Carlow Students Leading the Way in Enterprise Development
Secondary school students from all over County Carlow are gearing up to compete in the County Carlow Student Enterprise Awards, to take place on 1st March, 2016 at 5.00pm in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Athy Road, Carlow. The winning team will represent County Carlow in the national finals in May.
The participating students have been learning how to be enterprising by participating in the Student Enterprise Programme, coordinated by Carlow County Council’s – Local Enterprise Office. Since last September, students have set up and been running their own businesses.
Speaking about the awards, Bernie O’Brien – Director of Services said “The main objective of the awards is to give students practical experience of running a business. In developing their businesses students faced many challenges, from creating initial funds, finding the right business idea, working with a team, and marketing and selling their products”, O’Brien continued to say “supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs is a significant part of our work in the Council’s Local Enterprise Office and we are delighted to once again be working with the schools across the County which shows us some of the bright sparks for the future”.
Anna Byrne, Senior Enterprise Development Officer with Carlow County Council’s – Local Enterprise Office said “in our delivery of the programme we hope that this experience of taking part in a real business will encourage more students to consider entrepreneurship as a career in the future”, Byrne continued to say “the students learn really practical life skills in this process like sales, marketing and presentation skills and we look forward to seeing the fantastic idea’s on display as part of the County Final”
The schools participating in the county finals are Borris Vocational School, Carlow Vocational School, Coláiste Eoin Hacketstown, Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach, Knockbeg College, Presentation College Carlow, Presentation De la Salle Bagenalstown, Tullow Community School, St. Mary’s Academy CBS and St. Leo’s College.
This year the judging panel is made up of Catherine Howard, Dena Nolan, John Brophy and Eamonn Brophy.
Students are currently designing their business exhibition stand for the competition, having already submitted a detailed business plan will face the pitch panel during the awards final.
For further details on the Student Enterprise Awards log onto www.localenterprise.ie/carlow or contact Anna Byrne on 059/9129783
