The Waterford Student Enterprise Programme started in September with 1,000 students from 15 schools in Waterford City and County. They created their businesses, developed, branded, promoted and sold. But most importantly they learned what it felt like to run their own business.
Finally, 130 students representing 12 schools in Waterford county will compete in the Waterford Student Enterprise Final on Tuesday March 3rd at the Tower Hotel in Waterford City. 46 businesses in total, shortlisted from a total of 350 who commenced the competition in September will present their business plans and challenge for the top prize in the Waterford Student Enterprise Programme.
Caoimhe Keane and Lauren Douris from Hidden Access from Ard Scoil na nDeise in Dungarvan, winners of the Senior award at the Student Enterprise County Final 2019.
The winner will represent Waterford at the National Finals on May 1st in Croke Park taking on 34 other businesses, the best of the rest of the country.Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, the competition is the most successful programme of its kind in the country. 27,000 budding entrepreneurs from 380 secondary schools across the country have been running their own enterprises, with help from their teachers and Local Enterprise Offices.
Finalists from all over the country will set-up enterprise exhibition displays before taking part in a series of judging interviews. The judging panels take numerous factors into account, such as business reporting, innovation, market research, risk management and finances.
Praising the teachers and local schools involved in the programme, Richie Walsh, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, said: “The Student Enterprise Programme encourages and enables students to take on the world of business and develop an entrepreneurial mind-set. 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.”
Further information about May’s National Finals is available through www.studententerprise.ie, which also has free resources and video tutorials for students and teachers for the programme.
For more information, please contact your Local Enterprise Office at 35 the Mall in Waterford City or Civic Offices in Dungarvan. Alternatively, you can email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie .
