With so many start-ups and independent companies doing so well in recent years, it makes sense that the future generations are being educated in the area of entrepreneurship.

 

This is exactly what the Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) was created to do, and it is clear from the latest research that our young pupils are benefiting amazingly from it.

 

Devised and led by Jerry Kennelly, in association with Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, this free and nationwide scheme offers free entrepreneurship programmes to primary school children.

 

A not-for-profit organisation, JEP is based on the idea that creating future entrepreneurs begins in primary school, and it has thus far been rolled out in 10,000 schools across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

 

The programme has been praised by primary school teachers around the country, who recently participated in a survey on the impact of JEP on their students.

 

 

Carried out across 330 schools, the survey yielded overwhelmingly positive results, with 87% of teachers admitting to seeing an increase in confidence among those students who participated in the JEP programme.

 

While teachers saw vast improvements in their pupils’ communication and presentation skills, they also noted that JEP greatly benefited their teamwork and decision-making capabilities.

 

As part of the programme, the children start up their own companies and are taught core business values such as management, marketing, sales and finance. In the latest survey, the teachers found that not only did their pupils’ companies generate revenue, but most reported profit.

 

 

Commenting on the findings, JEP’s Jerry Kennelly said: “This latest research shows how much children can benefit from JEP. Introducing children to entrepreneurship and creating a ‘can do’ culture from an early age not only helps with self-esteem and personal development, but it also enables students to better understand subject choices and make career decisions at secondary level.”

 

For more information, visit www.juniorentrepreneur.ie.

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