Media Release                                                                                                 08 October 2023

Intellectual Property Office of Ireland visitSt. Mary’s Secondary School Nenagh to launch Tipperary Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) 2023/2024

An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices of Ireland, the Student Enterprise Programme is the country’s largest enterprise programme for second level students, with this year marking the 22^nd year of the hugely successful programme.  Over 25,000 students from approximately 500 second level schools across the country are expected to take part.  The Programme is run through the network of Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, with local coordinators in every area to support teachers and students through the year of the programme, which helps foster entrepreneurship in students and gives them key skills they can bring with them into later life.

Schools across Tipperary are being encouraged to sign-up for this year’s Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) by new Brand Ambassador and rising Irish media star, Louise Cantillon.  A Limerick native and former second level school teacher herself, Louise will be encouraging the thousands of participating students this year as they embark on their exciting entrepreneurial journey, creating, setting up and running their own business to compete for the top prize of Student Enterprise of the Year.  Louise says she is particularly excited about the roll-out of the new student workbooks as Gaeilge this year, “I am so excited to be working on the SEP project and learning about all the fantastic businesses these young students are going to be working on this year. The fact that the student workbooks are also being published as Gaeilge this year with thanks to the Irish language agency COGG is fantastic and a great resource for all the gaelscoileanna around the country”.

October 2^nd marked the launch of the Tipperary Student Enterprise Awards 2023/'24 programme.  Delighted to host the official occasion was St. Mary's Secondary School in Nenagh, a long standing and enthusiastic supporter of the enterprise programme.  Mary Ryan and Tina Mulhearne representing LEO Tipperary introduced the programme to the assembled entrepreneurs offering very valuable and timely advice “The seed for enterprise starts with that one idea which will hopefully turn into a business”.  

Very appropriate then that also arranged for the entrepreneurs of St. Mary's Nenagh was the opportunity to hear of numerous real-world brand names with which they readily identified in a lively engaging, entertaining and fact filled presentation from Diane O'Dwyer and Caroline Kelly, Executive Officers, Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) ably demonstrating that IP is everywhere. 

For the 2023-2024 programme Anthony Fitzgerald, Head of Enterprise, emphasised the significance of intellectual property in launching a business. He stated, "Each year, the Student Enterprise Programme continues to highlight the exceptional creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our secondary school students in Tipperary. What we consistently observe is the enthusiasm of our students and teachers in this crucial stepping stone in the ongoing entrepreneurial journeys of our students. From the class of 2023-2024, we anticipate the emergence of future business leaders and global entrepreneurs."

Tipperary has had success over the years and last year saw students Kate McKenna, Orla Hayes, Sarah Brett, Issy Carr, Ellen O’Mara under the guidance of their teacher, Ms. Sharon Hynes from Ursuline Secondary School Thurles win Most Commercial Potential for their business Phone K.O.S.I.E in the very competitive Senior Category.

Colaiste DunIascaigh’s Rian O’Keeffe under the stewardship of his teacher Martina Harahill won 1^st prize nationally in the ‘My Entrepreneurial Journey’ category.

CBS Thurles Premier Woodworking Padraic Callanan and Sean Bergin were awarded 2^nd place nationally in the Intermediate Category.  Their teacher Fergus O’Brien is no stranger to success in the programme when his team Handy Hose won 1^st place in 2020 in the Senior category.

Also, four 1^st year students Oran Bourke, Rian O Keefe, Luke Hackett, and Sean Lacey with direction from their teachers Martina Harrahill, Mr. Cunningham and Ms. Treacy from Coláiste Dún Iascaigh got a very special mention at the final prizegiving for their fundraising for the Dillon Quirke Foundation having raised €30,590 with their Student Enterprise Programme business Ard Foireann. 

Students from 1^st year to 6^th year can enter in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories.  Participants will learn how to create and run their own business, picking up key skills along the way such as ideation, marketing, finance and sales.

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 325,000 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 a new range of online resources for 2023/2024 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie , which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.

ENDS