Second level schools across Waterford are being encouraged to sign-up for this year’s Student Enterprise Programme (SEP) which will see over 28,000 students nationally set-up and run a mini enterprise over the course of the academic year.
The Student Enterprise Programme has been a staple on the secondary school calendar in Waterford for over 20 years with many students continuing their entrepreneurial journey long after they leave school, making their mark on the business world.
Waterford has had success over the years with winners at many levels including overall Senior Enterprise Winner.
Gareth Evans, 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.”
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the Student Enterprise Programme is the country’s largest enterprise programme for second level students, with this year marking the 23rd year of the hugely successful programme. It has had over 400,000 participants since its inception. It’s expected that almost 28,000 students from approximately 500 second level schools across the country will take part this year.
Students from 1st year to 6th year can enter in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. Participants will learn how to create and run their own business, picking up key skills along the way such as ideation, marketing, finance and sales.
The Programme is run through the network of Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, with local coordinators in every area to support teachers and students through the year of the programme, which helps foster entrepreneurship in students and gives them key skills they can bring with them into later life.
Enterprise teacher Gareth Mc Mahon from St. Patrick’s Classical School in Navan, whose student Seán Finnegan took top place in the senior category at the 2024 National Student Enterprise Final says taking part in the SEP is a great way for schools to give their students the opportunity to put the theory of business into practice in real life situations.
He says the benefits for schools taking part are immense - “The Student Enterprise Programme brings the business book to life and unlocks the creativity, talent and entrepreneurship within our students. The benefits to the school are also immense including local and national PR opportunities and in-school guest speakers throughout the year. I would highly recommend other teachers to get involved”.
Seán Finnegan, through his business Finnegan Fabrication High Lift, designed and manufactured a highly innovative portable crane that can be fitted to the interior of commercial vans to help workers lift heavy materials in and out of the vehicle.
The Intermediate Award went to Esker Timber Creations from Presentation College Athenry in Galway. The business, set up by student Cormac Monaghan, manufactures unique wooden products from repurposed pallet wood.
In the Junior category the award went to Carry Camán. The business, set up by Marguerite Herlihy, Seána Walsh, Clodagh Buckley and Lucy Matassa from Presentation Secondary School Castleisland in Kerry, is a high-visability hurley and sliotar holder. It enables users to easily carry their hurling equipment and is also highly visible for those who may walk or cycle to training and matches.
Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 400,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.
The Student Enterprise Programme also has a new range of online resources for 2024/2025 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.
