15th March 2016
The most enterprising secondary school students in Dublin City are taking centre stage at the Student Enterprise Awards City Final, which takes place tomorrow in the Printworks in Dublin Castle (Tuesday, March 15th).The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D. and Councillor Daithí Doolan are among the special guests.
Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Office Dublin City, the competition is the most successful student enterprise programme of its kind and 177 students from 23 secondary schools have qualified for this year’s City Final.
Since the programme was launched last September, the budding entrepreneurs have been running their own enterprises and learning about the world of business, with help from their teachers and Local Enterprise Office Dublin City. After setting up presentation stands inside the Printworks at Dublin Castle, the students will be interviewed by expert judges, ahead of the announcement of winners tomorrow afternoon.
Last year, three student enterprises from local schools represented Dublin City at the Student Enterprise Awards National Finals in Croke Park. They were: ‘Aicha’s Sweet Scents’ from Our Lady of Mercy College in Beaumont in the Junior Category; ‘Precious Moments,’ also from Our Lady of Mercy College in Beaumont in the Intermediate Category and finally, ‘Three Timely Tales’ from St. Michael’s Secondary School in Finglas in the Senior Category.
Councillor Daithí Doolan, representing the Lord Mayor at the event, said “I want to congratulate everyone who took part in this year’s School Enterprise Competition. The variety of original concepts and products at this year’s event showcases the ability of Irish students in generating potential business opportunities both at home and abroad. I commend the students, parents and teachers for their hard work and dedication to this project and I wish the winners every success as they go forward to the National Finals”.
Approved quote to be inserted here for Minister Bruton
“A key part of our plans for jobs and growth is encouraging more businesses to start up, expand and create the jobs we need. Central to this is encouraging more students to consider entrepreneurship as a real career option. Through the Dublin City Student Enterprise Awards, he Local Enterprise Offices have, once again, demonstrated their commitment to bringing a taste of real life business into the classroom. By supporting the aspiring entrepreneurs of today, the LEOs are fostering the job creators of tomorrow.
“I believe it is hugely important to continue to develop links between the education system and the real economy, so that school leavers are adequately equipped with the skills, expertise and practical knowledge of business operations that will enable them to consider self-employment as a career option. I congratulate all involved in this project and wish them every success for the future”.
“The Student Enterprise Awards encourages and enables students to get a taste for running a business and developing 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,” said Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise Office.
After the results are announced at the City Final, the local winners will be competing with up to 300 other student entrepreneurs at the Student Enterprise Awards National Finals. Those are taking place in Croke Park on Wednesday April 20th and involve student entrepreneurs from every county in Ireland. Further information around the Student Enterprise Awards is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
For further information contact:
Dublin City Council Media Relations Office T. (01) 222 2170, M. 087 740 0277
https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil
Participating schools in Dublin City Student Enterprise Awards Final on March 15th:
- St. Paul's College, Sybil Hill, Raheny, Dublin 5
- St. Aidan's C.B.S., Collins Avenue Ext, Whitehall, Dublin 9
- St. Dominic's College, Cabra, Dublin 7
- St. Kevin's College, Crumlin, Dublin 12
- Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf, Dublin 3
- Loreto College, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
- Alexandra College, Milltown, Dublin 6
- St. Joseph's C.B.S., Fairview, Dublin 3
- Our Lady Of Mercy College, Beaumont, Dublin 9
- Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
- St. Michael’s Secondary School, Finglas , Dublin 11
- St. Conleth's College, 28 Clyde Rd., Dublin 4
- Institute of Education, Leeson St, Dublin 4
- Sandford Park College, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
- Mercy College, Coolock, Dublin 5
- Terenure College, Templeogue Rd., Dublin 6w
- Beneavin de la Salle College, Finglas, Dublin 11
- St. Declan’s, Cabra, Dublin 7
- St. Louis High School, Rathmines, Dublin 6
- Stratford College, Rathgar, Dublin 6
- St. Kevin's College, Finglas, Dublin 11
- St Mary's Secondary School, Glasvevin, Dublin 11
- John Scottus, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
Member of Judging Panel for Dublin City Student Enterprise Awards Final:
- Conor O’Loughlin, Network IT
- Leo O’ Connor, Frame FX Picture Frames
- Sean Brosnan, Freelance Photographer
- Anna DeCourcy, The Classic Group
- Owen Barry, Create
- Barry Lambkin, Medichem
- Paul Flynn, Flynn Signs & Display
- Steven Phillips, Number 8 Studio
- Austin Mann, Snap Printing Jervis
- Peter Fitzgerald, Peter Fitzgerald & Associates
- Eamonn Gibney, The HR Dept Ltd
Student Enterprise Schools Committee for Dublin City
- Pat Walsh, Sky Business Centres (Chair)
- Peter Sheridan, LEO Mentor
- Owen Barry, Create
- Trish Cooney, Business Studies Teacher
- Deirdre Bredin, Business Studies Teacher
- Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise, LEO Dublin City
- Ailish Smyth, LEO Dublin City
- Claire Byrne, Real Nation (Student Enterprise Co-Ordinators)
- Joe Byrne, Real Nation (Student Enterprise Co-Ordinators)
Local Enterprise Offices
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are now the ‘first-stop-shop’ State support service for micro and small businesses in each local area. The LEOs provide advice and direction, covering all government supports and requirements, to anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. They can also provide funding for projects that meet certain criteria, generally with regard to export potential, and other non-financial supports such as training and mentoring.
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