With 88 students taking part, including 49 international students coming from 20 different destinations, Jersey’s Leadership and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme 2024 will be the most globally diverse group of students ever gathered on the island.
This success will be shared with His Excellency Vice Admiral Jeremy Kyd, who will officially be opening LEAP on Wednesday 10th July.
This year, students from local secondary schools (Les Quennevais, Grainville Le Rocquier, Hautlieu, Beaulieu and JCG) will be joining the female leadership programme along with delegates from the USA, Canada, Antigua, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Columbia, France, India, Thailand, Nepal, Afghanistan, Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, England, Scotland, and Guernsey.
Thanks to the support of local companies, the vast majority (over 80%) of local students will be attending for free, whilst 17 international students have had
all their costs (including flights) covered.
Created by Jersey College Foundation, the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (LEAP) aims to help participants develop business, entrepreneurial, teamwork and networking skills through the creation of social enterprise projects that aim to target key global issues.
At the end of the programme, the teams present their projects in front of local entrepreneurs and experts in finance, law and banking to convince them to grant their project funding. Due to the number of students taking part this year, there will be three Dragons’ Dens in Oak Group, Butterfield Bank and Aztec Group, with 21 Dragons from 19 companies involved, with £6,000 in project funding up for grabs.
In total, over 50 companies are involved, with over 100 speakers, mentors, trainers and Dragons sharing their knowledge and expertise with the delegates.
During the programme, students will also have the chance to discover the beauty of the island through team-building activities and meals, including an ‘Amazing Race’ around Jersey by bus and foot.
International students will also have further opportunities for local visits thanks to the many families who have kindly agreed to host them for the duration of their stay.
Pictured: Participants of last years’ LEAP programme – Giorgina Lister (Butterfield), Dr Peter Le Masurier (Jersey College for Girls Foundation), Lina Misiunaite, Helen Shoreson (Butterfield), Charlotte Beddoe (Butterfield)
