First live Student Enterprise final in two years

Up to 150 students from 16 schools will take part in the Student Enterprise Programme County Final, during Local Enterprise Week, on Wednesday, March 8 at the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny. e enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise O ces in local authorities throughout the country, saw more than 25,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2021 / 2022.

e programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals.

Speaking to last year’s winner of the Best Commercial Potential Award, Molly Burke, with Molly’s Jewel’s, from Coláiste Pobail Osraí advises this year’s entries that she has “learned a lot from setting up and running my own business as part of the Student Enterprise Programme, so much so, that I have now set up another business. e Student Enterprise Programme gives you the knowledge of how to set up and run your own business. Once you have done it once, you’ll know how to do it again in the future, so give it a go, and see how you like it.”

Council Cathaoirleach Pat Fitzpatrick said: “Kilkenny students are learning the right supports and encouragement from the programme that they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. e skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future career.”

Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise (Acting), Local Enterprise O ce, Kilkenny said: “ e Student Enterprise County Final is always an enjoyable event in which we look forward to every year. It is great to get back to physical events and we look forward to viewing all of the student exhibitions on the day.” e County Final exhibition will be open to the public from 1pm with the Awards Ceremony taking place at 1.45pm and with entertainment by Kilkenny’s own Robert Grace, most viewed Irish Artist on TikTok 2022 & over 2.3 million social media followers. Further information from www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny or www. studententerprise.ie

Pictured right are Molly Burke, Colaiste Pobail Osrai, and Rosie Dunne, SEP Co-ordinator