Local schools rise to the stock market challenge

Marks & Spencer Money sponsors enterprise education event for schools for the fourth year running.

Young people from across Cheshire and Liverpool got a taste of the trading floor when Wall Street came to M&S Money’s offices in Chester for the Stock Market Challenge, which took place on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th March 2007.

This is the fourth year running that M&S Money has sponsored and hosted the event, and the first time that schools in Chester have taken part. Teams of industry experts from M&S Money joined the students on the trading floor, and company volunteers staffed the trading pit.

Two separate events for Year 10 and Year 12 students gave young people the chance to experience the excitement of buying and selling shares on a live trading floor. Each team of pupils began with £15,000 and the team with the highest valued portfolio at the closing bell won £500 for their school from M&S Money.

The Year 10 event was won by St. Benedict’s College, Liverpool, with a closing fund of £134,900. The Year 12 event winner was the Bluecoat School, Liverpool, with a closing fund of £197,285. M&S Money also gave each student from the winning teams a £50 unit trust investment in the new M&S Ethical Fund.

Eddie Nott, Deputy Chief Executive of M&S Money, said; “Stock Market Challenge helps us to promote financial capability and enterprise and teaches young people team-working and communication skills.

“Working in partnership with schools is one of the most effective ways to invest in the future. Hosting the event enables us to give young people an insight into a real working environment and will hopefully help them as they begin to plan their careers.”