Local ingenuity on show at Student Enterprise Programme

While it was Scoil Mhuire Kanturk that took the top prize at the Student Enterprise Programme finals in north Cork, students from across the region proudly showed off their ‘Dragon’s Den’ skills and experienced what it’s like to start a business from the ground up.

Local students took part in the North Cork Final on March 14th at Springfort Hall Hotel, where the event was attended by Limerick hurling All-Star and Student Enterprise Programme Ambassador, Sean Finn.

Organised by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), part of Cork County Council, the programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the national finals.

Speaking at the final, Kevin Curran, Head of Enterprise with LEO North Cork, said that the area’s students had represented the locality very well over the years.

“North Cork has had great success over the years with ‘ Smooth Remove’ from Boherbue Community School going on to win first place in the national awards in 2019, and ‘Wrap it Up’ from Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown, picking up the Best Display Award. Boherbue also won the National Innovation Award last year with ‘Pole Pals’. We are very proud of the calibre of entries this year and look forward to supporting our finalists in Dublin.”

The Student Enterprise Programme involves approximately 25,000 students from 500 secondary schools every year. It runs from September to May, and the 2022/2023 national final takes place online on May 5th.