A group of budding entrepreneurs from the Berkeley Institute took part in an international business summit this month.

The 22 students attended the Virtual Enterprises International’s Global Business Summit 2019 in New York City.

The three-day event included business-based competitions, leadership events, and networking opportunities.

Students from over 150 schools in 10 countries took part in the summit.

The students have worked since September on a Virtual Enterprises International programme, where they created and run a business within their classroom.

The teens created the virtual company ‘Vacations in Paradise Enterprises’ which offered vacation packages in Bermuda.

The project was aided by teacher Dawn Nichols-Marshall.

Ms Nichols-Marshall said the event allowed the student to “diligently strive to inspire themselves to take action and define their goals”.

She added: “They got to see the magnitude of the business industry and hundreds of exhibitors and products that were created through the lens of their peers.”

Student Tyrese Coakley, the Chief Executive of the virtual business venture, said: “We have made huge accomplishments as a team and we are excited and motivated to continue working hard to prepare for this great challenge.”

He added: “On behalf of my colleagues, teacher and principle, we would like to thank the BEDC for supporting our business education endeavours.”

The students were able to attend the event through fundraising efforts, as well as a $7,000 boost from the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

Erica Smith, Executive Director of the BEDC, said it was the BEDC’s “pleasure” to help provide the students with an “enriching and rewarding experience”.

Ms Smith added: “BEDC’s mission is to inspire, inform, support and grow new and existing Bermuda businesses and I am confident the skills developed by students to create their virtual business will be able to transfer well should they ever decide to create their own real-life businesses in the future.”

For more information on the BEDC, call 292-5570 or e-mail info@bedc.bm. To learn more about upcoming events offered by the Youth Business Summit, visit www.veinternational.org/2018-youth-business-summit/.