A TEAM from Ennistymon has been named among the finalists for this year’s national Student Enterprise Programme.
BEA Scrubs from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon, the brainchild of Áine Hennigan, Eimear Lernihan and Bríd Áine Rouine, will represent Clare in the junior category final on May 18.
The Local Enterprise Office initiative has seen over 300,000 Irish students take part over the course of its 20-year history.
The announcement of the finalists took place at The Helix in Dublin, the venue for this year’s finals, with this year’s Ambassador, All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Limerick’s Sean Finn.
Over 24,000 students took part in the Student Enterprise Programme this year, which began in September 2021 and returns to a physical National Finals event for the first time since 2019.
From over 24,000 student enterprises, the top five businesses in each of the three categories, Senior, Intermediate and Junior have been selected to go forward to the final at the Helix on May 18 where An Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar will announce the winners.
There is a good spread across the country with eleven counties in total having schools included in the Top 5 Finalists across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories.
Ambassador Finn said, “It’s fantastic to see the variety and talent among the young entrepreneurs we have across the country from the thousands that took part this year.
“Now that we’re at the Final stage we are seeing the best there is out there and some really brilliant ideas have made it to here.
“Ideas not just about being a business, but about solving real issues and problems. The very best of luck to them all on the 18th May and no doubt whoever wins will be following in a long line of successful entrepreneurs.”
Michael Nevin, chair of the Education Enterprise Committee of the Local Enterprise Offices, said; “This is the 20th year of the Student Enterprise Programme and the standard continues to improve year on year.
“There have been some amazing ideas in from across the country and while not all with make the final on the 18th they can be very proud of what they have achieved.
“That experience will stand with them forever and hopefully will light the spark of entrepreneurship with them that they will carry into later life. We are well set to have some great winners here in two weeks time.”