Primary school students honoured at Enterprise Awards Ceremony
Students from primary school around the county were honoured for their enterprise skills at a recent ceremony in the County Library Tallaght.
More than 400000 primary school children accompanied by their teachers attended the Bi Gnothach Awards Presentations 2014 - an enterprise education initiative of the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin.
Each year, with materials and support from the Local Enterprise Office, students mainly from 5th and 6th class in participating schools study what makes a business succeed, idea generation, market research, finance and production culminating in setting up their own business ( in some cases more than one business) and trading both inside and outside
This year 32 schools representing more than 1000 students within South Dublin County took part in the programme and produced a range of viable business ideas including food products and services, seasonal pop up shops, attractive recycled and upcycled craft products, creative magazines and a variety of imaginative arts and crafts enterprises.
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 childrens and cancer charities benefitted from the students largesse.
Amongst the 9 finalists selected for awards this year were Ballyroan Boys NS, Cnoc Mhuire SNS Killinarden, Scoil Mhuire Clondalkin, Solas Chriost Belgard, St Dominic’s NS Tallaght, St Martin De Porres Tallaght, Scoil Treasa Firhouse, Scoil Aine Naofa NS and Divine Mercy SNS Lucan.
Overall Enterprising School of the Year 2014 – went to Divine Mercy SNS Lucan with their business projects Happy Hearts, ABC Crafts and the Black Apple Café . 76 students in the school took part in the programme across 3 classes – including our youngest entrepreneurs ever from 3rdclass. The students carried out in depth market research and called on the mentoring skills of a local entrepreneur for tips and advice.
Sales Awards went to busy craftworkers in Scoil Aine Naofa NS Lucan with their business Finger Puppets which generated €4001 for St Vincent de Paul and to Scoil Treasa SNS Firhouse which achieved impressive sales results for business Get in the Loop wrisbands
Eco Business Award was won by St Martin De Porres NS Tallaght for their innovative eco friendly and quirky Wow Wallets made from recycled milk cartons.
Special Merit Awards – went to Ballyroan Boys NS with their confectionary business Nest-Lay Easter Chocolate Nests; Cnoc Mhuire SNS Killinarden with their business Enterprise Day utilising a variety of skills from baking to hair dressing to pottery painting and more; Scoil Mhuire Clondalkin with their clever and attractive products Amazeballz and Pipetastics; Solas Chriost Belgard with Gro Yo and Flower Power utilising unwanted seeds, jars and pots; St Dominic’s NS Tallaght and Cute Cupids Company which set up a pop up shop in the local community to help sell their products. The aim of the annual Bi Gnothach programme is to promote enterprise education in 5th & 6th class at primary level. More than 11,000 primary school students have been introduced to enterprise education since the programme started in 2005.
Bi Gnothach Programme
The aim of the annual Bi Gnothach programme is to promote enterprise education in 5th & 6th class at primary level. More than 10,000 primary school students have been introduced to enterprise education since the programme started in 2005.
For more information on this programme or any of our other Enterprise Education activities, please contact Ena Coleman in South Dublin Local Enterprise Office @ 01 405 7073 or email ecoleman@leo.sdublincoco.ie
