www.communityvoice.ie - Top business stories from Dublin 15

Enterprising students in business competition

Teenage entrepreneurs from around Dublin 15 are putting the finishing touches to their business plans as they prepare for the final of this year’s Fingal Student Enterprise Awards, which takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown on March 19th.

Fifteen secondary schools from Fingal will be competing in this year’s finals and the winners of the three sections - junior, intermediate and senior will represent the county at the National Student Enterprise Awards on April 27th in Croke Park. The winners of the senior category will also represent Fingal on a three day educational trip to Barcelona.

Organised by Fingal County Enterprise Board, the Fingal Student Enterprise Programme encourages young entrepreneurs to become their own boss by setting up and running their own student enterprise in the classroom.

No less than nine Dublin 15 schools are taking part in this year’s event – five secondary and four primary and their projects cover everything from Christmas decorations to stress balls and from pre-packed lunches to an egg production and delivery service.

According to a spokesperson for the awards scheme, “there are some very creative ideas among this year’s entrants and there has been great enthusiasm among both the students and teachers in the run up to the county final.”

The Dublin 15 participants:

Secondary schools

Castleknock Community College

Two groups have entered from this school. A team of first year students have made swipe card holder key rings while a group of transition year students have set up a business providing a “lunch on the run” pre-packaged snack bag for teams from the school travelling to sporting events.

Castleknock College

Two groups from the college have entered with one group operating a successful egg production and delivery business while the others have organised a ‘gig’ in the city centre for under age students.

Coolmine Community School

This is the first year that Coolmine has taken part in the programme and they are represented by first year student Dylan Bryans who has produced a book of “Credit Crunch Coupons” as an alternative to expensive mothers day/ fathers day/ birthday Presents. Each voucher entitles the bearer to a treat – e.g. breakfast in bed, cup of tea a day for a week etc.

Hartstown Community School

Hartstown have three groups taking part this year: a first year group who made and sold wooden Christmas decorations and two transition year groups – one group making personalised calendars and the other group who have made stress balls from birdseed and balloons.

Blakestown Community School

A group of LCVP students from Blakestown have entered their project which involved organising and running a disco for primary school children.

Primary Schools

Castaheany Educate Together NS

A 6th class group from the school are making some the newly popular “scoobies” fashion strings and selling them to other pupils in the school.

Mulhuddart NS

5th & 6th class pupils made Christmas cards and decorations as their student enterprise project.
St.Mochta’s NS

Ms. Creighton’s 6th class made bookmarks and sold them at the school’s Christmas Fair.

Sacred Heart of Jesus NS, Huntstown

The sixth class pupils have submitted an entry based around their Christmas table decoration enterprise which comprised candles set in a log decorated with holly. These were sold parents in the school.

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