Tag Archives: Junior Entrepreneur Programme

News, SCHOOLS

Kerry School Wins ‘Community Champions’ Category In Junior Entrepreneur Programme Awards

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Pupils from 3rd-6th Class, Fybough National School, Castlemaine,  who won the Community Champions award for their classroom business, Photo Buddies as part of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme 2024.  Photo: Jerry Kennelly

THIRD to sixth class in Fybough National School, Castlemaine, received the Community Champions Award for their JEP business, Photo Buddies, in the All-Island Junior Entrepreneur Programme Awards announced today.

Glenderry NS, Kilgarvan NS and Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn also made the Top 30 in the programme this year.

Fybough N teacher, Eileen Lovett, who has been running JEP in her classroom for several years said the pupils were incredibly proud of their project. They set out to capture their sense of place through their own lens and developed invaluable skills along the way.

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To get the project started, the budding entrepreneurs wrote to the Board of Management requesting a loan of 150 euros to get the business up and running, committing to repaying it in full at the end of the year.

To develop their skills, the class then connected with Tara Donoghue. Tara not only has a successful photography business, but she and her team also run photography courses and mentorship programmes. Tara delivered workshops on photography, instructing the children on creative composition and shooting with purpose.

The end result is a series of stunning local landscape photographs taken by the pupils themselves. They also developed their skills in portrait photography and produced a series of engaging photos of the junior pupils with their favourite teddies.

The children held a showcase day in the school to exhibit their work and sell the photographs. Describing their local shop as the hub of the local community, they also approached Eileen and Aidan at Benson’s Quik Pick in Keel, who readily agreed to stock the mounted photographs.

The business has had total sales of  €1,023 and a profit of €663 so far, and the pupils are continuing to fulfil orders. Their success is a reflection of the pupils’ hard work and aility to leverage the support of the local community.

Marie Lynch, the co-founder and Managing Director of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, said that over 12,000 Irish primary school children have launched classroom businesses this year as part of their participation in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme.

“JEP has become a rite of passage for children in primary schools before they move on to secondary school. The class develops a lasting bond by working together to experience real-world success. For many, it is the highlight of their primary school years”, she said.

Three other Kerry schools were named in the Top 30 – an incredible achievement considering JEP received over 200 project submissions.

Fifth class, Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn, Tralee’s project ‘Pebblo Picasso’; 5th & 6th Class, Kilgarvan Central School, Railway Road, Kilgarvan, Project: Kilgarvan Keychains and 6th Class, Scoil Naomh Erc, Glenderry, Ballyheigue, for ‘Crafty Kingdom’.

The Junior Entrepreneur Programme is a real-life, immersive entrepreneurship skills programme for 5th and 6th-class primary schoolchildren; it nurtures confidence, resilience, creativity, problem-solving and teamwork and engages pupils of all abilities. It is offered free of charge to schools on the island of Ireland.

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Business/Property, News

100,000 Children Start Businesses Since Inception Of Junior Entrepreneur Programme

Evan Diggin, 3rd-6th class pupil from Drumnacurra National School, Causeway, Co. Kerry, who were winners of the 2022 Junior Entrepreneur Programme Top Teams award.

THE Junior Entrepreneur Programme, which was founded in Kerry, has reached a milestone of 100,000 children starting classroom businesses since the programme was launched in 2010.

Thousands of Irish entrepreneurs have mentored the 5th and 6th class primary school pupils while they create, invest in and launch mini businesses in their schools throughout the island of Ireland over the past 13 years since the programme was founded.

The businesses created by the participating pupils have achieved sales of almost €3 million, with a significant proportion of the profits being donated to local charities.

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“One of the key changes in the approaches of the classroom entrepreneurs has been the realisation that their entrepreneurial endeavours can make a difference in their locality. As a result, they’ve embraced the concept of social entrepreneurship, funded by their successful classroom businesses,” explained Programme co-founder Marie Lynch.

Initially launched in Kerry, JEP went national in 2013 and has opened the minds of children in every county to Ireland about entrepreneurship in their community.

“The feedback from many pupils is that starting a business is much tougher than they had imagined. Many children cite the biggest challenges as learning to compromise, listening to everyone’s ideas and working as a team,” according to Marie Lynch.

“Through JEP, children experience first-hand just how much fun creating, working and succeeding in business can be”, she said. “The children appreciate every cent when their investment in the business is on the line – and they savour the profit they achieve. Over 10.000 pupils in 400 classes are currently working on their classroom businesses as part of the 2023 programme,” she added.

Successful Irish entrepreneurs have been closely associated with JEP since its inception, including Tweak.com founder Jerry Kennelly, one of the programme’s founders.

Frank Salmon, CMS Distribution Chupi Sweetman of Chupi Jewellery and Sonya Lennon, co-founder of Lennon Courtney, are among the other entrepreneurs who have spent time mentoring pupils in the classroom or online workshops.

For more on the JEP, go to the website https://www.juniorentrepreneur.ie/

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News, SCHOOLS

Causeway School Pupils Win National Junior Entrepreneur Award

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Drumnacurra NS pupils and staff celebrate their win.

