Swimming champion Charlotte Atkinson won a competition thanks to an innovative idea to raise funds for travel expenses to major competitions. The 16-year-old from Douglas, who hopes to represent Team Isle of Man at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, won ?250 in the competition organised by Skanco and Junior Achievement Isle of Man.

David Butterworth, Managing Director of Skanco, was invited by Junior Achievement to talk to final year Ballakermeen High School GCSE students about careers in ICT (Information and Communications Technology), and to explain what qualities leading businesses such as Skanco look for when recruiting employees. The talk was designed to give students a better understanding of how to improve their employment prospects, and to get the message across he offered a challenge to the students with a prize of ?250. The idea was to get them to put into practice some of advice they had been given regarding how to impress potential employers. He said:
“The ?250 prize was offered to any student present at the talk and all they had to do to win it was send an email to Junior Achievement explaining what they would do with the prize if they won.”

The competition entries were judged by Skanco and Junior Achievement and Charlotte’s idea made her the clear winner. Charlotte, who has so far achieved selection consideration times in 12 Commonwealth Games swimming events, said:

“I was really keen to enter Skanco’s competition to win ?250, so I outlined how I would set up a business selling personalised products to swimmers on the Island. Products such as fridge magnets and key rings, using photographs I would take in local competitions. I would also sell useful items to spectators such as bang-bang sticks and handheld fans. The profit I made would be invested in my swimming career and help fund off-Island swimming competitions, such as Commonwealth Games 2014. I am delighted to have won and I am very grateful to Skanco for their generous donation.”

Joy Spence, Programme Manager at Junior Achievement Isle of Man, commented:

“In these times of economic uncertainty and a contracting jobs market we’re grateful to Skanco for inspiring young people to develop entrepreneurial skills. Charlotte rose to the challenge with great enthusiasm and submitted a compelling business case deserving of the ?250 cash prize.”

At the 2012 Isle of Man Bank Sports Awards Charlotte was named Isle of Man Under 21 Sportswoman of the Year and in 2011 won two gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the Island Games. She is one of the competitors on the Glasgow 2014 Support Programme, funded by the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, which provides potential Team Isle of Man athletes with expert advice and support from the Isle of Man Sport Institute. The Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association is the organisation responsible for the publicity, fundraising, travel and support for Team Isle of Man’s participation at the Commonwealth Games. It is a registered charity and relies upon fundraising events and donations to fund Team Isle of Man’s participation. Donations to support Team Isle of Man can be made at www.cga.im

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