No amount of money could pay for the experience I've had. I will definitely be using my new improved presentation skills in the future - Preparation is key.

Aishling Molloy, RSA Group, Dublin

The motivation and drive of the students and their innovative and creative ideas were very impressive - nothing was seen as an obstacle. The difference from the first day, meeting the class and their achievements when I finished before Christmas gave a great sense of achievement.

Martin Golden, Abbott Diagnostics, Cavan

Junior Achievement has been the singularly most successful programme to come into the school.

Joe Mulligan, Principal, Scoil Naisiunta Muire na nGael, Bay Estate, Dundalk

Company Programme is great for students’ confidence. The activities and challenges presented to them forces them to think for themselves. The group went out into the local community and forged links. To get up, present and stand up for all the work that they put in really helps build their self esteem and will stay with them down the line. The business volunteer really motivates them and they need that outside influence to put it into perspective for them.

Yvonne Kilkenny, Transition Year Teacher, St. Clare’s College, Cavan

It’s an excellent programme that introduces the students to business at a young age. It was great seeing everyone working together in their teams. Learning to face issues together as a team was easier than facing them alone.

Gabriel Gilmartin, Transition Year Teacher, Ursuline College, Sligo

Company Programme really opens the students’ minds and shows them a realistic look at business and opens them up to a world of opportunities.

Chris Bulger, Transition Year Teacher, Ard Scoil Trionoide, Kildare

The skills I learned from Anton will stand to me for the rest of my life.

Transition Year Student, St. Caimins, Shannon, Co. Clare

It was a very interesting experience – there were quite a few disagreements at the start and we even fired our management team and replaced them! However then we all started to pull together and learned a lot from the process. Apart from the actual production and selling we also learned about things like marketing and health and safety which were especially important for us as we were producing our t-shirts.

Transition Year student, St. Peter's Community School, Cork

I really enjoyed the experience of setting up and running a company. Sometimes it was exhausting, particularly when you are faced with so many problems – from personnel to finance to health and safety. Our volunteer helped a lot and encouraged teamwork. When we had problems, he did not solve them but he gave us clues on how to improve.

Transition Year student, Bishopstown Community School, Cork

It is safe to say that we are considering entrepreneurship as a career option having completed this programme - we now all realise the determination and responsibility involved in setting up a business!

Transition Year student, Patrician Secondary School, Kildare