Winners of the County Carlow Student Enterprise Awards Announced
After many months of work setting up and running a business, students from around the County showcased their products and services at IT Carlow on Tuesday 20th March, 2018. 85 second-level students participated at the Student Enterprise Programme County Finals run by the Local Enterprise Office, Carlow County Council.
The overall winner this year was Let’s Have Fun from Tullow Community School, Tullow, Co. Carlow, the team is made up of Thomas Aughney, Eric Barr, Rachel Broughan, Hannah Doyle and Ben Dowling, they organise fund events for both primary and secondary level students and were delighted with their achievement. The team will now go on to represent the County at the National Student Enterprise Programme Final.
Other winners included best Business Plan Award which went to Zip It, Tullow Community School the Social Media Award went to Flame of Hope from Presentation College Carlow; the best Display Award went to Sportswear by Emma & Keeva from Presentation De La Salle and the best Pitch Award went to Handy Holders from Presentation College Carlow.
The remit of the Local Enterprise Office is the development of an enterprise culture at County level, not least among the schools and colleges. Despite its small geographical size, County Carlow is always one of the counties to watch out for at the National Final.
Commenting on the event Kathleen Holohan, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council said “that she was impressed at the high standard, professional business plans and creativity among the students”. Holohan continued to say “The Student Enterprise Programme encourages and enables students to take on the world of business and develop an entrepreneurial mind-set. By fostering an enterprising culture in the classroom, the Local Enterprise Office are working with teachers and schools to help nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs”. Holohan concluded by saying “the Student Enterprise Programme is just one example of how Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office can continue to support local enterprise development and is part of over 70 actions and events which will be hosted in 2018.
The winning team Let’s Have Fund will now go forward to the National Student Enterprise Programme Final which is being held in Croke Park on 2nd May, 2018. Speaking about the National Final, Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office said “the National Final of the Student Enterprise Programme is a significant opportunity for young people to test their innovative idea on a National Stage against the best in class of student entrepreneurs”, Kieran wished the Let’s Have Fun team the best of luck in the process. Carlow has a significant track record at the National Final of the Student Enterprise Programme having won same with HUDEBA from Borris Vocational School; Rapid from Presentation College Askea; and also with School of Sound, Tullow Community School and Light Bulb Ideas, St. Leo’s both winning a National Social Media Award.
Further information around the National Student Enterprise Programme Finals in May is available through www.studententerprise.ie which also has free resources and video tutorials for students and teachers for the 2017/2018 programme.
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For further details contact
Anna Byrne
Senior Enterprise Development Officer
059 9129785Email: abyrne@carlowcoco.ie
Full Schedule of Prize Winners:
Best in School Awards
Borris Vocational School Drawing Things
Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach Bee Utiful Bia
Presentation College Askea Handy Holders
Presentation De La Salle Defying Gravity
St Leos College Dogs House Boutique
St Marys CBS OBL Sports
Tullow Community School Let’s Have Fun
Coláiste Eoin Hacketstown Coláiste Eoin Tracksuits
Tyndall College, Carlow Tyndall Woodcrafts
Category Prizes
Best Display Sportswear by Emma & Keeva, Presentation De La Salle
Social Media Flame of Hope, Presentation College Carlow
Best Business Plan Zip It, Tullow Community School
Best Pitch Handy Holders, Presentation College Carlow
Overall Winner Let’s Have Fun, Tullow Community School
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For further information contact Anna Byrne on 059 9129785 / 086 8328910 or email: abyrne@carlowcoco.ie
