Young Entrepreneurs Take Flight!
Fingal Student Enterprise Programme Launches
Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal has reported a significant increase in Second level schools across Fingal signing-up for this year’s Student Enterprise Programme (SEP). It is anticipated that a record-breaking number of more than 28,000 students nationally will participate, by setting-up and running a mini enterprise over the course of the academic year.
Fingal schools and students have a strong track record in the competition, encouraged and incentivised by a significant prize fund that includes an international educational trip to Barcelona for the students and teachers of “Senior category” winners. Most importantly, the programme offers an exciting opportunity for students to learn the ropes of creating a successful business, whilst competing at local and national level. Each year the Fingal winning projects go on to the National Final, where they battle it out with other entrepreneurial students from throughout Ireland.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Student Enterprise Programme, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Brian McDonagh, said: “The work the Student Enterprise Programme does is truly important as the competition helps to furnish young people in Fingal and around the country with key skills that are required in the real world. The programme helps to create entrepreneurs of the future who will undoubtedly contribute greatly to society.”
AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council commented: “The Student Enterprise Programme seeks to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among local students and given the right encouragement, students can bring their ideas to life and establish a fully-fledged business. Fingal County Council, and the Local Enterprise Office, actively encourage the creation of new businesses within Fingal which helps to support the local economy.”
Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at LEO Fingal, added: “The Student Enterprise Programme continues to go from strength to strength and this year promises to be no different. In recent years we have seen students create businesses that are solving real world problems, whether it be through the use of technology or in sustainability. Our students don’t want to just create a business, but a business that makes a difference in the world and it’s fantastic to see. We are looking forward to seeing what this year’s students have to offer.”
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the Student Enterprise Programme is the country’s largest enterprise programme for second level students, with this year marking the 23rd year of the hugely successful programme.
Students from 1st year to 6th year can enter in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. Participants will learn how to create and run their own business, picking up key skills along the way such as ideation, marketing, finance and sales.
The Programme is run through the network of Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, with local coordinators in every area to support teachers and students through the year of the programme, which helps foster entrepreneurship in students and gives them key skills they can bring with them into later life.
Enterprise teacher Fiona Synnott from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan in Fingal says “Being a part of the Student Enterprise Programme is a unique way for schools to show their students that they can put the theory of their business ideas into practice in real life situations and ignite their inner entrepreneur”.
Ms. Synnott added that the benefits for schools taking part are immense - “The Student Enterprise Programme brings business ideas alive and opens the door to the creativity, talent and entrepreneurship among our students. The benefits to the school are also brilliant including local and national PR opportunities and in-school guest speakers throughout the year”.
Sponsors of the Fingal programme include Simtech Aviation, One4All and Blanchardstown Centre.
Local Enterprise Office (LEO)
Local Enterprise Office Fingal (LEO Fingal) is part of a network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, located within the Local Authority structure. The Fingal office is one of the largest and most active LEOs in the country. The role of the LEO is to support and aid existing and potential small business promotors located in Fingal, North County Dublin. In addition, LEO Fingal aims to foster the development of an enterprise culture. The LEOs operate under a Service Level Agreement with Enterprise Ireland and are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
Student Enterprise Programme
The Student Enterprise Programme is co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices and involves approximately 28,000 students from 500+ secondary schools every year. The programme is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and runs from September to May. The Student Enterprise Programme also has a range of online resources for 2024/2025 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.
For further information on the Student Enterprise Programme please contact Local Enterprise Office, Fingal:
Tel: 01 8900 800 E-mail: info@leo.fingal.ie
