Aviva set for Enterprise Final

A NORTHSIDE secondary school student will take part in the Student Enterprise Awards national finals in Croke Park this week. Aviva Kearney, from Sutton Park School, met Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton and the Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, ahead of the finals this Wednesday, April 22.

Her business,

‘Holly’s Pets Patisserie’, produces handmade nutritional treats for dogs.

Aviva will be representing Fingal in the senior category. In the intermediate category, Ryan Corneille, from

‘Book Snaps’ in Skerries Community School, is flying the flag for the county at Croke Park.

In the junior category, Fingal will be represented by Hannah Killeen, Emily Kilcar, Sophie Finn and Lucy Ryan of

‘LOK’, from Santa Sabina Dominican College in Sutton.

A total of 300 secondary school students, representing every county in Ireland, will gather at the GAA’s headquarters to build their enterprise displays.

In total, 74 different student enterprises across three categories have made it through to the 13th annual Student Enterprise Awards national finals, which is co-ordinated locally by the Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

The two ministers had words of encouragement for the teens, as they prepared to face the judges to win a share of the

?¬10,000 prize fund.

“In Ireland we have great entrepreneurs, we just don’t have enough of them,

? said Minister Bruton.

“That is why as part of our Action Plan for Jobs we are seeking to support more young people to choose entrepreneurship as a career choice.

“The Student Enterprise Awards programme is a hugely important part of this. With 17,000 students from 370 secondary schools researching and running their own businesses, this is a hugely successful programme.

?

Minister Bruton added:

“I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s finalists and I wish them the very best of luck with their businesses on April 22.

?

Minister English, who will present the awards, said:

“By supporting the aspiring entrepreneurs of today the Local Enterprise Offices are fostering the job creators of tomorrow.

“I am very encouraged to
see the innovative and inspirational youth of today and I
wish them all the very best of luck.

?

Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at Fingal County Council, highlighted the wide range of student enterprises taking part this year.

“We are very impressed by the variety and diversity of the student-run businesses this year,

? he said.

“Technology companies are very popular, along with craft, farming and sports-related businesses.

“Through this hands-on programme, students are learning very valuable lessons about the world of business, that will help them both inside and outside the classroom.

?

Further updates around the Student Enterprise Awards are available through www.studententerprise.ie or by searching #studententerprise on social media.