Hundreds taking part in 2018 student business challenge

Thursday 18 January 2018

Students from seven schools across the Channel Islands are taking part in the 2018 Student Business Challenge.

In total 250 students from schools in Guernsey and Jersey will be supported by local firms as they start-up and run their own businesses, with an initial investment of £100 per team.

The Challenge, run by Barclays, EY, Ogier and Sure, was launched on Thursday 11 January at the St Pierre Park Hotel in Guernsey, and at an event in Jersey earlier the same week. Seventy teams of students, aged 11 – 16, have signed up and they will be supported by mentors from the supporting firms who are tasked with helping to equip the students with skills which are relevant to the workplace.

Kate Kirk, Head of Marketing at Ogier said: “The ideas that this year’s students have are impressive, and our mentors are excited to help bring these ideas to fruition.  The teams have already put a great deal of thought and effort into creating and designing their businesses and the standards are extremely high.”

Participating schools from Guernsey are Grammar, La Mare de Carteret and St Sampson’s High School. Kathryn Clark, Deputy Head at St Sampson’s High School, Guernsey commented: “Our students thrive on this Challenge and it is very rewarding to see the difference it makes to them as they grow in confidence while getting involved in the business world and raising money for their chosen charities.”    

Pictured: St Sampson High students

The teams now have two months to develop their business acumen before facing a final “Dragon’s Den” where they will need to impress the judges with their abilities to run a profitable business with ideas ranging from selling homemade chocolates and snacks to producing animal themed gifts. As in previous years many teams will be giving a percentage of their profits to charity.

Awards ceremonies will be held in May in both islands to celebrate their achievements and to announce the winners of the 2018 Channel Islands Student Business Challenge.

Top picture: Grammar school students