Local pupils win big at Junior Entrepreneur Programme Awards

It was announced today that fifth and sixth class pupils at Killeen National School in Birr, Co. Offaly have received the Dynamic Designers award at the All-Island Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) Awards 2024.

The Dynamic Designers Award recognises original design and artwork that pupils create to make, brand and promote their products.

Inspired by the interests of the local community, including farming and horseriding, the children zoned in on the problem of removing mucky boots. They developed Bugsy the Boot Jack, a wooden boot jack in the shape of a rabbit, to help remove boots, wellies, and shoes.

The production team created a template and enlisted parents to help cut out the timber pieces. The whole class rolled up their sleeves to make the finished product - they drew a Bugsy illustration on each piece and attached a stand on the back before sanding and varnishing the boot jack to make it ready for sale. The marketing and communications team designed a logo and created an Instagram page. Next, they made a promotional video ad with the help of the whole class. The sales team invited parents to a showcase day at the school where the boot jacks were on sale.

Making and finishing the product was very labour intensive, so the pupils decided to limit production to 70 pieces. They sold all 70 products and made a profit of €712 euros. The class generously donated €500 of their profits to the Irish Cancer Society Volunteer Driver Service and put the balance towards a celebratory class trip to Dublin.

The Junior Entrepreneur Programme is a real-life, immersive entrepreneurship skills programme for 5th and 6th-class primary schoolchildren and is offered free of charge to schools on the island of Ireland.