A team from Queen Elizabeth II High School have been named Junior Achievement Student Company of the Year 2017.
Progression+ - Alex Devereau, Chloe Irving, Kelly McMullin, Chloe Mylchreest and Will Snape - brought to market Wakeeze, a vibrating wrist-band device aimed at eliminating the shock and stress of a conventional alarm call, which also serves as a fitness monitor.
Progression+ emerged the winners out of 29 teams competing in Manx charity Junior Achievement Isle of Man’s Company of the Year Programme - sponsored for the sixth successive year by the Boston Charitable Foundation - which tasks Year 12 students to set up and run a company over the course of an academic year.
The team will go on to represent the Isle of Man in Brussels between 11 and 13 July when they will be up against 39 other student companies from across Europe competing for the title JA-YE Europe Company of the Year.
A record 29 student company teams – some 140 students in total - drawn from Ballakermeen High School, Castle Rushen High School, Queen Elizabeth II High School, Ramsey Grammar School, St Ninian’s High School and University College Isle of Man entered the competition, which reached its conclusion at an awards ceremony, sponsored by Canada Life International, at the Villa Marina, Douglas where the audience heard Junior Achievement’s chief executive Sue Cook say that the event ‘was an example of what can be achieved when the public and private sector and educators work in partnership with Junior Achievement.’ Turning to the students she said that the Junior Achievement Company Programme ‘journey’ did not end at the awards ceremony. ‘Junior Achievement opens doors…you just have to decide if you are going to walk through one of them.’
Presenting the Company of the Year trophy, Boston Group director Ruth Robinson said that Progression+ was a team which ‘demonstrated a high degree of professionalism’ and had impressed the judges ‘with their determination, focus and level of commitment’.
She went on: ‘Not only do they have a great product but they are also a very strong team; an excellent example of what can be achieved when you are willing to put in the extra work. This is a student company that left the judges in no doubt they were ready to represent the Isle of Man in Europe.’
Holding the Company of the Year trophy Chloe Irving from Progression+ said that entering the Company Programme had been ‘an amazing experience’ for the team, members of which had been chosen for their individual skills, and she praised the support and advice given by their mentor Jeanette Gardner.
Entertainment was provided by Scran, a group of young musicians with a passion for Manx music and runner-up in the Next Big Thing 2017, Junior Achievement’s annual talent contest for 10 to 18-year-olds. They were followed by 12-year-old Amy Gravestock, who was crowned the Next Big Thing 2017 in February.
Company of the Year 2017 awards:
Boston Group Awards for Student Company of the Year
Winner: Progression+, Queen Elizabeth II High School
Runner-up: Polaris, Ramsey Grammar School
Third place: Ineffable, Ballakermeen High School
MannVend Award for Outstanding Team Member
Ciara Sowerby, Wave Crest, Ballakermeen High School
First Names Group Award for Innovation
Lares Technology, Ballakermeen High School
Maggie Galloway Memorial Award for Inspirational Team Leader
Chloe Irving, Progression+, Queen Elizabeth High School
HSBC Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
Rebus, QE11 High School
Manx Telecom Award for Best Design and Branding
Progression+, QE11 High School
Canada Life International Best Promotional Video Award
Progression+, QE11 High School
Sure Special Recognition Award
Oblivion, University College Isle of Man
Barclays Best Trade Stand Award
Progression+, QE11 High School
Capital International Group Volunteer Mentor of the Year
Steve Burrows, mentor to Precedence, Castle Rushen High School
Zurich International Life Award for Students’ Choice
The Breakfast Club, Castle Rushen High School
In the last academic year Junior Achievement Isle of Man has helped 5,500 young people to develop skills for the workplace. With the help of 400 volunteers it is working in every primary and secondary school in the island.
To find out more about Junior Achievement, the company programme or the Next Big Thing, visit jaiom.im, contact Sue Cook, 666266, sue.cook@jaiom.im or follow juniorachievementisleofman on Facebook.
Photo - Boston Group’s Ruth Robinson third from right with Company of the Year 2017 winners Progression+, Alex Devereau, Kelly McMullin, Chloe Irving, Will Snape and Chloe Mylchreest. Picture Andrew Barton.
