THREE enterprising students helped launch the County and City Enterprise Board’s 2013/2014 Student Enterprise Awards Programme this week.
The three – Matthew Hewston, Fergus Munday and Luke Sheridan – won the national title in April.
They have since joined other winning students at the first ever
‘Winners’ Bootcamp’ at the Nexus Innovation Centre at the University of Limerick, thanks to the support of Ulster Bank.
The biggest programme of its kind in Ireland, the Student Enterprise Awards (www.studententerprise.ie), which is coordinated locally by the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board, attracts up to 16,000 student entrepreneurs from over 300 secondary schools around the country.
Now in its twelfth year, the annual Student Enterprise Programme is run by County and City Enterprise Boards to foster an enterprising culture in Irish classrooms.
With the support of teachers, principals and the local Enterprise Board, students set up and run their own real-world enterprises, before competing against other student enterprises in regional and national finals.
The competition runs from September to May, involving students from First Year to Leaving Certificate.
Michael Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board said the aim was to give students the opportunity, the encouragement and the resources to set up and run their own enterprises.
“By developing important business skills students can also learn how to think more entrepreneurially, both inside and outside the classroom,
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“As the new school year begins, teachers are putting the final touches to their programme and this is an ideal time for schools to get involved in the Student Enterprise Awards.
“We would really like to hear from schools and teachers in the county that may consider introducing the programme.
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The President of the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI), Jennie Harrington, added:
“The programme develops teamwork, innovation and enterprising skills and students really enjoy running their enterprises.
“Participating in the Student Enterprise Awards brings business subjects to life and is great preparation for Business Subjects at Leaving Certificate level. The programme is definitely a springboard for any potential entrepreneurs of the future.
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The Student Enterprise Awards Workbook and DVD will shortly be available for secondary schools free of charge from local Enterprise Boards, with on-line resources for teachers and students at www.studententerprise.ie.