Record numbers participate in Fingal’s Student Enterprise Awards Programme
Over 2,000 students from across North Dublin are donning their business caps this academic year as they participate in the biggest ever Fingal Student Enterprise Awards Programme.
Co-ordinated by the Fingal County Enterprise Board, this annual programme sets out to encourage students to research and manage their own business, with support from local business mentors. Now in its thirteenth year, a record number of 2,150 students from 22 secondary schools and 9 primary schools in Fingal are participating in the 2013/2014 programme, setting up and running their own businesses between now and the County Finals in March 2014.
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board, previously known as County Dublin VEC, is, for the fifth consecutive year, sponsoring the secondary schools programme while Fingal County Council is also, once again, a key partner and sponsor.
As part of the ‘National Student Enterprise Awards’ competition, which sees over 15,000 students compete annually, Fingal County Enterprise Board runs one of the most successful individual student enterprise programmes in the country. Category winners from the Fingal County Finals will advance to the National Enterprise Awards held in April 2014.
This year’s student businesses will hope to emulate the success of last year where 3 prizes were awarded at the National Finals 2013 to Fingal student enterprises. A Special Merit Award in the Senior Category went to ‘Music By Numbers’ from Castleknock Community College, ‘Lyetech’ from Colaiste Choilm in Swords won the IP Award in the Intermediate Category and ‘Comfort Crutch’ from Skerries Community College placed second in the Junior Category.
The countdown to the Fingal County Final in March 2014 is being launched today in Swords by Oisin Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal County Enterprise Board, Councillor Gerry McGuire, Fingal County Council, Martin MacEntee, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board and students from three participating Fingal schools; Castleknock Community College, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan and Scoil Choilm, Carpenterstown.
Speaking at the official launch, Oisin Geoghegan said: “Working in tandem with schools, the local business community and sponsors, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board and Fingal County Council, Fingal County Enterprise Board has, in each of the last few years, produced the country’s largest and most successful student enterprise programme.” He added: “This year is no exception with record numbers of primary and secondary school students involved in developing and running their own businesses, supported by our mentoring programme. The lessons they will learn from this experience are invaluable and will stand to them in the future world of business and beyond.”
Further information about the Fingal Student Enterprise Programme for primary and secondary schools is available by visiting www.studententerprise.ie or the Student Enterprise Award Facebook Page
Left to Right: Dogo (10) and Klevis Malaj (10) from Scoil Choilm CNS Porterstown at the launch of the thirteenth annual Fingal Student Enterprise Awards Programme