The students from St Kevin’s Community College in Dunlavin, Loreto Secondary School in Bray, and Avondale Community College in Rathdrum have emerged as the top entrepreneurs in Wicklow and have secured their spots in this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final scheduled for May.
The journey for these young business moguls began on February 27 at the Clermont House, Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew, where they showcased their entrepreneurial skills in the local Wicklow final. A total of 114 students from 13 schools participated in the annual Award ceremony, with a grand total of 1300 students from 20 schools taking part in the 6-month-long Enterprise program.
The Student Enterprise Programme, an initiative supported by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland, involved over 28,000 students from nearly 500 secondary schools in the 2023/2024 event. The program aims to nurture students’ creativity and business acumen by challenging them to create, design, and market their own businesses, all in the hopes of making it to the National Final.
Representing Wicklow in the National Final are Conor Kelly and Eoghan Doyle from ‘The Christmas Scene’ at Avondale Community College (Junior Category), Robyn Fitzsimons and Ayla Ryan from ‘Bling’ at Loreto Secondary School (Intermediate Category), and Laila Fox, Clodagh Flynn, Violetta Molero Miguel and Melanie Gleeson from ‘Plant Paradise’ at St Kevin’s Community College (Senior Category).
The Wicklow Final, which was graced by special guests including MC Louise Cantillon, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, and Eoin Tuohy, Founder of Sports Impact Technologies Ltd, was a display of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
Expressing her admiration for the participating students, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy stated, “I’m so impressed by the variety and high standard of the mini companies on show here. You can tell that this was a great learning experience for the students who present their products with such confidence and flair. The future is bright for our next generation of entrepreneurs!.”
In agreement with Cllr Kennedy, Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, emphasized the importance of educational programs like the Student Enterprise Programme in promoting entrepreneurship among teenagers. She also commended the senior winners for their innovative and sustainable business model, particularly in a time when sustainability is crucial for businesses.
Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Wicklow, praised the students for their accomplishments and recognized the significant impact of the student enterprise program in fostering entrepreneurial skills and business acumen.
The students from Wicklow will go head-to-head with other passionate young entrepreneurs from across the country at the National Final, which will be held at the Mullingar Park Hotel on May 9. It is a platform for these talented individuals to showcase their business prowess and compete against the best in the country.
The countdown begins for the National Final, where these ambitious students will have the opportunity to shine and represent Wicklow on a national stage. The future certainly looks promising for these budding entrepreneurs as they gear up to make their mark in the business world.
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