MaltaMedia.com

Air Malta has supported students from Rewined, winners of this year’s HSBC Company of the Year 2010 organised by Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise ) Malta, to join other 34 European student companies, winners of their national competitions, for the 21st Junior Achievement Young Enterprise (JA-YE) Europe Company of the Year Competition.

The enterprising 6th form school students have all been running a JA-YE business through the ‘Company Programme’ and they have each received the support of their teachers as well as guidance from volunteers from the business world. Each student company offers real products and/or services and they have all successfully dealt with the challenges of setting up and running a business.

Brian Bartolo, General Manager Marketing & Product of Air Malta said, “We are pleased to support Maltese students to explore and develop their potential. By doing so, we are helping the country in having a better society for tomorrow which is essential for Malta’s future competitiveness. Air Malta is one of the major organisations in Malta and the only airline that supports such initiatives that help the Maltese Community in some way or another.”

In the last 5 years over 1 million students in Europe have participated in the Company Programme and gained firsthand experience of setting up and running their own real business. An estimated 15% of those students will go on to set up and run an enterprise after their education which will positively impact Europe with 150,000 new businesses providing vital employment opportunities and a real boost to the economy.

During the European finals hosted by JA-YE Europe in Cagliari, the team REWINED managed to obtain the prestigious award The HP Responsible Business Award. This award was launched five years ago, and given to the student company which does the best job at integrating a strong financial performance, social responsibility, environmental excellence and innovation into their business plan and operations. Rewined, created serving platters by heating and flattening recycled wine bottles. Andrew Borg Wirth, Managing Director of Rewined explains; “We realised we wanted to create a product that was responsible and that we wanted to give something back to society as a business. We believe it’s really important that companies are responsible in their business and give back to their local communities.”

“It is great to see what can be achieved through the triangular participation of students, business partners and volunteers – this is the very pulse of our organisation, this is what makes us unique.” said Lorna Farrugia, Manager Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise) Malta. “ We encourage other business partners to join us in stimulating and developing this entrepreneurial ability and competence in our students, a new intake of students will commence in October and I look forward to welcoming all to the next programme 2010/2011”.