Ballakermeen Students Win Business Award

Congratulations to Artheasy from Ballakermeen High School who have been named HSBC Student Company of the Year.

ArthEsy impressed the judges with their winning business idea to develop a range of tools for people suffering with arthritis.

The team, comprising Oli Nandha, Isaac Quayle, Jacob Harding, Shenton Cassidy and Guy McGuinness became aware of the issue after the grandmother of one of the students identified a problem holding a knife to cut vegetables.

Ballakermeen Team

Arthritis affects the lives of 350 million and can severely limit someone’s ability to perform routine tasks and diminish independence.

In response, the team developed affordable, functional tools designed to empower those with joint pain, helping them regain autonomy and rediscover the simple joys of life.

They joined more than 120 students from Isle of Man high schools who competed in a one-day event at the Villa Marina.

Business Award

Since September, Year 12 students have been forming and developing their business ideas as part of the Junior Achievement Company Programme.

The entrepreneurial adventure provides young people with a range of valuable skills to take into the workplace and has been running on the Isle of Man for more than 30 years.

Throughout their journey, a Volunteer Business Mentor supports each student company.

They are not alone in their experience – 360,000 students across Europe participate in the Junior Achievement Company Programme annually, gaining essential skills such as teamwork, problem solving, financial literacy and business acumen that prepare them for future careers.

This summer, the winning student companies from 41 countries will come together for GEN-E, Europe’s Largest Entrepreneurship Festival, held in Athens, Greece, from July 1 – 3.

ArthEsy  will represent the Isle of Man with the hope of taking away the European Award.