Louth County Enterprise Board hosted the County Finals of the Student Enterprise Awards on Tuesday 5 March 2013 and we were delighted to welcome 200 students to the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk. The competition is an exciting and rewarding experience for young people, creating a culture where students think more readily of becoming entrepreneurs and setting up their own business in the future. It enhances their creativity, improves communication skills and provides practical uses for business studies topics.

Speaking at the event Peggy McGlynn said "This year saw 36 mini companies from second level schools in the county making it to county final. Companies ranged from manufacture of a gutter gadget and creative art designs to community projects, handmade jewellery and technology projects to a gum pouch pocket for football shorts. 

There was also a door guard invention to prevent burglary together with food products including a home-made ice cream project and production of free range eggs. It was great to see the levels of enterprise and innovation amongst the students. Student Enterprise Awards continues to offer students the opportunity to take a business from the idea stage, through market research to production, selling, record keeping, management and finally writing a comprehensive report on their activities. A big thank you goes to all the teachers who support and encourage these mini companies year after year and our thanks also to our judges, who are an independent panel of business experts".  Prizes were awarded to 8 companies in senior category and an Intermediate and Junior category winner.

Congratulations to our Senior Student Enterprise Award Winners Gum Pouch Productions who will now advance to the National Finals taking place in Croke Park in April to represent County Louth.

Congratulations also to Barry’s Free Range Eggs and Euro Coin Collection Cards who will represent Louth in Intermediate and Junior Categories respectively.