Students from two Waterford schools set to represent county at Student Enterprise finals

Entrepreneurial students from two Waterford secondary schools are set to go forward to represent the county at the National Student Enterprise Finals in May. 

Tramore Sea Salt Spray from Ard Scoil na Mara won Best Senior Student Enterprise in Waterford and qualifies for the National Student Enterprise Finals, joining Protein Pros from Mercy Convent secondary school who won Best Junior Student Enterprise at the recent Waterford county finals.

The Waterford Student Enterprise Programme started in September with over 1,000 students from 14 schools in Waterford City and County. They created their businesses, developed, branded, promoted and sold. But most importantly they learned what it felt like to run their own business.

One hundred students represented 12 schools in County Waterford competed in the Waterford Student Enterprise Final on Tuesday, March 4 at the Park Hotel in Dungarvan. 

A total of 36 businesses, shortlisted from a total of 350 who commenced the competition in September, presented their business plans and challenged for the top prize in the county section of the Student Enterprise Programme.

Tramore Sea Salt Spray, winner of the Senior award, created, produced and sold a unique product to enhance hair texture and volume by using natural mineral-rich sea salt, giving your hair a beachy, tousled look while also nourishing and strengthening it. 

The team comprised of Ben Phelan, Arlo Barron, Donnacha Flannery and Sam Ahern.

While the first Junior winners in Waterford in nearly 10 years produced a product similar to protein balls, however they made various different protein shapes instead. They offered multiple flavours including biscoff, dairy milk, and peanut butter in the shape of stars and hearts. 

The team included Sophie Wall, Emily O’Regan, Casey Wyse and Layla Costello.

Tramore Sea Salt Spray and Protein Pros will represent Waterford at the National Finals on May 8, taking on 34 other businesses from across the country.

National finalists from all over the country will set-up enterprise displays before taking part in a series of judges' interviews. The judging panels take numerous factors into account, such as business reporting, innovation, market research, risk management and finances.

Praising the teachers and local schools involved in the programme, Gareth Evans, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, said: “We run a very successful and popular Student Enterprise Programme here in Waterford, thanks to the support of the many schools and teachers in the area. 

“The Student Enterprise Awards give local teenagers a taste of what it’s like to run their own business and to be their own boss. Along the way, the programme helps them develop important entrepreneurship skills, learning about sales, innovation, managing finances and finding new markets. Learning the fundamentals of running a business now, will help them throughout their studies and career.”

Further information about May’s National Finals is available through studententerprise.ie, which also has free resources and video tutorials for students and teachers for the 2025/2026 programme.