The National finalists for Ireland’s largest student entrepreneurial programme were announced today ahead of the finals next month. Over 200 students from 85 school enterprises across the country will compete in the finals of the Student Enterprise Programme from the 30,000 or so who began the programme in September. A selection of the finalists were in Dublin today for the announcement.
The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices has seen almost 450,000 secondary school students take part since it began in 2003. The 85 shortlisted businesses will exhibit at the National Finals on the 8th May in Mullingar where winners will be announced across the three categories of senior, intermediate and junior and one business will be named Student Enterprise of the Year for 2025.
Gareth Evans, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices’ Enterprise Education Committee, said; “Year on year we see an amazing spread of businesses from across the country in our National Finals. The interest in entrepreneurship and the skills that come with it is increasing all the time and we can see that with the participation levels rising in recent years. This year we have an excellent level of finalist from Junior through to Senior. Again we are seeing some fantastic innovation by students to solve real life problems that they are seeing everyday and they are acutely aware of creating sustainable and competitive businesses. Irrespective of who wins next month these students have skills for life.”
The 85 Finalists cover all sectors of business from a gamified AI study app (StudyTok) and a sea salt hair spray (Tramore Sea Salt Spray) to an online directory for renovating or building a home (Mooving.ie) and a protein enhanced straw (ProSip). The full list of finalists can be viewed at www.StudentEnterprise.ie
The Student Enterprise Programme is open to students of all ages at second level, with three separate categories - Junior (1st year), Intermediate (2nd and 3rd year) and Senior (4th, 5th and 6th year, LVA, LCA and Youth Outreach). There are also prizes awarded for excellence in sustainability and intellectual property.
The Student Enterprise of the Year for 2024 was “High Lift” from St. Patrick’s Classical School in Navan, Co. Meath. The idea, created by Sean Finnegan and his business Finnegan Fabrication, manufactures portable cranes that can be fitted to the interior of commercial vans to help those in construction and similar industries to lift heavy materials in and out.
The Student Enterprise Programme is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 450,000 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 2024 / 2025 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.
The Student Enterprise Programme is one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
PREVIOUS STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME WINNERS
2024
• Junior – Carry Caman, Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, Kerry
• Intermediate – Esker Timber Creations, Presentation College Athenry, Galway
• Senior – High Lift, St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, Meath
2023
• Junior – Grasper, Drumshanbo Vocational School
• Intermediate – Clip Clop Designs, Moyne Community School
• Senior – MC Compactors, Roscommon Community College
2022
• Junior – Sew Stylish - Brigid’s College, Callan
• Intermediate – Earrings by Aoibheann- Loreto College, Dalkey
• Senior – Barrelda – St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan
2021
• Junior – Go Green Now – Salerno Secondary School, Galway
• Intermediate – T-Snappi – Summerhill College, Sligo
• Senior – Coppercase – St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan
2020
• Junior – Sofatop – Ballybay Community School, Monaghan
• Intermediate – Aim It Board – Loreto College, Dublin City
• Senior – Handy Hose – CBS Thurles, Tipperary
2019
• Junior – Specrest – Educate Together, Portmarnock
• Intermediate – Crios Mhadra – Presentation Secondary, Castleisland, Kerry
• Senior – Smooth Remove – Boherbue Comprehensive, North Cork
2018
• Junior – Complete Caman – Presentation Secondary School, CastleIsland, Kerry
• Intermediate – Lift Arm Assist – CBS Kilkenny
• Senior – Abbey Bread – Cistercian College, Roscrea, Offaly
2017
• Junior – Daisy’s Pawesome Bowties – Our Lady’s Secondary School, Drogheda
• Intermediate – Scott Engine Tables - Colaiste Chill Mhantain, Rathnew, Wicklow
• Senior – ROC Protection – Clonkeen College, Blackrock, Dublin
