Students at the Berkeley Institute are on the path to becoming Bermuda's entrepreneurs of the future — and they are spreading the word about their success.

Students Te-Ara Douglas and Michael Skater, both aged 18, delivered speeches to Pembroke Rotary Club recently on the school's involvement in the Future Business Leaders of Bermuda scheme.

The group — a charter member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) — encourages students to gain an understanding of business, improve their confidence by public speaking, develop projects that contribute to home, business and the community and practice efficient financial management.

Ms Douglas, vice president of Berkeley's Future Business Leaders chapter, told the breakfast meeting of Rotarians that taking part in the scheme had increased her confidence.

"For instance, I am standing here, this morning, speaking to you about Future Business Leaders," she said. "Although I jumped at the opportunity, I was never the student who did public speaking.

"So, at the moment, I am an example of our organisation strengthening the confidence of students in themselves and the world."

Mr. Skater, the chapter's public relations officer, explained that being involved in the scheme meant students had to do some community service and that two members, Ryan Lampano and Kamille Minors, attended a leadership conference in New York state.

"It was a great success and it exposed them to FBLA members and lots of great leadership workshops.

"The entire membership of our chapter also attended a leadership conference hosted at our school by XL and some other companies."

Chapter adviser Joann Adams, director of staff development at the Berkeley Institute, said 25 youngsters were taking part in the scheme from the school.

"It benefits them a lot by giving them skills to network and also to speak well in public," she said.

"It also gives them the opportunity to understand business better by having people come to speak to them and by going out and speaking to businesses."