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Looking at the people who keep the wheels of commerce turning on the Island; features, profiles, achievements and stories with a human dimension. HSBC SUPPORTS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ISLE OF MAN COMPANY PROGRAMME FOR THREE YEARS Students from every high school in the Isle of Man will be able to learn how to take a business idea from concept to reality and develop their entrepreneurial skills for the future after HSBC in the Isle of Man entered into a three-year agreement with Junior Achievement to sponsor the Manx charity’s company programme. L aunched in 1919, the Junior Achievement (formerly known as Young Enterprise) company programme offers students aged 15 to 18 over the course of one academic year the opportunity to set up and manage their own business venture. Students discover first- hand how a commercial concern functions and learn how to apply their individual skills to bring the product or service to market. Each student company is supported by a volunteer business mentor who shares their experience and helps students to gain a clearer overview of job opportunities and what skills are needed to succeed in a global economy. JuniorAchievement chief executive, Sue Cook, said: ‘HSBC has supported us for a number of years and we are delighted they are continuing their support with the company programme. Such a long- term agreement demonstrates how committed the bank is towards the next generation of Manx entrepreneurs. ‘Students participating in the company programme are at a distinct advantage when applying for university or taking their first step on the career ladder as it is widely recognised as the top entrepreneurial programme in the world for young people in education.’ Junior Achievement Isle of Man is one of 40 countries across Europe that saw more than 350,000 students enroll in the programme in the 2017– 2018 school year. Junior Achievement is an educational charity that each academic year runs classroom-based programmes to help more than 5,500 students in the Isle of Man make the connection between school and the world of work, enabling them to develop the knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed. To find out more about becoming a classroom volunteer or raising funds on behalf of Junior Achievement email [email protected] or visit jaiom.im  30 YEARS A PARTNER: JOHN COWAN, CROWE ISLE OF MAN CHAIRMAN J ohn Cowan joined the practice in 1986, known then as Clark Whitehill Harper, later as Crowe Clark Whitehill, and in 1989 became a partner: ‘I was 29 when I became a partner, which even in those days was quite young”, said John. ‘I’d already specialised in tax then carried that on as a tax partner, before developing and leading the offshore side of the business.  ‘I could go on about the past, but I won’t. Instead I prefer to look to the future and what it holds for the accounting profession at a time of change and challenge. ‘The rapid rate of advances in technology will undoubtedly shape the future of the profession. Clients are going to be able to do more and more themselves in terms of data processing, such as scanning invoices – if paper ones still exist – making payments and keeping their own books on their phones. ‘For us as accountants there will be much less routine book-keeping and accounts preparation and more advisory and interpretive work. And it’s up to us to make sure we deliver these services “smarter”. ‘As for young people entering the profession, they’re going to have to learn these skills much more quickly because clients will expect it of them. Learning double entry will, for the first time, take second place in a student’s education.  ‘I said I wasn’t going to look back, but as I approach the end of my career it is a little ironic to me that my 30 years as a partner has always been about giving advice, and I spent many of those years developing the skills 38 | Crowe Isle of Man chairman John Cowan with directors Debbie Clague, left, and Phaedra Bird. Picture Andrew Barton and confidence to do this. But in the not-too-distant future accountants much younger than I was are going to be expected to be business advisers from the start. It’s going to be hard, but I’m sure exciting. ‘So, if I were 30-odd years younger would I choose the same career? Not a chance; I’d sign up for astronaut training in a heartbeat!’