Fingal teen entrepreneurs blaze through to National Student Enterprise Programme Finals

Fingal teen entrepreneurs blaze through to National Student Enterprise Programme Finals

Dublin's youngest entrepreneurs were celebrating today after the Fingal Student Enterprise Programme County Final at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown today, March 30th.

Fingal Local Enterprise Office enlisted, motivated and mentored a record 60 student enterprise finalists from 24 secondary schools and 6 primary schools. Fingal LEO also hosts the largest number of participants - 2,600.

Since last September, all of these local students have been researching and running their own businesses, learning about the world of business with help from their teachers and Local Enterprise Office.

Supported by Fingal County Council, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board, the secondary school winners from today’s Final will now go through to the National Final in Croke Park on May 3rd 2017.

Blanchardstown Centre, One4All, Xtreme.ie and Simtech Aviation are also supporters of the Student Enterprise Programme

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

Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise, Fingal County Council said: "Over 2,600 students are taking part in the 2016/2017 Student Enterprise Programme, making it the largest of its kind in the country. The programme becomes more popular every year and it's a great way of encouraging entrepreneurship among Fingal's young population. The students learn by doing. They create real life businesses and prepare real business plans with the careful guidance of their teachers and our schools coordinator. So they are learning real life business skills and this gives them the confidence to believe in themselves and their ability to be a successful entrepreneur."

Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council added "What they gain from this programme is an invaluable insight into the roots of business and a taste of experience in a safe environment. The lessons they learn on this programme will help set them on an entrepreneurial path from a young age.”

The National Finalists will be competing with up to 300 other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland on May 3rd in Croke Park. Further information around the Student Enterprise Awards, which is run by the Local Enterprise Offices, is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

Fingal Student Enterprise Programme Winner 2016-2017

Click Here to see Photos of this great event.