Waterford, 18 June 2026 – Almost 200 primary school students from across Waterford[DP1]  city and county showcased their creativity, confidence and business ideas at the LEAP (Local Enterprise and Achievement Programme) 2026 Showcase, celebrating 10 years of inspiring young entrepreneurs in the region.

LEAP is a flagship Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) programme, delivered in classrooms with the support of Waterford Local Enterprise Office (LEO). Designed for 4th and 5th class students, the 4-week programme is facilitated by volunteers from the local business community, who share their time and experience to spark students’ interest in entrepreneurship and help bring their ideas off the ground. The students then get to bring their business ideas to life with real world judges from the local business community.

Jacqui Gaule, Waterford Local Enterprise Office, spoke about the value of this early engagement with entrepreneurship:

“We are proud to have supported LEAP over the past decade, introducing students to entrepreneurship at an early stage through hands-on experience of creating and pitching their own business ideas. It provides an important starting point, with many students progressing to second-level mini company initiatives and continuing to build their skills. Each year, it’s inspiring to see the confidence and creativity they bring to the showcase, demonstrating the lasting impact of that early exposure.”[PB2] 

Learning by Doing

LEAP is designed to give students their first taste of a real entrepreneur experience. Working in teams and supported by a business volunteer, students learn how to:

• develop and refine business ideas
• understand customers and market needs
• build brands and products
• apply the 4Ps of marketing
• collaborate, problem-solve and think creatively
• communicate and present with confidence

By the end of the programme, students have created and developed their own business concepts, building not just knowledge, but confidence and ambition.

A Decade of Building Entrepreneurial Mindsets

Over the past ten years, LEAP has become a flagship JAI initiative in Waterford, reaching thousands of students and embedding enterprise education at primary level. Running in over 60% of Waterford schools, the programme has engaged more than 2,000 primary school students, supporting the creation of 350 student-led businesses thanks to 240 local business volunteers.

This sustained impact reflects the programme’s success in helping young people develop essential life skills while gaining an early understanding of how businesses work.

Taking Centre Stage: A Live Pitch Experience

The highlight of the programme is the LEAP Showcase, where students present their ideas in a live pitching environment.

Each team pitches to FROGs (For Recognition of Greatness in Students) - business leaders from the world of work who act as judges, asking questions, offering insights and giving constructive feedback based on their own real-world experience.

This powerful experience allows students to:

• Present their ideas to a live audience
• Respond to real business questions
• Gain valuable feedback from professionals
• Experience the excitement and challenge of pitching

[Rachel O’Dowd, SETU], who served as a FROG in this year’s showcase spoke about the innovative and well thought-out pitches she heard on the day:

“What stood out to all of us FROGs was how practical and well-developed the ideas were. The students showed a very strong grasp of real-world business concepts, and it was clear they had put a lot of thought into their products and how they would bring them to market.”

Connecting Students with the World of Work

Speaking at the 10th anniversary event, Helen Raftery, Junior Achievement Ireland CEO said:

“Reaching this 10-year milestone is a testament to the impact LEAP has had across Waterford. What makes LEAP so valuable is its ability to bring entrepreneurship beyond the classroom, giving students sustained, practical experience by working directly with business volunteers. It’s this combination of learning and real-world experience that helps young people truly understand how ideas are developed and brought to life.”

Looking Ahead

As LEAP marks its 10th anniversary, Junior Achievement Ireland celebrates the thousands of young people across Waterford who have embraced the opportunity to think creatively, work as a team and bring their ideas to life. LEAP is a clear demonstration that with the right support, the next generation is already full of confidence, innovation and potential.