HSBC’s Jaime Amoedo, head of commercial banking and senior manager in the Isle of Man, has been appointed to the board of local educational charity Junior Achievement.

The bank has supported a variety of the charity’s initiatives and activities.

Earlier this year, HSBC signed a three-year agreement to be the sole sponsor of the Junior Achievement company programme, which gives hundreds of students each year the opportunity to prepare for their working life through the experience of running their own company, supported by a volunteer business mentor.

In March, Mr Amoedo presented the Junior Achievement company programme awards and has volunteered for a number of other future commitments with the charity.

These include joining judging panels for the charity’s company programme and Pitch It! initiatives.

Mr Amoedo will also be using his passion for walking when he joins Junior Achievement’s El Camino de Santiago trek next year to raise funds for the charity.

Known in English as the Way of Saint James among other names,El Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrims’ ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried.

Mr Amoedo said: ’I’m delighted to have been appointed to the board of Junior Achievement and I very much look forward to working alongside fellow board members including the charity’s chief executive, Sue Cook, and Simon Nicholas from KPMG, who I know is as passionate about the charity as we are.

’Junior Achievement has a hugely important role to play in ensuring young people in the Isle of Man gain the right education and opportunities to reach their full potential in life. This aligns perfectly with HSBC’s core focus on education and young people, because we know that with the right support anyone can achieve their dreams.

’In addition to the various awards and competitions I’ll be involved in, I’m looking forward to training for next year’s charity trek which will be raising money for a very worthy cause.’

Junior Achievement chief executive Sue Cook said: ’I am delighted that Jaime has joined the board.

’His business expertise and abiding passion for our work will strengthen our ambition to develop the next generation of employees and entrepreneurs.’

Junior Achievement is an educational charity that each academic year runs classroom-based programmes to help more than 5,500 students in the Isle of Man make the connection between school and the world of work, enabling them to develop the knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed.