Local Enterprise Office Louth have announced that winning teenager entrepreneurs from Dundalk Grammar, Drogheda Grammar and Bush Post Primary will represent Louth at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals.
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. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals.
This year the students all took part in the County Louth Final on 3rd March, which was held at the Fairways Hotel. An estimated 1100 students from 18 schools took part in the annual programme locally.
In the Senior Category of the competition, Louth will be represented at the National Finals by Peter Hanlon, Nathan Mills, Cathal Malone and Lorcan Rice from Heated Clothing Company at Bush Post Primary.
In the Intermediate Category, Grace O’Kane and Alex Hayes of I’m Buzzing from Drogheda Grammar will be representing the county in the National Final.
Winners in the Junior Category with their company Super Sewers are Dundalk Grammar students Sasha Lenox, Hazel Martins and Shayla Hollywood.
County Louth Student Enterprise Winners 2020
AWARD CATEGORY | WINNING BUSINESS AND SCHOOL |
Junior Winner | Super Sewer Dundalk Grammar |
Junior Runner Up | Beezneez Dundalk Grammar |
Intermediate Winner | I’m Buzzing Drogheda Grammar |
Intermediate Runner Up | Gifts From Nature Sacred Heart Drogheda |
Senior Winner | The Heated Clothing Company Bush Post Primary |
Senior Runner Up | Throw and Tell St Mary’s College Drogheda |
Best Sales Presentation | Forever Framed Colaiste Rís Dundalk |
Best Sole Trader | Kingswood Crafts Scoile Ui Mhuiri |
Best Digital Business | Dundalk FIFA Coins De la Salle Dundalk |
Best Creative Business | The Christmas Crafters St Brigid’s School Dundalk |
Best Commercial Potential | Recycled Bottle Bracelet Company Sacred Heart Drogheda |
Best Innovation Award | PTI Portable Tech Ireland from St Mary’s Diocesan School Drogheda |
Special guests at the Louth Final included Leas Cathaoirleach Eileen Tully, Joan Martin CE Louth County Council and Orla Stafford from Izmoo ice cream, a regional winner from Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur who set up her company in Transition Year.
Speaking at the county final, Thomas McEvoy of Local Enterprise Office Louth congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Louth, with almost 1100 students from 18 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck in Croke Park on May 1st. 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 team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”.
Unfortunately due to the current situation with COVID 19 the annual final event in Croke Park has been cancelled and entries will be judged in an alternative manner with the possibility of a smaller ceremony later in the year
Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.