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Midlands Students To Compete In Student Enterprise Programme National Finals

Friday, 28 April 2023 09:57

The finals will take place Friday 5th May.

Midlands Students are set to compete in the National Final of Student Enterprise Programme

Westmeath will have two schools representing the county at nationals this year.

The Senior Finalist is Paper4Nature, from Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan, who recycle wastepaper by turning it into beautiful new products like cards and bookmarks.

The Junior Finalist is You Rock from Moate Community School, who make handmade frames using rocks for gifts and home décor.

Out of over 25,000 entrants, 82 Finalists will compete across three categories on Friday, May 5th in Croke Park.

Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices have one representative each in the Senior category with the remaining Finalists spread across the Junior and Intermediate categories.

The Finalists span a whole range of sectors from agriculture and design to sustainability and healthcare. 

The two midlands businesses won in their respective categories at the Westmeath County Final last month.

The Student Enterprise Programme allows young entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas, and the Westmeath representatives are excited to showcase their businesses at the Final.

The Student Enterprise Programme has seen over 350,000 secondary school students take part in the programme since it first began. 

Participating students compete across three categories, Junior (1st year), Intermediate (2nd and 3 rd year) and Senior (4th , 5th and 6th year, LVA, LCA and Youth Outreach).

Each student enterprise is challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business, which must show viable sales of their service or product.

In addition to the three categories that students will be grouped under by class, students also had the option to take part in further ‘optional competitions’.

This year saw the introduction of three additional categories of optional competitions including – the ‘Best Business Website’ sponsored by .IE, the “Green Go Getter Award” sponsored by the EPA, as well as the “SMART Business Idea” award sponsored by Folens.

These three new awards categories are in addition to ‘My Entrepreneurial Journey’, ‘Social Stars’ and ‘Intellectual Property’ competitions from previous years. 

Last year’s winner of the Student Enterprise Programme were “ Barrelda ” - an eco-innovation created by two young farmers from Co. Meath.

Barrelda specialise in revamping old, blue polythene drums and recycling them to create meal silos and teat feeders.

The young entrepreneurs have won high praise from eco organisations and farming organisations nationwide for their sustainability focused project which also addresses the rising costs of farming equipment.  

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 350,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.  

Junior First Prize Winners

Senior First Prize Award with Judges & Staff

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