The Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) is open for business, and teachers can sign up now. It's a real-life, immersive entrepreneurship skills programme for 5th and 6th class Primary School children.
Press play on the image above to watch a special news2day report where Florence went along to St Brigid's Girls NS in Killester, Dublin to find out about their big ideas.
The JEP is offered free of charge to schools on the island of Ireland and the call is out for the business leaders of the future. The class pool their skills and talents to turn an idea into reality and experience real-world success. They forge deeper bonds with each other, and, for many, it is the highlight of their primary school years.
Teachers can download the information pack here.
Visit the Junior Entrepreneur Programme website for full details and to register now.
Over 10,000 children completed JEP in the 2024-25 academic year. Over 120,000 children have created classroom businesses since its foundation in 2010.The businesses created by the participating pupils have achieved sales of over €3 million. The profits generated belong to the participating class, who frequently opt to donate a proportion to charity
Thousands of leading Irish entrepreneurs, including Aimee Connolly, Tom Keogh, Bobby Healy, Aine Kennedy, and Professor Luke O'Neill, have mentored 5th and 6th class Primary School pupils while they create and launch mini businesses in their schools. Children are also inspired by local entrepreneurs invited to the classroom to share their stories. EY Entrepreneur of the Year Alumni also volunteer their time to visit schools in their counties.
The story so far
JEP started in Kerry in 2010. It was rolled out nationally in 2013 with the support of serial entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly. Enterprise Ireland has supported JEP since 2020 under its Primary Schools Entrepreneurship Initiative, highlighting the vital role of entrepreneurship in shaping Ireland's future and the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial culture from an early age.
Click here for more resources for Primary Schools on RTÉ Learn.
