The Jersey Young Enterprise opportunity is being offered to year 9 students and will take place over 3 months from November to February inclusive.
The students work in teams to set-up a new company, they will choose to make a product or deliver a service which they then need to market and sell. The teams will also need to keep records of their meeting and keep track of their finances. At the end of the programme each team must prepare a report describing their company and their journey as a team and they jointly need to present this to a panel of judges. Any money made by the teams will be returned to their company shareholders.
The programme is managed locally by a Committee of volunteers and Skills Jersey who is the Jersey Young Enterprise delivery partner, are the main liaison with the local schools and students. Skills Jersey are responsible for supporting the facilitation of the programme with input from the Young Enterprise Committee and will be working with industry and established local entrepreneurs to assist the students in their company aims.
Mary Frawley, Chair of the Jersey Young Enterprise Committee said: “One of the gaps noted by local employers is the lack of real-life business experience candidates have. This incredibly important initiative provides an invaluable bridge for our young people to develop those all-important employability and life skills within a supported environment. The programme is also designed to draw out and inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in individuals while teaching them tolerance, the strength of team-work and making them appreciate the effort required to achieve a common goal while having fun doing so.
“After a super trial year last year, the local Committee and our delivery partner Skills Jersey are proud to announce the successful launch of the Young Enterprise’s Company Programme for 2025-26.
“We were delighted to have hosted 180 of the 200-plus young entrepreneurs accompanied by their teachers, to a Jersey Young Enterprise hosted ‘Master Class’, for this year’s launch event which was held at the Royal Hotel. It was massively inspiring to see the students come together a support one another and share ideas … although some ideas stayed ‘top secret’!
“We were very impressed with last year’s cohort of students, with Tiny Tales going to on win two UK regional prizes. We are looking forward to seeing what the 2025-26 teams will present to us via their newly launch companies which will no doubt introduce some unique products to the Jersey local community over the next few months.”
Ed Jewell, Deputy Chair of the Jersey Young Enterprise Committee, said: “The Jersey Young Enterprise Committee is delighted to be working with Skills Jersey and the schools again this year to bring this valuable programme to the young people of Jersey. We actively sought feedback from the schools involved last year and we will continue to build on the programme and its delivery through our learnings to make this year’s programme even better.
“For the 2025-26 competition 205 students have signed up representing six different island schools which has built up on the success of the 2024-25 trial year.
“Having worked with the local business community for many years, the Committee is aware that the identification and development of skills needed within our island is required to ensure that we have a sustainable local workforce, and Young Enterprise’s Company Programme provides a fantastic opportunity that correlates with that goal. We look forward to accompanying this year’s student teams on this exciting journey.
“Please support our local young entrepreneurs if you see them at the Central Market selling their wares.”
