The Student Enterprise Programme
The Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) is the largest enterprise competition for students in Ireland. The Programme is co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices and students have the opportunity to establish real life businesses and prepare real business plans with guidance of their teachers and coordinators.
Annually, approximately 29,000 students from nearly 500 schools across the country take part in the programme. The competition is divided into Junior, Intermediate, and Senior categories, catering to different age groups. This year marks the 22nd year of the programme, with over 300,000 students taking part in the Programme since it commenced. By participating in the programme, students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical skills in creating and running their own businesses. They learn essential skills such as ideation, marketing, finance, and sales, which are crucial for success in the business world.
Fingal has achieved national success in the competition with students from Loreto Balbriggan, Emily Carroll, Lucy Barnwell, and Hannah Barnwell, who won the Special Merit prize in the Intermediate category in 2020/2021 for their product Bee Happy. In 2019, Ava Gilmartin from Malahide-Portmarnock Educate Together claimed first prize in the Junior category at the National Student Enterprise Programme. Most recently, James Harcourt, Adam Li, Oran O’Neil from Castleknock College won Best Commercial Potential in the Junior Category with their student enterprise Dr in the 2022/2023 competition.
The competition is in alignment with the business studies curriculum and is a rewarding experience for second level students who have the freedom to develop and grow their own business along with their classmates. Introducing enterprise to students through the SEP can only help to create more innovative, future entrepreneurs.
Fingal’s Student Entrepreneurs recently gathered at County Hall on September 13th to launch the 2023/24 Fingal Student Enterprise Programme. 16 Second level schools with over 600 students across Fingal have already signed up to participate in this year’s programme. Under the guidance of business mentors, the students will engage in thorough research and resource the necessary products before beginning trading with their own business.
The Head of Enterprise at Fingal, Oisin Geoghegan, and Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy joined the previous year's Fingal Student winners and sponsors of the Fingal competition to launch the 2023/2024 competition.
Fingal takes pride in having the largest enterprise programme prize fund for second level students in the country. The programme offers an exciting opportunity for students to compete and showcase their entrepreneurial talents. The senior category winning student and teachers are rewarded with an international educational trip to Spain, adding an extra incentive for participants.
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. Supported by sponsors including One4All, Simtech Aviation, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, and Dublin & Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board [DDLETB], the programme is open to all secondary school students from 1st year through to 6th year.
For further information on the Student Enterprise Programme please contact Local Enterprise Office, Fingal:
Tel: 01 8900 800 E-mail: info@leo.fingal.ie
