An afternoon tea and talk by SuperJam founder Fraser Doherty and organised by Junior Achievement attracted more than 160 people to the Palace Hotel.

Supported by Microgaming PlayItForward the event provided the Manx charity with an opportunity to highlight the importance to equip young people with the entrepreneurial and soft skills they will need to succeed in an increasingly competitive jobs market.

The audience of local business representatives  was also introduced to the self-styled ‘Jam Boy’ who recounted his story of how, inspired by his grandmother’s recipes, he founded his 100 per cent fruit jam company aged just 14 and now supplies more than 2000 supermarkets worldwide.

The 26-year-old is a long-time Junior Achievement ambassador who became Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 and was appointed MBE in the 2014 Queen’s birthday honours list.

Ahead of learning about ‘The Adventures of Jam Boy’ the audience heard Junior Achievement chief executive Sue Cook explain why the charity’s work in schools was vital.

She said: ‘Globally the highest level of unemployment is among the young. My counterpart in Greece tells me youth unemployment there stands at 60 per cent. In the Isle of Man, as of December last year, there were 380 young people under the age of 24 classified as NEETS - not in education, employment or training.

‘You could be forgiven for thinking it’s because the jobs don’t exist but that’s not strictly true. In a recent survey of 3,000 companies conducted by the British Chamber of Commerce 76 per cent reported a lack of work experience as one of the key reasons why young people were struggling to get work. More than 57 per cent said young people were lacking basic “soft” skills.

‘I believe the only way we can change this is to combine academic knowledge with practical skills, which is why Junior Achievement is working with teachers, volunteers and businesses to help equip our youth for the challenges they’re going to face when they start looking for work.’

She went on to outline the value of Junior Achievement’s company programme.  Supported in the Island by the Boston Charitable foundation it is recognised by universities as the top entrepreneurial programme in the world for young people, with more than 250,000 students in the British Isles participating every year.

The company programme tasks students to set up and run their own business supported by a volunteer business mentor. They develop a product then take it to market and are responsible for running every aspect of the business including raising the start-up capital.

At the end of the programme students can enter their business into a competition to find the Isle of Man student Company of the Year.

‘But the journey doesn’t end there,’ said Sue. ‘The winning team goes on to represent the Isle of Man in the Junior Achievement Young Enterprise European finals and compete against 38 other countries.’

She said research showed that taking part in the company programme or a similar entrepreneurial scheme while still in school can significantly enhance students’ chances of getting a job.

She cited the reasons why. ‘It gives young people more confidence, the ability to learn to network and generate business contacts and they’re more likely to be able to sell, take initiative and think strategically because the company programme shows them what it takes to run a business.

‘We know this programme works. A report commissioned by Junior Achievement Europe surveyed 1,200 people aged between 20 and 29 who had participated while in school. Its findings showed that 15 per cent had gone on to start their own business and a further 36 per cent were considering it. This was compared to the national average of 6 per cent.

‘And if further proof were needed, Fraser participated in the company programme.’

In his talk the Edinburgh-born entrepreneur and philanthropist told his audience he had entered the company programme with a scheme to sell sweets. ‘I didn’t win, but I learned a lot about how to start a business.’

The journey from making jam in his parents’ kitchen to supplying outlets across the world was not without its setbacks, he explained, but on the way he had learned about branding, image, presentation, marketing and funding.

The day following the presentation Fraser shared his story at Ballakermeen High School with this year’s company programme entrants. He said: ‘The company programme was inspirational. It showed me how a good idea doesn’t have to re-invent the wheel.’

He urged students to take advantage of their business mentors’ experience and said how, with luck, imagination and hard work, the company programme ‘can change your life.’

To find out more about the work of Junior Achievement visit www.jaiom.im or contact Sue Cook suecook@jaiom.im

Photo - ‘Jam Boy’ Fraser Doherty, centre, with Microgaming’s CEO Roger Raatgever and Junior Achievement’s CEO Sue Cook. Picture Andrew Barton.