Under the Student Enterprise Awards which starts every September, budding secondary school entrepreneurs’ set-up and run their own enterprises, learning about the world of business with help from their teachers and Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny. Over 650 students from 13 secondary schools took part in the annual programme locally.

Over 120 students competed at the County Final on Wednesday last 9^th March, which was held at the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny. This year, the event coincided with the inaugural Local Enterprise Week. The judges had a very difficult task and had to take numerous factors into account, such as business reporting, innovation, market research, risk management and finances and after much deliberation the winners were announced.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Kilkenny will be represented at the National Finals on April 20^th in Croke Park by Steven Cahill and Cian Dunne (Below Right) from Duiske College, Graignamanagh with their business www.fiveasidefinder.com

Lorcan Doyle (Left) with his business “Paracrafts” from Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Kilkenny will be representing the county in the Intermediate Category,while in the Junior Category, the students representing Kilkenny at the National Finals are: Aaron Denny, Conor Denny and Liam Cleere (Centre) from All Time Treats at Coláiste Eamann Rís, Callan.

Runners up in the Senior Category last week were “Mála’’  (below left) a business which produces handmade small, compact stylist bags for everyday emergencies created by Kate Brosnan and Molly Purcell from Loreto Secondary School. The third prize was presented to “Meabhairshláinte”, (below right) a specially designed calendar by Rebecca Bourke and Laura Barry, students from St. Brigid’s College to raise awareness of mental health issues.

There were 2 sponsored prizes presented at the Awards. A web based business for teens/adults to swap or borrow clothes “Swoparoo.com” (below left) developed by Ava Morrissey, Keeva O’Brien and Sinead Tuohy from Loreto Secondary School impressed the judges and they were awarded the Science & Technology which is sponsored by Institute of Technology, Carlow. The Best Branding Award sponsored by the Threesixty Marketing was awarded to two students from Grennan College Erika Roche and Zoe Costigan for their brand “Doggie Nom Noms” (below right) which produces a range of homemade dog treats.

A number of other special category awards were presented at the County Final event. “Smoochies” (below left) from Loreto Secondary School won the Best Display Award; while “Dec –It- Out” (below right) from Castlecomer Community School was awarded a prize for the Best Report. “KCVS Student Support” from Kilkenny Vocational School won the Best Teamwork Award and the Social Media Award was presented to ‘Off Your Marbles’ from Loreto Secondary School. The Most Innovative Product was presented to “Time to Flea” a flea deterrent spray developed by Andrew Gleeson & Chris McDonald from Coláiste Eamann Rís.

An enterprising student Emily McGee (below left) impressed the judges with her creative art business “Art by EmilyM” and was presented with the “Export Potential” award. Bill Cody (below right) from St. Kieran’s College also made an impression with his entrepreneurial spirit and received a special merit award.

The Environmental Award was presented to “DEO Natural” (below left) created by Kilkenny College student, Muireann Twomey. “Receipt Saver” (below right) an app that keeps track of receipts with budgeting abilities such as a tracker to monitor how much you spend was awarded the Best Idea Concept. This app based business was developed by a group of students from the CBS Kilkenny; Daniel Bohan, David Buckley, Luke Kinchella, Jarod Kuthe and Adam Marrow. The overall school prize was presented to Duiske College at the Awards ceremony.

Praising local schools for helping to foster student enterprise in the classroom, Sean McKeown, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny; said: “Our local schools are very committed to supporting youth entrepreneurship. Principals, teachers, and importantly, the student entrepreneurs themselves deserve huge credit for their dedication and hard work. Over the years, the Student Enterprise Co-Ordinators from Local Enterprise Offices have formed a very effective partnership with local schools, to help nurture our next generation of entrepreneurs and job creators.”

Speaking at the event, Cathlaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh congratulated all of the students who participated in the competition and highlighted that “the Student Enterprise Awards are all about helping young people to develop their entrepreneurial talent, so that at some point in the future they may use the experience gained to consider setting up your own business”.

The National Finalists will be competing with up to 300 other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland on April 20^th 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.

As part of the ‘first stop shop’ business support model, the Local Enterprise Offices deliver services and support to the micro and small business sectors with the guidance of  the Centre of Excellence at Enterprise Ireland under the policy direction of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.