The Jersey Young Enterprise Board and Skills Jersey have announced the launch of the 2024-25 Jersey Young Enterprise Company Programme.
This year will see some changes to the format of the programme, with the opportunity now being offered to year 9s and the programme being shortened to take place over 3 months from November to February.
Eamon Fenlon, Chairman of the Jersey Young Enterprise Board said: “Young Enterprise’s Company Programme is an invaluable opportunity for our young people, and provides them with a real-life setting to develop those all-important employability and life skills that will enable them to prepare for those first steps transitioning into the adult world. It is also designed to draw out and inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in individuals, which is so desperately needed in our island to ensure the diversification of career pathways and industries.
“This year, following feedback from stakeholders and reflection on previous cohorts, our board made the decision to shorten the length of the programme, which we believe will increase the viability of participation for a broader student group and those individuals within our business community who offer that vital support to our young entrepreneurs. Additionally, we feel that targeting year 9s will help inform the GCSE subject and Trident work experience selection of students as they move forward, and this in turn should translate into more young people making the decision to move into related industries, where recruitment challenges are increasing.”
Stuart Penn, Head of Skills Jersey, said: “Skills Jersey is delighted to be taking on a more active role in facilitating this important enterprise, which has a long and successful history in our island. The identification and development of skills needed within our island is the key focus of our department, and Young Enterprise’s Company Programme provides a fantastic opportunity that correlates with that goal.
“We look forward to accompanying the student teams on this exciting journey and assisting them, including through working with the Central Market, Jersey Library and Natwest’s community space, to provide selling opportunities.”
