F.A.Q.
- What is a Junior Enterprise?
- Can I work for JADE UK?
- Can I become a Project Manager or member of the Executive Board ?
- How do I start a Junior Enterprise?
- What is a Junior Initiative (JI)?
- What is the “White Book”?
- What kind of services do Junior Enterprises offer?
- What are the fields of activity of Junior Enterprise customers?
- In which stage of their studies are members of Junior Enterprises?
- What do Junior Enterprise members study in university?
- What is a Confederation?
- How can my JE become a member of JADE UK?
- What are the requirements to apply for JADE UK membership?
What is a Junior Enterprise?
The Concept
The Junior Enterprise concept is based on non-profit organisations whose aim is to bridge the gap between theory and practice for students that follow higher education studies. In order to achieve this, the students carry out projects for companies and institutions. The activities of a Junior Enterprise aim at professionalism in projects and organisation.
Organisation
A Junior Enterprise is an association, co-operative society or limited company, which is linked to a university or college of higher education. A Junior Enterprise and its operationally active administrators are completely autonomous. A Junior Enterprise dissociates from political and religious issues, and refrains from any form of discrimination.
Project
A project is a sequence of linked activities that are bound by a contract and are carried out at fixed financial and temporal conditions. The project is realised by using a specific methodology to reach the aims that have been agreed with the client previously. A project is the Junior Enterprise’s way to improve student’s know-how and finance its activities.
Performance and Management
Students are involved in managing both the Junior Enterprise and the projects. Managing a Junior Enterprise means to define and to implement a strategy. This work is never remunerated, while project management and performance are. Managing a project means ensuring the progress of the service related to a specific customer while co-coordinating the activity of the performers.
Can I work for JADE UK?
To work for us, you must be a student from a UK Junior Enterprise. If your university does not have a JE, please get in touch and we will support you in creating one. In specific cases exceptions can be made, so if are you motivated, please contact us.
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Can I become a Project Manager or member of the Executive Board ?
See question above.
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How do I start a Junior Enterprise?
When a group of students wants to start a Junior Enterprise (JE), they first found a Junior Initiative (JI), i.e. the gateway to becoming a JE (for a definition of both organisations, see below). Every admitted JI and JE is member of a national confederation of Junior Enterprises (if there is one).
The first Phase JI aims at the creation of a base on which a JI can be built. The phase is terminated by submitting a letter of intent and short business to JADE UK.
The very first steps for a successful Junior Initiave (which then later becomes a full-fledged Junior Enterprise) are:
- a thorough review the JADE White Book
- a motivated team of students (5-10 persons)
- if possible, the support of the university
- a conference call or meeting with JADE representatives for the purpose of answering any questions
- getting the necessary informatio, guidelines and support from the national confederation (if there is one)
or
Goal:
From our experience, the result of this first phase should be a short-business plan.
After you have completed the business plan and send it to JADE or the existing national confederation, JADE or the national confederation can support you with official documents promoting the concept and your efforts.
What is a Junior Initiative (JI) ?
The JI-stadium of an organisation is the gateway to becoming a Junior Enterprise (JE). In the period in which an organisation has the status of Junior Initiative, it has to demonstrate to be able to fulfil all criteria which are set for the Junior Enterprise status. In general, a JI functions just like a JE, without calling itself a Junior Enterprise. In practice, this means that a JI uses the JE concept. In this way, the European network can recognise an organisation as residing in the start-up phase.
What is the “White Book”?
The White Book (it has a white cover) is a document which is designed to help students who want to set up a Junior Enterprise (JE).
It is part of a series of manuals The Rainbow Series - which are being developed by JADE. They serve as general directives for each country, and may support national confederations, Junior Enterprises, and Junior Initiatives.
The White Book is the only Rainbow Book which is available to the public. Other books, covering topics like project management, marketing or e.g. event management are only available to JADE Members and can be downloaded from the JADE Portal.
Download the White Book (pdf, 250kb)
What kind of services do Junior Enterprises offer?
