About the Student Enterprise Programme
Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2002, over 300,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has a comprehensive range of online resources 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.
We believe in the importance of educating students at an early age to gain practical experience of how business works. Through this programme the students experience, at first hand, the reality of a commercial environment and develop the skills and knowledge of running a business. The competition starts at county level with representatives from each category – Junior, Intermediate and Senior – going forward to represent Offaly in the National Final.
In order to assist both students and teachers through the programme, the Local Enterprise Office offers every school four workshops in house with a highly experienced and motivated trainer.
Contact Mary McIntyre on 057 9357480 or email mary.mcintyre@leo.offalycoco.ie for more details
The hugely successful Offaly County Finals were held in the Tullamore Court Hotel on 4 March and first placed winners at Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories will go forward to represent Offaly at the National Finals which will be held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on 8 May.
2026 Junior Category winners JCS Plates from Gallen Community School, Ferbane
2026 Intermediate Category Winner from Oaklands Community College, Edenderry with the business “The Woody Buddy"
Senior Category winners SJ Lights from Coláiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac
Offaly has had success over the years in the national finals – In 2023 Cru Capaill Ltd won a Merit Award. In 2021 Hology Photography from St Brendan’s Birr picked up the Excellence in Social Media Award and Abbey Bread from Cistercian College picked up the highly coveted 1st place in the senior category in 2018. Caballis Equine Ltd from Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore won the Innovation Award at the National Finals in 2016 and In the Intermediate Category, Offaly again won the Innovation Award with the business Farm Friendly Feeder from Gallen Community School, Ferbane. In 2015 1st place in the Senior Category was won by Shíofra Ryan from St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr for her specially designed hurling boot “An Tioncar”.
Pocketful of Sunshine, Tullamore College - Most Innovative Product Award
Cistercian Candles from Cistercian College, Roscrea - One to Watch Award
Caorach agus Croí from Killina Presentation Secondary School - Sustainability Award
Fede Rings from Tullamore College - Senior Category Award
Kara's Crochet Creations from St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry
Sentez Bon from Tullamore College - Best Business Report
Wax on Tap from Killina Presentation Secondary School - Best Marketing Award
Four Pines Ornaments from Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore - Best Stand Award
Vita Vo from Coláiste Naomh, Kilcormac - Merit Award
Banco Bosca from Banagher College - Intermediate Category Winners
Katie's Crochet Corner, St. Brendan's Community School, Birr - Junior Category Winner
Website: www.studententerprise.ie / #studententerprise / Facebook: /studententerpriseprogramme / Instagram: /studententerpriseprogramme
