Enterprise awards for primary school heroes

By William O’Connor

STUDENTS from primary schools around the South Dublin County were honoured for their enterprise skills at a recent ceremony in County Library Tallaght.

Around 50 primary school children accompanied by their teachers attended the Bí Gnóthach Awards Presentations 2016 – an enterprise education initiative of the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin.

2016 marked the 11th Anniversary of the Primary School Enterprise programme in the county which this year, saw 29 schools taking part representing approximately 950 students.

Since the programme started back in 2005, 11,000 primary school students have been introduced to enterprise education in the county, studying what makes a business succeed, generating winning ideas, carrying out market research, raising finance and producing goods and services.

Many schools have participated in the programme every year since its inception demonstrating the strong entrepreneurial ethos underpinning these schools.

This year’s cohort of entrepreneurs set up a range of viable business projects including food products and services, attractive recycled and upcycled craft products, Entertainment and Leisure services, horticultural goods, seasonal decorations and more.

Participating schools submitted colourful posters, materials and samples depicting their efforts as well as enterprise diaries recording their market research, sales and finances. Samples of this work has been on display in the County Library Tallaght for the month of June.

Students usually opt to donate profits to charities of their choice or and their own school. This year many charities benefitted from the students largesse.

Speaking at the Awards, Head of Local Enterprise Colm Ward said of the students;

”The real heroes are you, the teachers, principals and the students who grasped the programme and showed your entrepreneurial spirit inside and outside the classroom”

Among the 10 finalists selected for awards this year were Scoil Íde Clondalkin, St Mary’s NS Rowlagh, St Mark’s SNS, Tallaght; St Ronan’s N., Scoil Treasa Firhouse, Scoil Chaitlin Maude Tallaght, St Thomas’ SNS Jobstown, St Bernadette’s Quarryvale, Edmonstown NS and Ballyroan BNS.