Press Release                                                                                                                                         7^th March 2024

WICKLOW STUDENTS SET FOR NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FINAL

Teenage entrepreneurs from St Kevins Community College, Loreto Secondary School and Avondale Community College will represent Wicklow at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final in May, the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow has announced.

The students all took part in the Wicklow final on 27^th February which was held at the Clermont House, Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew. An estimated 114 students from 13 schools took part in the annual Award ceremony locally, while 20 schools and 1300 students participated in the 6 month Enterprise programme.

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country, saw over 28,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools take part in 2023/2024 event. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Final.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Wicklow at the National Final are Conor Kelly and Eoghan Doyle from “The Christmas Scene” at Avondale Community College.

In the Intermediate Category, Robyn Fitzsimons and Ayla Ryan from “Bling” at Loreto Secondary School will be representing the county at the Final.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Wicklow will be represented by Laila Fox, Clodagh Flynn, Violetta Molero Miguel and Melanie Gleeson from “Plant Paradise” at St Kevins Community College.

Special guests at the Wicklow Final included MC Louise Cantillon; Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council; Acting Chief Executive Wicklow County Council, Michael Nicholson, and Eoin Tuohy, Founder, Sports Impact Technologies Ltd.

Speaking at the county final, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kenedy said: “I’m so impressed by the variety and high standard of the mini companies on show here. You can tell that this was a great learning experience for the students who present their products with such confidence and flair. The future is bright for our next generation of entrepreneurs!.”

Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, commented: “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and educational programmes like these promote the option of entrepreneurship to teenagers. It’s very fitting to have such an innovative and sustainable senior winner at a time when all business need to put sustainability at the centre of their business and take steps towards reducing their carbon footprint. I wish the winning teams all the best representing Wicklow at the National finals on 9th May in Mullingar.”

Head of Enterprise, Vibeke Delahunt of Local Enterprise Office Wicklow, congratulated the students, saying: “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Wicklow, with over 1300 students from 20 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on the 9^th May, and we will all hope to be there to support them. 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 teamwork, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers.”

The Wicklow students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Final which takes place in the Mullingar Park Hotel on the 9^th May.

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 380,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has new range of online resources for 2023/2024 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.   

Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

For further information, please contact Local Enterprise Office Wicklow on 0404 30800

Participating schools in Student Enterprise Programme

Arklow CBS

Avondale Community College

Coláiste Bhríde Carnew

Coláiste Chill Mhantáin

Coláiste Chraobh Abhann

Dominican College

East Glendalough School

Gaelcholáiste na Mara

Glenart College

Greystones CC

Loreto Secondary School

North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School

Presentation College, Wicklow

Scoil Chonglais Post Primary School

St David's Holy Faith Secondary

St Kevin's Community College

St Kilian's Community School

St Mary's College

Temple Carrig Secondary School

Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School

Winning enterprises

Junior Category Results

Junior Winner: Avondale Community College

Enterprise: The Christmas Scene

Teacher: Carol Doyle

Students: Conor Kelly and Eoghan Doyle

L-R: 

Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council; Marina Lee, teacher, St Kevin’s Community College; students Laila Fox, Clodagh Flynn, Violetta Molero Miguel and Melanie Gleeson, Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise, Wicklow County Council and Michael Nicholsen, Director of Services.

Intermediate Category Results

Inter winner: Loreto Secondary School

Enterprise: Bling

Teacher: Nicola Hennessy

Students: Robyn Fitzsimons, Ayla Ryan

L-R: Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council; Nicola Hennesy, teacher at Loreto Secondary School; students Robyn Fitzsimons and Ayla Ryan;  Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise, Wicklow County Council,  and Michael Nicholsen, Director of Services.

Senior Category Results

Senior Winner: St Kevins Community College

Enterprise: Plant Paradise           

Teacher: Marina Lee

Students: Laila Fox, Clodagh Flynn, Violetta Molero Miguel, Melanie Gleeson

L-R: Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council; Marina Lee, teacher, St Kevin’s Community College; students Laila Fox, Clodagh Flynn, Violetta Molero Miguel and Melanie Gleeson, Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise, Wicklow County Council and Michael Nicholsen, Director of Services.