Developing Enterprise Skills at St Patrick’s Primary School, Cullyhanna
Since partnering with Young Enterprise Northern Ireland in 2024, St Patrick’s Primary School, Cullyhanna has embraced opportunities to give pupils practical, engaging learning experiences that connect classroom learning with the world around them.
St Patrick’s is a Catholic maintained, rural school with 289 pupils. Within the school community, 39.8% of pupils are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), 31 pupils have Special Educational Needs (SEN), and 14.03% are newcomer pupils.
Through its Young Enterprise partnership, pupils have had the opportunity to explore topics including their local community, businesses, money, taxation and entrepreneurship, building important skills in decision-making, teamwork and financial capability.
Exploring Our Community
One of the programmes delivered at the school was Our Community, facilitated by Orlagh from Young Enterprise Northern Ireland.
During the workshop, pupils explored the different businesses operating within their local area and considered the important role these businesses play in supporting the community. They were also challenged to think creatively by brainstorming ideas for a new business.
The programme gave pupils an introduction to how communities and economies work. They learned about earning money through jobs and also discovered an important part of working life – paying taxes.
After being “paid” for their jobs during the activity, pupils had to reluctantly hand some of their money back in tax, helping them understand in a fun and memorable way why taxes are collected and how they contribute towards services within a community.
The school described the session as a “brilliant workshop” which the pupils thoroughly enjoyed. One P4 pupil summed up their learning:
“I learned that taxes help pay for things like schools and hospitals, and it was fun figuring it out with the games!”
Turning Ideas into a Real Business
For Primary 7 pupils, their Young Enterprise journey progressed even further through the Business Beginnings programme.
Over a number of months, pupils worked together to develop their own business ideas and create products to sell. In doing so, they experienced many of the decisions involved in running a real business – from generating ideas and planning products to working as a team, managing money and preparing for customers.
Their hard work culminated in the school's Young Enterprise Business Beginnings Sale Day on 8 May 2026.
The whole school community was encouraged to get behind the young entrepreneurs, with children, parents and families invited to attend the sale and support the pupils' businesses. The day was also held as a non-uniform day, helping to create an exciting atmosphere around the event.
The result was a fantastic celebration of enterprise, with pupils proudly selling the products they had spent months planning and creating.
Money raised through the event was returned to the school to benefit the children, meaning the pupils were able to see first-hand how their enterprise activities could make a positive contribution to their own school community.
A Highlight of the Primary 7 Year
Business Beginnings has become a particularly meaningful experience for the school's P7 pupils.
The project brings together learning from across the curriculum while allowing pupils to develop creativity, teamwork, communication, problem-solving and practical business skills.
It also gives pupils a memorable real-life experience during their final year of primary school, helping them grow in confidence as they take responsibility for their ideas and work together towards a shared goal.
Following the 2026 Sale Day, one P7 pupil captured the excitement of putting their learning into practice:
“Our Business Beginnings sale was amazing—we worked as a team, made real money and it felt like running our own shop!”
The school has also seen the impact extend beyond the classroom, with parents reporting that pupils continue talking enthusiastically about what they have learned at home.
The Value of Volunteer Support
A special part of the Business Beginnings programme at St Patrick’s has been the support of Elaine Finnegan from NFU Mutual, who once again facilitated the project with the P7 pupils.
The school praised Elaine's dedication, encouragement and expertise, recognising the important contribution she made to ensuring that the pupils found the programme both enjoyable and rewarding.
Reflecting on the wider Young Enterprise experience, the school said:
“We have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Young Enterprise Programme and cannot recommend it highly enough. It provides our pupils with an invaluable insight into the world of money, finance and business. The sessions are interactive, engaging and fun, making learning both meaningful and memorable.”
The programme has also complemented the curriculum and inspired additional cross-curricular learning, giving pupils opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.
Volunteer involvement is at the heart of many Young Enterprise programmes. By working alongside people who can share their own knowledge and experience, pupils gain an additional connection between what they learn in school and the skills used in everyday working and business life.
Building Skills for the Future
The partnership between St Patrick’s Primary School, Cullyhanna and Young Enterprise Northern Ireland demonstrates the impact that enterprise and financial education can have when introduced from an early age.
From exploring the businesses and services within their local community to experiencing the excitement of creating and selling their own products, pupils are being encouraged to think creatively, make decisions, work collaboratively and understand money in a practical context.
These experiences go beyond learning about business. They help pupils develop the confidence, resilience, communication skills and financial understanding they will carry with them as they progress through education and into their future lives.
For the school, Business Beginnings has become a staple of the P7 year, allowing pupils to take ownership, develop teamwork and leadership skills and channel their creativity into something purposeful. As a rural school, the programme has also helped strengthen community links and create a real buzz locally.
The enthusiasm is already continuing into the next cohort, with younger pupils eager to take part after seeing the experiences and achievements of this year's group.
For Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, partnerships such as St Patrick’s show the value of giving young people the opportunity not simply to learn about the world of work and enterprise, but to experience it for themselves.