Ferrybank business wins Senior Student Enterprise Award
Teenage Dirtbag from Abbey Community College wins Best Senior Student Enterprise in Waterford and qualifies for the National Student Enterprise Finals. Joining the Ferrybank business is Sweeteners from Mercy Convent secondary school, who won Best Junior Student Enterprise.
The county final took place on Wednesday March 11th at the SETU Arena where Deputy Mayor, Cllr. John Pratt presented the awards to the winners. Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, the competition is the most successful programme of its kind in the country. Nearly 30,000 student entrepreneurs from 380 secondary schools across the country have been running their own enterprises, with help from their teachers and Local Enterprise Offices. Teenage Dirtbag, winner of the Senior award, was created by Lilly Magee. She produced and sold a natural, environmentally friendly gear bag deodoriser. Lilly wanted to, “Combine handcrafted quality, all-natural activated charcoal technology, and playful, relatable branding that speaks directly to the sports community, while being budget-friendly and environmentally conscious.”
While last year’s Junior winners, the first in Waterford in nearly 10 years came from the Mercy Convent secondary school, this year the Mercy repeated the feat with a 1st year business named Sweeteners. The business was founded and run by Sara Malaj and sold deserts such as brownies and cookies both inside the school and to businesses in Waterford. The Waterford Student Enterprise Programme started in September with over 1,000 students from 14 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, 80 students represented 10 schools in Waterford County competed in the Waterford Student Enterprise Final on Wednesday March 11th at the SETU Arena. 35 businesses in total, shortlisted from a total of 350 who commenced the competition in September, presented their business plans and challenged for the top prize in the county section of the Student Enterprise Programme. Teenage Dirtbag and Sweeteners will represent Waterford at the National Finals on May 7th, taking on other county winners, the best of the rest of the country.
National finalists from all over the country will set-up enterprise displays before taking part in a series of judges' 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, Gareth Evans, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, said: “We run a very successful and popular Student Enterprise Programme here in Waterford, thanks to the support of the many schools and teachers in the area. The Student Enterprise Awards give local teenagers a taste of what it’s like to run their own business and to be their own boss.
“The Student Enterprise Awards 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 2026/2027 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
