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ProgrammeAll of EuropeLeadership

JA Company Programme: run your own mini-company for a school year (ages 15–18)

A programme where you create a mini-company. It runs through your school; in Spain the national JA organisation runs it.

JA Europe (Junior Achievement)· JA Company Programme (JA Europe / Junior Achievement)

At a glance

Amount

Offered through your school: you set up and run a real mini-company with business mentors; the best teams reach national and European contests

Deadline
No application deadline
Covers
ProgrammeMentoring
Duration

One year

Cycle: 2026-2027

About this grant

The JA Company Programme is a JA Europe (Junior Achievement) programme for pupils aged 15–18: over the school year you create and run a real mini-company with mentors from business. The programme is free for the participating school, you join through the school and the best teams go on to national and European competitions.

The JA Europe page does not describe the Spanish version, so check the name and conditions with your school and JA España (in Spain the national JA organisation runs the programme; see also the miniempresas entry). Schools registered with the local JA take part.

Is this right for you

Checking against your answers…

Who can apply

Citizenship
any
Fields of study
Business, Economics

How to apply

Where to go and what to do, step by step

Where to apply
Through your school and the local JA organisation (JA Europe, jaeurope.org)
https://jaeurope.org/learning-experiences/portfolio/company-programme/
Go to the application page
Who submits it
You yourself

Steps

  1. 1

    Check you are 15–18: the programme is for that age.

  2. 2

    Find a teacher willing to register the class: you take part only through the school.

  3. 3

    Ask your school and JA España what the Spanish version is called and on what terms it runs: the JA Europe page does not describe it.

  4. 4

    The teacher registers the class with the local JA organisation.

  5. 5

    Build the mini-company with the class and business mentors: from idea to a real product.

  6. 6

    The best teams advance to national and European competitions.

What exactly to submit

Documents and materials to attach to the application.

  • The school's agreement and a teacher who registers the class
  • An age of 15–18
  • A business idea for the mini-company (developed during the programme)

Example

Example (written by us): the economics teacher registers a 1st Bachillerato class with the local JA organisation. Ana's team builds a mini-company selling reusable bottles, works with a business mentor and hopes to reach the national competition.

An example we wrote to illustrate: it is not an official sample, replace the details with your own.

How applicants are chosen

Schools registered with the local JA take part; the best teams go on to national and European competitions.

What happens after you apply

The programme is free for the participating school: you create and run a real mini-company with business mentors. Ask your school and JA España for the Spanish version's name and conditions.

Common mistakes

  • Applying alone: a class joins through the school
  • Assuming the Spanish terms match JA Europe's description: confirm with JA España
  • Starting without a work plan with the mentor

Official links

Guide checked against the official pages: 9 October 2026. Guide written from official sources. Details may change: check them on the application page.

A letter template and a checklist to review before sending. If a local model is running on your computer, the text reads more naturally.

Verbatim from the source

“Launched in 1919, our flagship programme the JA Company Programme offers students aged 15-18 the opportunity to learn how to move a business idea from concept to reality.”
Original in englishOfficial source

Reviews

Experience from people who have already applied. These are user opinions and are not verified by the organiser.

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This information is for guidance only. Conditions change every year — check them on the provider's official website before applying.

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