Wicklow finalists announced for top Student Enterprise Awards

Finalists in the 2024 Student Enterprise Programme National Final with Brand Ambassador, Louise Cantillon and representatives from Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and the Local Authorities of Ireland promoting the event which takes place on May 9 in Mullingar.

Eoin Mac Raghnaill

Thu 25 Apr 2024 at 10:15

Several Wicklow students have been named among the national finalists for Ireland’s largest student entrepreneurial programme ahead of the finals in Mullingar next month.

Over 80 of Ireland’s brightest young entrepreneurial minds will compete in the finals of the Student Enterprise Programme from the 26,000 or so who began their businesses in September, with a selection of the finalists joining Student Enterprise Programme Ambassador and radio and TV star Louise Cantillon in Dublin recently for the announcement.

The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices has seen almost 400,000 secondary school students take part since it began in 2003. The 81 shortlisted businesses will exhibit at the National Finals on May 9 in Mullingar, where winners will be announced across the three categories of senior, intermediate and junior, and one business will be named Student Enterprise of the Year for 2024.

The Student Enterprise Programme is open to students of all ages at senior level, with three separate categories – Junior (1st year), Intermediate (2nd and 3rd year) and Senior (4th, 5th and 6th year, LVA, LCA and Youth Outreach).

Several prizes recognise achievements across specific categories – including the “Best Business Website”, “Sustainability Award”, the “Smart Business Idea”, the “My Entrepreneurial Journey”, “Finance Award”, “Technology Award” and “Intellectual Property” competitions from previous years.

The finalists cover all sectors of business, from seaweed harvesting and medical identification to farm safety and portable cranes. For the programme, each student enterprise is challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business and must show viable sales of their service or product.

Councillor Aoife Kennedy Flynn, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council, said: “Wishing all our Wicklow students the best of luck on May 9 at the National Finals, and to enjoy the experience.

“Be very proud of yourselves. You have taken an idea from your classroom and created a business, learning so many skills on the way, so well done!’

Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, added: “I wish all the Wicklow Senior and Junior winning teams all the best at the National finals on 9th May in Mullingar, what an incredible experience for all these students, and whatever the outcome, the opportunity of representing the County is one they should be very proud of.”

Michael Nevin, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices’ Enterprise Education Committee, said: “Year on year, we see an amazing spread of businesses from across the country in our National Finals.

“The interest in entrepreneurship and the skills that come with it is increasing. Last year we had one of our biggest participation figures for the programme with over 28,000 taking part. These students are hugely engaged with the challenges of creating a running a business, and not only that, but they want to create businesses that will make a difference in the world.

“And whatever the finals, and the future, holds for these students these skills will stand by them.”

The Student Enterprise Programme also has a new range of online resources for 2023 / 2024 at StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and house a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.