L-R: (seated) Tom Lessel, Head of Corporate Banking, BIL; Stéphanie Damgé, Director of JEL; (standing) Philippe Weisen, Corporate Relationship Manager, BIL; Alessandra Simonelli, of Sustainable Development, BIL; Credit: BIL

Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) has announced its support for the Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg (JEL) Mini-Companies programme, which seeks to raise awareness among secondary school pupils about entrepreneurship and the business world.

This support reinforces the collaboration between BIL and JEL initiated in 2017, in particular with the Young Enterprise Project.

Raising awareness about entrepreneurship is at the heart of JEL’s mission and its Mini-Companies programme. It is aimed at pupils aged 15 to 19 in general and classic secondary education. For one year, they run a mini-company in which they are responsible for decision-making and the day-to-day management. In addition to financial support, BIL and its employees will assist young people in their project and pass on their knowledge of the business world and business management.

“We have been supporting JEL for four years, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to further develop our collaboration by participating in the Mini-Companies programme. Building young people’s awareness of entrepreneurship is crucial for their future careers, and it is an honour to contribute to this objective. These are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and managers”, commented Tom Lessel, Head of Corporate Banking at BIL.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to further develop our collaboration with BIL. It is important to continue to invest in the education and future of young people. Providing young people with skills that will be crucial tomorrow is part of our mission", added Stéphanie Damgé, Director of JEL.

BIL has placed support for education at the heart of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. This new partnership with JEL is one of several joint initiatives since 2017. For instance, BIL supports the Young Enterprise Project, which is aimed at young people in higher education. The bank is also involved in the activities of the association Alumni JEL, which brings together former pupils having participated in one of its programmes.