In Pictures: Laois Student Enterprise winners receive awards ahead of national finals

The two victorious teams from the 2021 Laois Student Enterprise Awards received their winning prizes yesterday.

Both are from Portlaoise CBS and will go forward to represent the county at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Final on Friday May 14.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Laois at the National Finals are Antoni Calka, Clinton O’Eijofor and Ar Rahim SK MD from M-Pouch.

M-Pouch make Eco Friendly pouches from recycled materials for storing face masks when not in use.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Laois will be represented on May 14 by Colm Byrne, Aaron Dooley, Adam Ramsbottom from O-Glo.

O-Glo manufactures handmade candle holders using poured concrete which is fired and spray painted.

Special guests at the Laois Final included Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathoirleach Laois County Council, Cian Prendergast CEO amd Founder of Ortus Technology and 2FM Presenter, Emma Power.

All gave the students some great insights on how to follow your dream and achieve success.

Speaking at the county final, Evelyn Reddin, Head of Enterprise of Local Enterprise Office Laois congratulated the students.

She said: “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Laois, with over 350 students from 7 local schools taking part this year.

“Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on Friday 14th, we’ll all be logged on to support them.

“In what has been a particularly challenging year for students the programme has offered them an outlet outside of the usual school demands.

“What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business.

“The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers.”

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