Student Enterprise Programme
The Student Enterprise Programme is one of LEO Longford’s core offerings. The initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw 25,000 students from over 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2022-23.
What is the Student Enterprise Programme?
- Enterprise education programme run by the Network of Local Enterprise Office of Ireland (LEOs)
- LARGEST & MOST SUCCESSFUL student enterprise programme with over 25,000 STUDENTS taking part each year.
- Runs from September to May each year
- Students get to set up their own business and do everything a real life entrepreneur would do….. from coming up with the business idea to marketing & writing a business plan
- County Finals take place in February/March each year in each county
- One student team goes forward to take part in the National Final in May to be named Student Enterprise of the Year
Categories
- Junior Category: 1st year students
- Intermediate Category: 2nd and 3rd year students
- Senior Category: Transition Year, 4th year, 5th year, 6th year, LCA, LCVP and Youth Reach students*.
*Each student must be no older than 18 years old on the day of the National Final.
In Longford between 7 and 8 schools take part in the programme every year. In 2022-23 almost 400 students from 8 schools took part in the programme with over 100 students from 7 schools bringing their small businesses forward to the County Longford Final. The Local County Final took place on Thursday, 29th February 2024.
Teenage entrepreneurs from Ardscoil Phadraig, Ballymahon Vocational School and Moyne Community College will go on to represent Longford at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme national finals. The finals take place on Thursday, 9th May in the Mullingar Park Hotel. In the junior category, Longford will be represented at the national final by Maria Kelly from ‘Hat Scents’ at Ardscoil Phadraig, Granard. Grainne McKenna and Sarah Mollaghan from ‘Trendy Threads’ at Moyne Community School will be representing the county at the national final in the intermediate category. Finally, in the senior category of the competition, County Longford will be represented on 9 May by Kiera Hopkins, Lára Flood and Grace Cassells from ‘Handle Holders’ at Ballymahon Vocational School.
In 2023, Caitlin Morris, a student from Moyne Community School, Co. Longford created history by winning 1st prize in the Intermediate Category. This was the first year that Longford had a main category winner at national level. The mini- enterprise named: ‘Clip Clop Designs’ repurposes horseshoes to make colourful decorations for the home. Caitlin impressed the judges with a real business acumen and a commitment to excellence that will make her one to watch in the future.
Longford has had significant success over the years in the national competition. Recent national awards have included Best Endeavour in 2022 for ‘Saoirse’s Bakes and Cakes’ from Moyne Community School; Best Commercial Potential in 2021 for ‘Handy Hooks’ from Ballymahon Vocational School; Best Commercial Potential award 2018 for ‘Reel Easy’ from Moyne Community School and 2nd place in the Senior Category in 2017 for ‘J & S Kitchen Aid’ from Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon.
Full details on the Student Enterprise Programme can be found at Student Enterprise.
