Local students display entrepreneurial talent

STUDENT entrepreneurs from Colaiste Choilm in Swords and Coolmine Community School showcased their innovative products at the Blanchardstown Centre ahead of the 2019/20 Fingal Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) final.

Twenty-nine second level schools with some 2,700 students are participating in this year’s programme, which is once again the biggest Student Enterprise Programme in the country.

The SEP is co-ordinated by the LEOs and involves 26,000 students from more than 480 secondary schools every year.

Students create real life businesses and prepare real business plans with guidance of their teachers and coordinators.

While thanking Blanchardstown Centre for their patronage of the Fingal SEP, Oisín Geoghegan, Chair of the LEO Network and Head of Enterprise Fingal, explained the impact which the programme has in Fingal.

"We are very grateful for the continued support of the Blanchardstown Centre, which enables us to reach our young entrepreneurs,” said Mr Geoghegan.

“The Student Enterprise Programme aims to instil that entrepreneurial spark in our students, which is invaluable to develop the local economy.

“To see the some of these amazing ideas, become viable businesses, is inspirational not only to their fellow students but to anyone involved in business and entrepreneurship."

Marketing Manager Designate of Blanchardstown Centre, Niamh Garrahan, said: "We are genuinely delighted to once again be part of this brilliant initiative with the Local Enterprise Office.

“The Student Enterprise Programme gives secondary school students the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills and it’s always a great day at the finals in Blanchardstown!”

The Fingal SEP final will take place on Thursday, March 19 at the Sport Ireland Campus Blanchardstown. The overall winner in each category – Junior, Intermediate and Senior – will fly the flag for Fingal in the national finals in Croke Park in May.

More information can be found at www.studententerprise.ie