Members of Junior Enterprises perform business and technical projects for private business, governmental and non-governmental institutions. Thanks to students from different backgrounds Junior Enterprises operate in extensive fields of services, in all sectors and different kinds of companies: multinational corporations, small and medium enterprises, universities, institutions, local communities, etc.
Fields of consulting services include:
Marketing, Organisation and Strategy consulting, International Development, Engineering, Business Planning, Logistics, Communication, Quality Management, Finance, Research and Development, Human Resources Management, Event Management, Information Technology and many more.
There are also Junior Enterprises specialised on Chemistry, Biochemistry or Mathematics. The field of study, meaning the expertise of the students as well as the stored knowledge from further students after many years of experience decides the services the Junior Enterprise can offer.
What are the fields of activity of Junior Enterprise customers?
The customers of Junior Enterprises come from various sectors and work in lots of different fields of activity.
Project References Junior Enterprises have carried out projects for:
3M, ABB, Air France, Air Liquide, Altran, American Express, Andersen Consulting, Accenture, Apple, AT Kearney, AT&T, Axa, BMW, Bouygues, BP, British Telecom, Buitoni, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Coca Cola Beverages, Colgate Palmolive, Compaq, Credit Suisse, DaimlerChrysler, Danone, Deutsche Bahn, DHL International, Fiat Group, Gillette, Glaxo, Honeywell, IBM, JPMorgan, KPMG, Lufthansa, McKinsey, Motorola, Nestle, Nielsen, Nissan, Nokia, Price Waterhouse, Procter & Gamble, Reuters, Roche, SAP, Schweppes, Shell, Siemens, United Nations, Volkswagen Consulting etc.
Nevertheless, the main customers of Junior Enterprises are small- to medium-sized businesses. It is common for Junior Enterprises to have returning customers and productive long-term business relationships.
In which stage of their studies are members of Junior Enterprises?
More than 50% of all Junior Enterprise members are in the second half of their studies. Students usually join in the first or second year of their studies and as they pursue their studies they also make a career in their Junior Enterprise and eventually become board members.
What do Junior Enterprise members study in university?
The JADE Network is composed of a lot of engineering and business administration students. But Junior Enterprises are also know to have art students, future teachers, physicians, physicists and language students as members as well.
What is a Confederation?
National confederations are the organisations, like JADE UK, which confederate Junior Enterprises present in each country. If you are interested in the Junior Enterprise Movement in a specific country, feel free to contact a JADE member.
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How can my JE become a member of JADE UK?
To ensure consistent growth, it is important that all Junior Enterprises have a standard common base. From experience, we have discovered that it is necessary for the students to fully understand what a JE is, in order for it to fit in well with the others and to get the most out of the network. If you are unsure about any of the points below, or if you have a special circumstance and would like to discuss it, please contact us on exbo@jadeuk.org.
1. Must have completed 2 successful projects for external companies:
- methodology
- feedback from the clients
- what did you learn? How can you improve?
2. Must have completed 1 passover of the Executive Board
- transfer of documents and responsibilities
- communication with the UK network (i.e. to introduce the new board)
3. Must attend at least one JADE UK annual conference (before the application is presented) and/or meet the JADE UK ExBo on another (informal) occasion.
4. The applicant Junior Initiative must provide a report including:
- History of the organisation
- Legal status
- JE structure
- Team/ responsibilities
- Turnover and use of profits
- What do you want to get out of JADE UK?
- What will your JE contribute to JADE UK?
5. Applications can be made during a JADE UK meeting (i.e. in front of representatives of the member JEs and the JADE UK Executive Board). The JEs vote on the application.
What are the requirements to apply for JADE UK membership?
The applicant Junior Initiative must provide a report/outline including:
- Legal status
- JE structure
- Team/ responsibilities
- Use of profits
- What do you want to get out of JADE UK?
- What will your JE contribute to JADE UK?
Must have completed 2 successful projects for external companies:
- Methodology
- Feedback from the clients
- What did you learn? How can you improve?
Must have completed 1 passover of the Executive board
- Transfer of documents and responsibilities
- Communication with the UK network (i.e. to introduce the new board)
Must attend at least one JADE UK annual conference (before the application is presented) and/or meet the JADE UK ExBo on another (informal) occasion.
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