Student Enterprise Programme seeks young business minds

AS SCHOOLS across the county settle in for the academic year, bright young business minds will be turning their attention towards setting up their own companies as part of the National Student Enterprise Programme 2020.

The programme, co-ordinated nationally by the Local Enterprise Offices, is the largest programme of its kind in the country, involving over 27,000 students from 620 secondary schools every year. The programme supports students as they set up and run their own business.

It runs from September to May, with the Wicklow County Final scheduled to take place on March 26. The winners of the County Final will go on to represent Wicklow at the National Final on May 1 in Croke Park, where they will compete with teenagers from all over the country to become Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur of the year. Wicklow’s programme is growing every year this year to 19 Schools.

The Student Enterprise Programme is introducing two individual competitions which all participating students can enter. The Junior and Intermediate Category is ‘My Entrepreneurial Journey’ where students are asked to imagine a time in the future and tell the story of their fictional business and what they have learned in their many years as an entrepreneur. The Senior category for the most ‘Creative Business Idea’ will focus on sustainability and ‘Going Green’.

Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Vibeke Delahunt, said: ‘This programme enables students to explore the world of business, starting in the classroom. The Standard of entries in Wicklow is extremely high with is a credit to students and teachers in schools across the county. We currently have 15 schools registered.’

Any student who wishes to take part should ask their school to register now by contacting Serena Bryans, Student Enterprise Co-ordinator, Wicklow Local Enterprise Office, on 086 4119200 or Anette Rowsome at arowsome@ leo.wicklowcoco.ie or (0404) 30800. WICKLOW was the ninth luckiest county on Winning Streak in 2018.

As the popular game show returns for another series, figures released by the National Lottery reveal that seven players from the Garden County won a total of €255,000 last year, giving an average prize per player of €36,429.

Winning Streak is celebrating 30 years on TV screens this year, making it the second longest running game show in Europe, behind Countdown.

According to the National Lottery figures, Donegal came out on top in 2018, as 15 players from the county won a total of €630,000, with an average prize per player of €42,000. It was followed by Cork and Galway.