Aubyn Hill urges schools to copy ICHS youth business model

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, says the Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS) Young Entrepreneurship Day offers a strong example of how Jamaica can prepare young people to help drive the country’s economy.

Senator Hill said the country needs additional initiatives that encourage entrepreneurial thinking among students. He described the ICHS effort as a place where ideas can be developed and expanded, and encouraged schools across Jamaica to introduce similar programmes. He said young people, particularly young women, need more opportunities to create prototypes, make business presentations, adjust their ideas, learn from the process and continue improving.

The event took place at the Kingston-based school on Friday, May 29.

Senator Hill said the activity could help produce future business leaders. He also praised the student entrepreneurs for the effort they showed in carrying out their different ventures.

He told the students that some of them may launch businesses that become successful, while many others may have to try more than once before finding the right formula. He encouraged them to begin early, noting that their first business may not be their only one.

The Minister said the world is going through an unusual period in economic history, with old divisions between major companies and smaller enterprises becoming less rigid. He said a smartphone, intelligence and initiative can now give entrepreneurs access to opportunities that were once harder to reach.

Senator Hill also pointed to artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies as forces reshaping social and economic life. He said tools that previously demanded significant capital and millions of dollars are now within reach of persons who have a smartphone, an internet connection and a fresh idea.

He further encouraged students who are not interested in business to follow their interests in other areas.

Senator Hill also stressed the value of discipline, describing it as critical to success. He warned that students who fail to build discipline from early will limit their chances, even if they have talent and good plans, because success requires the consistency to carry ideas through.

Young Entrepreneurship Day was staged under the theme ‘Turning Passion into Possibilities’. The initiative was intended to give students hands-on experience in entrepreneurship by having them create, promote and operate their own business ventures in a practical setting.