Students across the county are 'getting down to business' this month, as the annual Student Enterprise Programme kicks off once more.  This national programme, co-ordinated locally by the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow encourages second level students to set up and run their own business, giving them the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and the real life experience of being their own boss.

The Student Enterprise Programmeis the largest of its kind with over 16,000 students from across the country taking part last year. Earlier this year, Joshua Dargan-Hayes from St. Gerard’s school in Bray represented the county in the intermediate category with his company 'Connect Shade' and he took home the overall national award for innovation in his category. Wicklow Students are proving to be very entrepreneurial indeed as this year, as once again the participation levels in the county have grown.  

The programme is open to all second level schools, and runs from now until next March, when participating schools will forward their enterprises to compete in the county final in which will take place on Thursday 19th March, in the Clermont campus in Rathnew.  There are plenty of supports for students and teachers available throughout the programme from the Local Enterprise Office, including workbooks, workshops and visits from local entrepreneurs. 

To learn more about the Student Enterprise Programme, visit  www.studententerprise.ie or contact Serena Bryans, Student Enterprise Coordinator for Wicklow, on 086 411 9200.