PRESS RELEASE 
Luxembourg, 4 November 2021
Seated, from left to right : Tom Lessel, Head of Corporate Banking, BIL, and Stéphanie Damgé, director of Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl
Standing, from left to right : Philippe Weisen, Corporate Relationship Manager, BIL and Alessandra Simonelli, Head of Sustainable Development (BIL)
Banque Internationale à Luxembourg and Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg strengthen partnership
Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) is delighted to announce its support for the Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg (JEL) Mini-Companies programme which seeks to raise awareness among secondary school pupils about entrepreneurship and the business world. This support reinforces the collaboration initiated in 2017, in particular with the Young Enterprise Project.
Raising young people’s awareness of entrepreneurship from an early age develops their autonomy, engagement, initiative and decision-making skills and a taste for risk-taking. Raising awareness about entrepreneurship is at the heart of Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg’s mission and its Mini-Companies programme. It is aimed at pupils aged 15 to 19 in general and classic secondary education. For one year, they run a mini-company in which they are responsible for decision-making and the day-to-day management. In addition to financial support, BIL and its employees will assist young people in their project and pass on their knowledge of the business world and business management.
“We have been supporting JEL for four years, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to further develop our collaboration by participating in the Mini-Companies programme. Building young people’s awareness of entrepreneurship is crucial for their future careers, and it is an honour to contribute to this objective. These are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and managers,” said Tom Lessel, Head of Corporate Banking at BIL.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to further develop our collaboration with BIL. It is important to continue to invest in the education and future of young people. Providing young people with skills that will be crucial tomorrow is part of our mission,” stressed Stéphanie Damgé, Director at Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl.
As a committed and responsible company, BIL has placed support for education at the heart of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. This new partnership with JEL is just one of many joint initiatives since 2017. For example, BIL supports the Young Enterprise Project which is aimed at young people in higher education. The bank is also involved in the activities of the association Alumni JEL, which brings together former pupils having participated in one of its programmes.
About Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL)
Founded in 1856, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) is the oldest multi-business bank in the Grand Duchy. It has always played an active role in the main stages of the development of the Luxembourg economy. It currently operates in retail, private and corporate banking, as well as on capital markets. With more than 2,000 employees, the bank has branches in Luxembourg, Switzerland and China.
For more information, please contact:
Vincent Pelletier
Banque Internationale à Luxembourg SA
69, route d’Esch • L-2953 Luxembourg
Tel.: +352 4590 5046 – Email: vincent.pelletier@bil.com
About Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg
Founded in 2005, Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl, a non-profit organisation, has been under the patronage of HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg since 2013. Its goal is to “inspire and prepare young people to be innovative and creative, to take initiative and be responsible”.
The association aims to encourage creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in young people, introducing them to the world of business through various projects organised at each level of the Luxembourg education system.
More than 100,000 young people have participated in one of the association’s programmes since 2005. In 2020/2021, more than 13,000 young people participated in one of Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg’s programmes.
For more information please visit www.jel.lu or contact:
Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl
Mr Nelson Fragoso, Senior Coordinator
Email: fragoso@jel.lu/Tel.: 26 11 01-23