PUPILS from a North Kerry school won a national award for their Junior Entrepreneur Programme class business.

3rd-6th Class Drumnacurra National School, Causeway, received the Top Teams Award for their classroom business, The Little Shop of Stitches.  A Kilcummin National School pupil won the Bright Spark Award.

Around 9,000 pupils from almost 300 schools island-wide are taking part in the 12th year of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP).

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The achievement of Drumnacurra pupils is all the more impressive considering they were one of the smallest class groups on the programme this year. There are just nine pupils, ranging from 3rd class to 6th in the classroom.

The class was guided by their teacher, Regina O’Connor, through every step of the process.

They also teamed up with local craft skills teacher and dressmaker, Trish Riordan, who taught the children machine and hand sewing skills and even loaned them sewing machines to complete their eye-catching products.

Joanne Canty, Emma Diggin and Aubree Canty, 3rd-6th class pupils from Drumnacurra National School, Causeway, winners of the 2022 Junior Entrepreneur Programme Top Teams award.

The Little Shop of Stitches produced a range of eye-catching cards and gifts, including scented heart-shaped pouches, Valentine’s cards, Mother’s Day cards and key rings, all hand-made by the children, using only recycled materials.

The class sold their creations at a School Showcase Day and approached three local outlets – Hanly’s, The Forge Café and Flynn’s Shop, which all stocked the products.  The pupils made a profit of almost 400 euros and very generously donated 25% of their to the Causeway Community Playground project.

Sadbh O’ Halloran, Kilcummin National School with Brilliant Beads, the JEP business developed by the 5th and 6th class.

Twelve-year-old Sadbh O’Halloran, a pupil in Kilcummin National School, received the Bright Spark Award for her Pebble Art business idea.

Sadbh creates beautiful, original pieces of art using pebbles and other natural materials. She gives her unique pieces as gifts to family and friends for special occasions. The Bright Spark award recognises the creativity of individual pupils who pitch novel ideas at the idea generation stage of JEP.

Among the other Kerry schools that participated in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme in 2022 were: Kilgobnet National School, Beaufort; Ardfert Central National School; Kilgarvan Central National School; Murhur National School, Moyvane; Firies Mixed National School; Scoil Muire Gan Smál, Castleisland; Scoil Naomh Charthaigh, Castleisland; St. Oliver’s National School, Ballylongford; Scoil Réalta na Maidine, Listowel; Fybough National School, Castlemaine; Faha National School; Scoil Mhuire, Killorglin; Scartaglin National School, and Scoil Chorp Chríost, Moyvane.

News, SCHOOLS

Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn Among Winners In Junior Entrepreneur Programme

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Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn pupils working on their ‘An Nead’ birdboxes as part of their Junior Entrepreneur Programme, when they were visited by Minister for Education Norma Foley earlier this year. Photo by Dermot Crean

GAELSCOIL Mhic Easmainn, Tralee was among the top schools recognised in the national Junior Entrepreneur Awards announced today.

‘An Nead’ was the creation of the 5th Class pupils supported by their teacher Dónal O’Sulleabháin earned them the JEP Community Champions Award 2021.

The brightly-coloured bird boxes were handmade and painted by the pupils. The class came up with the idea during lockdown when they became more aware of the importance of nature and wanted to help biodiversity by creating a safe cosy place for birds to nest.

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The special features of these bird boxes include a removable floor to facilitate easy cleaning, different designs for different species and the use of water-based paint to make it safe for all wildlife.

The pupils sold their product at Tralee Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings. They sold 330 units and made a fantastic profit of €2,040. The pupils donated 10% of the profits to ‘ Green Schools’ Committee and the rest was spent on a class picnic in the local woods.

Three other Kerry schools were also recognised –  Ardfert Central National School, Presentation Primary School Castleisland and Kilcummin National School all received Merit Awards for their project submissions. Details are as follows:

• 6th Class Ardfert Central National School, Ardfert. Teacher: Marie O’Connell; Project: Fab Bits Incorporated.

• 5th and 6th Class Muire Gan Smál Presentation Primary School, Castleisland. Teacher: Claire Smith; Project: Scented Serenity

• 6th Class Scoil Náisiúnta Cil Cuimin, Killarney. Teacher: Patrick Mannix; Project: Key Kings

Nationally, over 3,500 primary school children began their entrepreneurial journey this year while they were learning remotely, finding out about entrepreneurs, and brainstorming ideas over Zoom.

JEP became the ideal vehicle to help pupils bond again as a class on their return to school as they worked in teams to carry out market research, calculate costs, source materials, and design products.

They went on to launch approximately 100 classroom businesses right across the island of Ireland. Schools worked on their projects right up to the conclusion of the school year.

Business/Property, News

Hundreds Of Schoolchildren Working On Their Entrepreneurial Skills

Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn pupils pictured last week are just some of those involved in this year’s Junior Entrepreneur Programme.

PRIMARY school children throughout Kerry are busy building businesses and learning skills for the future as the Junior Entrepreneur Programme has returned.

