STUDENT ENTERPRISE
EIGHT budding teenage entrepreneurs have been selected to represent Sligo at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in Croke Park.
The young entrepreneurs will represent their Local Enterprise Office and their county at the Student Enterprise Programme showpiece on the 2nd May.
Every September, entrepreneurial secondary school students across the country begin their business journey as they are encouraged to brainstorm, create and run their own businesses.
In September 2017 over 23,000 students from 480 schools nationwide begun their entrepreneurial journey with the help of their teachers and their Local Enterprise Office (LEO).
The students were all competing at the County Sligo Final on March 8th which was held at the Sligo Park Hotel.
An estimated five hundred and fifty students from eleven second-level schools took part in the annual programme locally.
In the Junior Category, the student representing Sligo at the National Finals is: Ella Joyce and her business, ‘Hygge’ from Ursuline College, Sligo.
In the Intermediate Category, Thomas Moran, Nathan McLoughlin, David Dunleavy and Ronan McGowan and their business, from ‘Entrée’ from Summerhill College, Sligo will be representing the county in Croke Park.
In the Senior Category of the competition, Sligo will be represented on 2nd May by Aoibhe Carty, Aoife Loughlin and Casey Cullen and their business, ‘ACA Education’ from Colaiste Muire, Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
Special guests at the Sligo County Final included the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Seamus Kilgannon, who presented the winners with their awards.
He also stated that “it is heartening to see such fantastic entrepreneurial spirit showcased in the youth of County Sligo.
“The level of enterprise, confidence and ingenuity on display here today makes me feel extremely confident for the business future of our great County.”
Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices in every Local Authority area, the competition is the most successful student enterprise programme of its kind in the country.
The success of the Student Enterprise Programme is down to the entrepreneurial spirit of the students involved and the Head of Enterprise of Local Enterprise Office Sligo, John Reilly was quick to praise this year’s entrants.
“Every year we are blown away by the ideas and the business savvy that these students have acquired at such a young age.
“They really are a credit to their teachers and school staff who have helped to nurture this talent.
“The Student Enterprise Programme is growing appeal every year and we hope to see many of these excellent young students coming through the door of their local LEO in the years to come,” he added.
The local students will be competing with hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park at the 16 th Annual Student Enterprise Awards National Finals on May 2nd.
The Full list of Award Winners at the Sligo County Final of the Student Enterprise Programme were:
Junior Runner-Up: ‘Barmy Biscuit Cake’, Ursuline College, Sligo
Junior Winner: ‘Hygge’, Ursuline College, Sligo Intermediate Winner: ‘ Entrée’, Summerhill College, Sligo
Best Interview Winner: ‘Wicked Beauty’, St. Mary’s College, Ballisodare
Best Display Winner: ‘ Light Up Your Life’, Coola Post-Primary School
Best Report Winner: ‘Darra’s Handcrafted Frames’, Coola Post-Primary School
Special Merit Award: ‘ The Kard’, Summerhill College, Sligo
Special Merit Award: ‘Luscious Layers’, Grange Post-Primary School
Innovation Winner: ‘What Suits You’, Summerhill College, Sligo
Marketing Award: ‘ Apex Clothing’, Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone
Senior 3rd Place: ‘ SNS Creative Creations’, Colaiste Iasciagh
Senior Runner Up: ‘HHandbag’, Mercy College, Sligo
Senior Winner: ‘ACA Education’, Colaiste Muire, Ballymote
Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www. studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.