REBECCA Bannister from St Ninian’s High School has been crowned the winner of the Appleby Academy 2012.
The 17-year-old student was one of three finalists chosen to present their business solution to a panel of guest judges at Appleby’s offices on Athol Street during the final on Monday, December 10.
Launched in September this year the Appleby Academy, in partnership with Junior Achievement Isle of Man, aims to give sixth form students in the Isle of Man real life experience of working with an international organisation. With the help of an Appleby mentor, students from the island’s five high schools, present their ideas on how they would meet a particular business challenge for the chance to win a paid summer placement at Appleby.
Each student delivered a 10 minute presentation on their business solution and took questions from the panel judges Nick Verardi (Appleby), Duncan Foulkes (IoM Newspapers), Sue Cook (Junior Achievement), Chris Gledhill (PDMS) and Chris Corlett (Department of Economic Development).
Rebecca won the competition with her well-researched presentation on an environmental policy for Appleby’s Isle of Man office. Lee Braley and Jocelyn Hovareau from Ramsey Grammar High School were runners up.
‘On behalf of Appleby, I would like to congratulate all of the students who took part in the first year of the Appleby Academy’, said Nick Verardi, partner in Appleby (Isle of Man) LLC. ‘The standard of reports and presentations has been extremely high, however, ultimately there can only be one winner. Rebecca demonstrated real commercial insight and passion for the subject and I look forward to welcoming her to our office when she begins her placement in 2013.’
He continued: ‘We hope that the Appleby Academy experience will help to set students apart when applying for a university place or job when they leave school. Our first year has been a great success and we look forward to working with Junior Achievement to welcome even more students onto the 2013 programme.’
Junior Achievement chief executive, Sue Cook, said: ‘I would like to thank Appleby for their continued support of Junior Achievement. The Appleby Academy is a unique programme that has given these students a real insight into the business world and will undoubtedly inspire them to achieve and develop those all important entrepreneurial skills.’
She continued: ‘It is no easy task to stand up and present to a panel of business professionals and the final students did a fantastic job. Rebecca’s confidence and detailed solution was well worthy of the first prize and she should be proud of her achievement.’
The Appleby Academy programme will launch again in June 2013, further details can be found at www.applebyglobal.com or on the Junior Achievement website http://jaiom.im
