Young Drogheda Entrepreneur ScoopsTop Prize

Over 22,000 teenagers nationally took part in the Student Enterprise Programme 20162017. The cream of the crop, 200 students from 77 mini companies, made it to the Student Enterprise National Finals in Croke Park last week.

And local young entrepreneur Bláthnaid Murphy of Daisy’s Pawesome Bowties from Our Lady’s Secondary School here in Drogheda scooped first prize in the Junior Category.

Guest of honour at the awards ceremony was Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen T.D. He congratulated the young winners and said “Entrepreneurship is the backbone of Ireland’s economy, which is why this Student Enterprise Programme and Awards is so important. Learning about enterprise and having the opportunity to learn by doing, at an early age, lays the foundations for successful entrepreneurship in the future.

Through the programme students learn to develop business ideas, conduct market research, source materials and produce their products, design their packaging and marketing literature, sell their product to the public and manage their company finances. They also learn how to work as a team and develop their confidence in sales. These are valuable business and enterprise skills and will be useful to them whether they choose to work for someone else or set up their own business.

Peggy McGlynn of the Local Enterprise Office manages the Student Enterprise Programme in Louth. “We are thrilled with Bláthnaid’s win. Student Enterprise in Louth is going from strength to strength. Numbers participating in the programme this year have increased by over 25%. We now have in excess of 1,000 students in 18 schools in Louth taking part. Daisy’s Pawesome Bowties is a brilliant enterprise and we are delighted to celebrate her success.”