The FINANCIAL — Manchester Academy and Manchester Grammar took top honours at this year’s Stock Market Challenge and Investment Challenge competitions held on June 26 and 27 at Manchester Business School.
The competitions are a joint initiative between HSBC and Manchester Business School in partnership with 10 Lane Learning, that supports the school’s outreach programme.tock Market Challenge and the Investment Challenge enables students to apply subject knowledge of computer science and mathematics, and helps them to develop their communication, problem-solving, decision making, teambuilding and negotiation skills.
The event offers a unique engagement opportunity between schools, MBS and HSBC and aims to help ensure that students leave school or university prepared for the world of work with the capabilities and confidence to handle future higher education and career decisions. The initiative also supports the local financial services sector in its need to create a world-class competitive workforce.
Colin Hurst, Service & Sales Manager, HSBC Stockport said: “These opportunities are a fantastic way for young people from schools across the region to build their understanding of higher education opportunities and the business world whilst developing their skills and having fun. The initiative links well with our community goals and gives pupils the opportunity to apply their learning at school to a highly realistic financial setting, whilst bringing their own fresh perspective.”
The Stock Market Challenge event involved 110 Year 10s from 14 secondary schools, many of whom have been participating over the past few months in the online version of the challenge. A further 40 Year 12 students took part in the final of the Investment Challenge competition. Working in teams, their task was to manage a fund of shares and foreign currency by interpreting information and investing in the markets. In each competition the team with the highest total fund at the closing bell were the winners.
Sarah Featherstone, Head of Undergraduate Services at Manchester Business School, said: “At Manchester Business School our focus is on developing the qualifications and skill base of young people, to ensure they have the appropriate skills to take advantage of the job opportunities now and in the future. Initiatives such as these 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.”
The events were supported by HSBC, whose staff participated as ‘traders’ to recreate a ‘real time’ trading floor. According to Manchester Business School, the company also provided the prizes and were on hand to provide teachers and students with guidance and information about opportunities in the sector.
Hannah Hughes, Year 10, a member of Manchester Academy’s winning team at the Stock Market Challenge event said: “We really enjoyed taking part. It was an exciting day and we enjoyed getting into each of the roles and working as part of a team. It was an intense day but we had so much fun.”
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