High hopes for student entrepreneurs

NORTHSIDE students are looking forward to taking part in the Student Enterprise Awards National Finals at Croke Park today, April 20.

The 2016 awards have received the backing of Kodaline band members who were former student entrepreneurs hailing from Colaiste Choilm Secondary School, Swords and Portmarnock Community School. 

Lead singer Steve Garrigan, and lead guitarist Mark Prendergast set up their own student enterprise 10 years ago, selling music lessons.

“No matter what career you follow later in life, a good understanding of how business works will definitely help you,” said Garrigan. “Setting up a business and selling music classes when we were at secondary school taught us very important lessons about the world of business and that enterprise education has really stood to us.”

Last September some 17,000 student entrepreneurs across 370 secondary schools nationwide set up enterprises, assisted by their schools and their Local Enterprise Offices (LEO). 

Over 2,000 students participated in the Fingal final of the competition in March, making it the biggest in the country.

A total of 300 finalists from all over the country will exhibit displays at the National Finals this week before interviews from the judges. A prize fund is up for grabs for the winning students. 

Oisin Geoghegan, Head of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office, said: “Kodaline have turned an obvious passion and talent for music into a globally-successful business. We are very grateful to them for helping to promote student entrepreneurship in this country.

“By fostering an enterprising culture in the classroom, the local enterprise offices are working with teachers and schools to help nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

For more information, visit www.studententerprise.ie