Company Programme

Today, young people need to be more adaptable than ever before. They need to be prepared to change career direction in response to opportunity and to learn new skills throughout their working lives. In other words they need to be enterprising. Junior Achievement’s Company Programme 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.

Students aged 16 to 19, normally in Year 12, set up and run their company over the course of one academic year. They raise share capital, develop, market and finance a product or service of their choice. Students gain experience of the real world, taking responsibility and being accountable to their shareholders for the running of the business. At the end of the programme companies from all over the Island have the opportunity to compete in the National Finals to select the company that will represent the Isle of Man at the European Company of the Year Competition.

As a result of running a Junior Achievement Company, students gain:

• an understanding of how a business works and how wealth and employment are created
• the ability to work in a team
• improved communication skills
• more enthusiasm and self confidence
• a willingness to take responsibility and initiative
• time management skills
• experience of key business functions such as marketing, financial management, sales, customer care and personnel management.

The Company Programme website can be found by visiting www.coyc.im

Get Involved

Each team that signs up to take part in the Company Programme is allocated a volunteer business mentor who they meet for an hour weekly. This is an advisory role rather than an active role in the day-to-day running of the business. If you are passionate about supporting young entrepreneurs on the island then find out more about how you can become a business mentor here.