KILDARE STUDENTS SET FOR NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FINAL

Local Enterprise Office Kildare have announced that teenage entrepreneurs from St. Wolstan’s Community School, Celbridge will represent Kildare at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final on Thursday 9th May.

The students all took part in the County Final on 29th February, which was held at the Killashee Hotel, Naas. 122 students from 34 schools took part in the annual programme locally.

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 28,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2022 / 2023. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Final.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Kildare will be represented on May 9th by Tandy Hand from St. Wolstan’s Community School, Celbridge

Zoe Shannon, Managing Director
Caoimhe Ní Drisceoil, Finance Manager
Maeve Foley Wollmer, Purchasing & Stock Control Manager
Alannah Morley, Marketing & Sales Manager
Special guests at the Kildare Final included Cathaoirleach Daragh Fitzpatrick and Director Alan Dunney.

Speaking at the county final, Head of Enterprise, Jacqui McNabb of Local Enterprise Office Kildare congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Kildare, with over 122students from 34local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on the 9th May, and we will all hope to be there to support them. What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and teamwork, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”.

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Final, taking place in the Mullingar Park Hotel on the 9th May.

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 380,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has new range of online resources for 2023 / 2024 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.

Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

Participating schools in Student Enterprise Programme

Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy

Colaiste Chiaran, Leixlip

Colaiste Lorcan, Castledermot

Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara, Naas

Kildare Town Community School

Naas Community College

Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge

Salesians College, Celbridge

Newbridge College

Scoil Dara, Kilcock

St. Mary’s College, Naas

St. Conleth’s Community School, Newbridge

St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin

St. Wolstan’s Community School, Celbridge

Names of winning enterprises 2024

Idea Award – Runner-up – J & D Chrimbo Trees, Ardscoil na Tionóide

Idea Award – Winner – Compostable Creations, Colaiste Chiaran

Finance Award – Runner-up – Panco, St. Conleth’s Community School

Finance Award – Winner – Evil Eye, Newbridge College

Business Plan Award – Runner-up – Machesstic, Naas Community School

Business Plan Award – Winner – Cozy Creatures, Colaiste Chiaran

Sales Award – Runner-up – New Leaf, Colaiste Lorcan

Sales Award – Winner – Boardz, Patrician Secondary School

Innovation Award – Runner-up – Pyne, Salesians College

Innovation Award – Winner – Comfy Creatures, St. Wolstan’s

Marketing Award – Runner-up – Keep it Resin, St. Wolstan’s

Marketing Award – Winner – Scrubadub Ducky, St. Mary’s College

Sustainability Award – Runner-up – Saol Nua, Colaiste Chiaran

Sustainability Award – Winner – Landscaped – Patrician Secondary School

Two Special Merit Awards – Uaimse Chugat, Newbridge College and Plagues and Keyrings, Kildare Town Community School

2nd Runner-up – I Fold, Scoil Dara

1st Runner-up – Seo Í Éire, St. Paul’s Secondary School

Kildare Overall Winner 2024 – Tandy Hand, St. Wolstan’s Community School

About the Student Enterprise Programme (studententerprise.ie)

The Student Enterprise Programme is co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices and involves approximately 28,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools every year. It runs from September to May and the 2023/2024 National Final takes place on the 9th May.

Website: www.studententerprise.ie / #studententerprise / Twitter: @StudentEntProg / Facebook: /studententerpriseprogramme / Instagram: /studententerpriseprogramme