Local enterprise students are bidding for Croke Park final  

SECONDARY students across Fingal are dreaming of a final appearance at Croke Park this year following the launch of the Local Enterprise Offices’ (LEOs) Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) for 2019/2020.

Outgoing Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection Pat Breen and rugby star Josh Van Der Flier launched Ireland’s largest business and enterprise programme for second level students

Fingal has the largest SEP in Ireland, with over 2,500 students from 25 secondary schools taking part in this year’s programme in the hope of making the National Finals in Croke Park on May 1. 

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 LEOs in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 25,000 students from 515 secondary schools across the country take part in 2018/2019.  

Last year proved to be a particularly good year for student entrepreneurs in Fingal, with Malahide-Portmarnock Educate Together School scooping the top prize in the Junior category at the Croke Park final. 

This new school had just opened its doors last September in the Riasc Centre and won the coveted first place at the national awards, proving Fingal’s student entrepreneurs are top of the class!

This year’s programme will see two new pilot competitions across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. 

The first, the ‘My Entrepreneurial Journey’ pilot will be run in the Junior and Intermediate cycle and is open to any students involved in wider competition. It requires them to map out the life of a successful entrepreneur and what is required.

In the Senior category there is a new ‘Most Creative Business Idea’ section. Under the theme ‘Go Green: Be Sustainable’ students can push their most innovative ideas, without having to produce a product or service and it is open to all senior students taking part in the wider competition. 

Speaking to some of the students involved in this year’s programme at the launch, Minister Breen emphasised the importance of them engaging with enterprise and using it to innovate and create solutions for today’s world. 

“The students of today are increasingly aware of the role they can play in changing the status quo,” said Minister Breen. 

“Encouragement of entrepreneurial and innovative skills allows them to change things, to create new opportunities and to contribute to solving some of the many issues facing society today and in the future. 

“This spirit has always been very evident in the Student Enterprise Programme. Every year we see creative young minds bringing fresh thinking to all areas of business, whether it’s innovative design, new software, revolutionary apps, or simply solving a daily issue in some area of life.”