Resources to Support Teenage Entrepreneurs Launched
New resources, including a teachers’ manual, student workbook and helpful tips from successful entrepreneurs, were launched by Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen in County Wicklow on Wednesday November 7. The launch took place at Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Kilcoole, the school of Luke Byrne, the 17-year-old inventor behind ‘Headphone Helpers.’ Byrne won the Senior Category at the National Student Enterprise Awards earlier this year in Croke Park for his invention of a silicone band to keep earphones tangle-free
The resrouces are intended to help the more than 20,000 participants in the Student Enterprise Programme. Organised and run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, the year-round Student Enterprise Programme is the biggest enterprise education initiative of its kind in the Country with students from 620 schools taking part every year across three categories.
“This programme, and the new resources that are being launched today, ensures that entrepreneurship becomes a natural option for our young people as they discover their passions,” Breen said. “We want to nurture Ireland’s future entrepreneurs and business leaders. It is great to see both teachers and entrepreneurs coming together to ensure that this solid base is built into our schools”.
At the 2015/2016 National Final of the Student Enterprise Programme in April this year, the Junior Category winners were from St. Oliver Post Primary School in County Meath. Their winning invention was called ‘Amor,’ a modified stirrup tread for horse-riding. The Intermediate Category, which is open to second and third year students, was won by ‘Inish Wood Working’ from Scoil Mhuire Buncrana from County Donegal for their hand-crafted giftware.
