North Wales schools invest in financial and business skills competition
Students from across North Wales got the opportunity to experience the excitement and the adrenalin of dealing on a live trading floor thanks to a Bangor University initiative called Stock Market Challenge.
The challenge involved 100 students from 10 schools and took place on Wednesday 4 July at Bangor University. The event was hosted by Bangor Business School and supported by HSBC.
Working in small teams, the Year 12 students were challenged to use their skills to manage a portfolio of shares and foreign currency. They made their investment decisions by interpreting and analysing information from the financial markets. The simulated live trading took place over a two-hour period and the team with the highest portfolio at the closing bell won.
St Gerard’s School, Bangor, winners of the 2012 Stock Market Challenge, collecting their trophy from Ian Hardy of HSBC: the team members are Hannah Niesser, Anna Jones, Sacha Healey, Harriet Ohri and Bethan Humphreys with their teacher Mr Paul Hanlon and Dr Rhys ap Gwilym of Bangor Business School.
St Gerard’s School in Bangor stormed the trading floor and came out on top finishing with an exceptionally well-managed fund of £88,600. The runners up Ysgol Eirias, Colwyn Bay, were not far behind and made an impressive profit of £60,800.
This year the sponsors made this unique experience accessible to hundreds of students by giving the participating schools a free licence for the Stock Market Challenge online resource. In the run up to the events, Welsh BAC, Business Studies and Maths teachers ran in-school challenges to select the five pupils who represented them.
Rachel Thomas - HSBC Regional Director, Retail Banking & Wealth Management, South West & Wales said “The Stock Market Challenge is a fantastic way for young people from schools across North Wales to build their understanding of the business world whilst developing their skills and having fun. The initiative links well with our community goals at the same time giving pupils the opportunity to apply their school based learning within a highly realistic financial setting, whilst bringing their own fresh perspective to the challenge.”
Meinir Llwyd of Bangor Business School said: “At Bangor University we think it is essential that we focus on developing the qualifications and skills of our young people, to ensure the appropriate skills base is in place to take advantage of the job opportunities now and in the future. Initiatives such as the Stock Market Challenge provide us with an opportunity to introduce the university to young people whilst also helping our next generation of business leaders to consider a high value qualification in finance, banking or accounting.”
Runners up Ysgol Eirias: team members are Danish Yasin, Morgan Williams, Patrick Atkinson, John Casson and Henry Holden.
The Wales Office Minister David Jones added: "I am pleased and impressed that students across North Wales have been given this unique opportunity to experience life on the trading floor. This gives young students an insight into the world of financial services and business and a chance not only to consider a future role in financial services but also to develop skills with their personal finances.
"It is essential that we equip young people with a full range of life skills that will serve them well for the future: to manage budgets, negotiate with team members and analyse and interpret information.
"I am sure that this initiative will help North Wales students develop the leadership qualities they need to become the next generation of business and finance leaders."
Publication date: 11 July 2012