Wexford students dreaming of Croke Park final as Student Enterprise programme is launched

SECONDARY students across county Wexford are dreaming of a Final appearance in Croke Park in 2020 as the Local Enterprise Offices’ Student Enterprise Programme for 2019 / 2020 was launched.

The programme, which is Ireland’s largest business and enterprise programme for second level students, was launched by Pat Breen, T.D., Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection and rugby star Josh Van Der Flier. Van der Flier is the Student Enterprise Programme Ambassador for 2019 / 2020 and a former participant in the programme while a student in Wesley College in Dublin.

Over 1,000 students from 18 secondary schools in Wexford are taking part in this year’s Programme in the hope of making the National Finals in Croke Park on the 1st May. 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 over 25,000 students from 515 secondary schools across the country take part in 2018 / 2019.

This year’s Programme will see two new pilot competitions across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. “My Entrepreneurial Journey” pilot allows students at involved in the wider competition to map out the life of a successful entrepreneur and consider what makes the selected entrepreneur successful. In the Senior Category, there is a new “Most Creative Business Idea” section. Under the theme “Go Green: Be Sustainable” students can push their most innovative ideas, without having to produce a product or service and it is open to all senior students taking part in the wider competition. Students present their ideas through a video pitch. A new comprehensive website is also available to guide students www. studententerprise.ie