More than 160 ’A’ level students have signed up to an entrepreneurial programme from the island’s largest educational charity Junior Achievement.

Over the next eight months students from Ballakermeen, St Ninian’s, Castle Rushen, and Queen Elizabeth 11 high schools and Ramsey Grammar School will experience what it is like to run their own company.

The Junior Achievement team, along with a team of volunteer business mentors, will support the students throughout the whole process.

Students are tasked to develop a product or service to take to market and raise the capital to get their company off the ground.

Each member of the company is assigned a job role such as managing director, finance manager, sales manager, head of operations or company secretary.

In addition to running their own business the students will have the chance to network with some of the island’s key business leaders, which could ultimately lead to substantially improving their job opportunities once they leave education.

The Junior Achievement company programme is supported by HSBC Isle of Man.

Their sponsorship means that every student in Year 12 has free access to the programme, which enables students to develop entrepreneurial skills as well as expertise in finance, time management, team working, presentation, customer service and networking.

At the start of the programme Junior Achievement invited students to a business kick-start event at the Comis Hotel, Mount Murray. Students spent the day learning about the legal aspects of running a company and how to create a business idea and develop sales and marketing strategies.

Junior Achievement chief executiveSue Cook said: ’We’re very encouraged by the number of students who have signed up to take part. The company programme is an optional activity and we had anticipated a decline in numbers due to the disruption to studies over the lockdown period. Instead, a record number of students have subscribed.

’This demonstrates how much students value the potential benefits the company programme offers and the opportunity it provides for developing key workplace skills.

’It’s also a tremendous vote of confidence in Junior Achievement’s work and our great team of volunteers.

’In the current climate of job and economic uncertainty young people recognise the importance of gaining real life work experience for their CV and future careers.

’In this, the company programme is indispensable.’

Chantal Le Goff, HSBC head of corporate sustainability for the Isle of Man and Channel Islands said: ’Now more than ever, developing future work place skills is key to building a resilient and fulfilling career.

’This is HSBC’s third year supporting the company programme and I am always impressed with the teams’ enthusiasm and their innovative business ideas.

’This year I am delighted to see a record number of students take up the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and learn all aspects of managing their own businesses.’

Minister for Education, Sport and Culture Alex Allinson MHK said: ’I would like to thank Junior Achievement and HSBC for their continuing support of our young people.

’This programme teaches management and leadership techniques, encourages self-confidence and instils employability skills which can last a lifetime.’

In March 2021 the students will take part in the national finals to determine who will win ’Student Company of the Year’. The winners will travel to Lithuania in July to represent the Isle of Man and compete against the European national finalist teams.

The company programme is run in more than 40 European countries, with more than 250,000 students participating every year.

Research shows that students who take part are more likely to go on to set up their own business in later years.

To find out more about the company programme and the work of Junior Achievement, visit jaiom.im or contact Sue Cook, [email protected].