Meanan of Forever Framed Colaiste Rís Dundalk; Best Sole Trader: Sarah King of Kingswood Crafts Scoile Ui Mhuiri; Best Digital Business: Ronan Cotter, Jake MCConviue, Conor Ewings, Joseph Pheifer and Peter McCarthy of Dundalk FIFA Coins from De La Salle Dundalk; Best Creative Business, Adam Noone, Dean McCague, Niall Powderly, Aaron Casey, Conor McArdle, Patrick Casey, Anthony McParland, Ann Marie McDonagh, Michelle McDonagh and Cumar Mohammed from the The Christmas Crafters from St. Brigid’s School Dundalk; Best Commercial Potential. Nelly McCullen of the Recycled Bottle Bracelet Company of Sacred Heart School Drogheda.
Special guests at the Louth Final included Leas Cathaoirleach Eileen Tully, Joan Martin CE Louth County Council and Orla Stafford from Izmoo ice cream, a regional winner from Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur who set up her company in Transition Year.
Speaking at the county final, Thomas McEvoy of Local Enterprise Office Louth congratulated the students, saying, ‘ We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Louth, with almost 800 students from 18 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 1st. 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.’
The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park at the Annual Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on May 1st.
Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.