Twenty six primary schools through Kerry – with many in the Tralee area – and 602 students have signed up to this year’s programme.

The free 12 – 16 week programme is led by Jerry Kennelly of Tweak.com and gives children between the ages of 10 to 12 an insight into running their own businesses.

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They are currently busy deciding on their business idea, holding Dragons Dens, setting up and developing their businesses and marketing their products.

Over the last five years, over 26,500 pupils nationally have benefitted from the programme. It’s now available in 32 counties across Ireland including Northern Ireland.

The programme is aligned to the primary school curriculum in developing skills such as English and numeracy but founder Jerry Kennelly said that it also develops confidence and skills such as problem solving and collaboration.

“It opens up their minds to the thrill of business and the prospect of running their own businesses in the future rather than relying on others for their employment,” according to Mr Kennelly.

Among the Kerry businesses this year are customised fridge magnets, sweet jars, badges, and wooden name plates. For more on the programme click here

Business/Property, News, SCHOOLS

Kerry Primary Pupils Encouraged To Take Part In Entrepreneur Programme

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at the Junior Entrepreneur Programme presentation in Kerry Educate Together. Photo by by Gavin O'Connor.
Pupils from Kerry Educate Together who took part in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme 2016 programme.

IT’S back again for another year and Kerry kids are being encouraged to take part in a programme which has proved a great success over the years.

Some of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs are calling on primary schools nationwide to participate in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme.

The free nationwide programme gives children between the ages of 10 and 12 years a real insight to the business world, by enabling them to convert their commercial ideas into real business opportunities, complete with management teams, sales and especially the thrill of running a successful and profitable business.

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The free 12-16 week programme is led by Kerry businessman Jerry Kennelly and supported by successful entrepreneurs across Ireland, including Anne Heraty (CPL), Niall Norton (Openet), Frank Salmon (CMS Distribution) and Michael Dawson (One 4 All) among others.

JEP is the only initiative that promotes entrepreneurship at primary level. Over the last five years, more than 26,500 national school pupils have already benefitted from the programme.

“All too often entrepreneurship programmes target transition year students at second level, but by then many career decisions and subject choices have already been made. The ideal time to open young minds to the thrill of business is at primary education level, when they are at their most creative and uninhibited in their approach to business ideas and solutions,” said Jerry Kennelly, co-founder of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme and CEO of Tweak.com.

The JEP programme is aligned with the primary school curriculum with participants developing skills and confidence in presentation, drawing, technology, research, numeracy as well as problem solving, collaboration and brand awareness. A full programme kit is provided to schools free of charge, which includes the JEP Teacher’s Guide, posters and classroom display, as well as a dedicated project manager.

In a recent survey, primary school teachers said that the JEP programme supported subjects in the school curriculum, ranking Maths & Science as the key subjects supported, with English and Literacy Skills a very close second and SPHE, Visual Arts and ICT also being supported by the programme.

Almost 90% (87%) of teachers saw an increase in confidence in children participating in JEP in their primary schools, with a further 66% stating that participating in JEP improved the children’s communication skills and their ability to work as a team.

Applications are now open to all primary schools to participate in the Junior Entrepreneurship Programme 2016/2017 at www.juniorentrepreneur.ie. The programme is available nationally and is free for parents, children and schools.

News, SCHOOLS

Kerry Stars Give Boost To Spa NS Pupils In Their Junior Entrepreneur Programme

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THE children of 5th Class in Spa National School have been working hard for the Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP), coming up with the idea of sketching their own set of unique postcards titled, ‘SPA’s Picturesque Postcards’.

And last week they received very special visitors in Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy to launch the project.

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Colm Cooper visits the pupils in Spa NS to give them encouragement with their Picturesque Postcards project.

Teacher of the class, Niall Morgan, said: “We had a thoroughly enjoyable launch day last Thursday 10th March in the school hall, which was attended by special guests Colm Cooper (AIB) and Kieran Donaghy (PST-SPORT). We sold out of stock on the day and are busy manufacturing more product to satisfy orders in the school and local community. It is a delight to be involved in and has proved to be a resounding success.”

Each pack consists of five postcards involving local scenery and wildlife, 1916 commemoration and an Easter themed postcard.

The class was subdivided into five teams to see the project through to completion: Finance Team, Marketing Team, Production and Design Team, Sales Team and Story Telling Team.

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Kieran Donaghy gives encouragement to Spa NS kids with their project.

hannons insertThe project places a lot of emphasis on Team Work, Critical Thinking and Creativity and gives the children great confidence in terms of their Self Esteem and Social Skills.

The JEP is an entrepreneurial education programme specifically for Primary Schools. The programme allows children to conceive, develop and ‘bring to market’ their own business idea and the children gain a real insight into what it takes to create a successful business, whilst also learning about potential pitfalls and unforeseen difficulties that may arise. The programme links seamlessly with English, Mathematics, Visual Arts, ICT and Social/Personal and Health Education (SPHE) in the Primary Curriculum.