Thursday 13 May
South Manchester Reporter
Friday 21 May
Trafford METRO

Manchester’s top young investors are backing moves to put the brakes on the  banks after winning the city and inter-regional finals of the Institute of Financial Services’ Young Investor award.

Manchester Grammar School’s team of economists are through to the last eight from over 11,000 initial entries in the IFS School of Finance’s Student Investor Challenge.

The four-man-team initially won their local heats with an on line competition to invest a nominal £100,000 across the stock market. In the inter regional heat, competing against the top teams from Northern Ireland, the North of England and Scotland, the mini moguls then had to answer a series of questions on the machinations of the market, before being asked to make an eight minute presentation in front of top city big wigs at the IFS HQ at Monument in London.

The team blamed the profligacy of the past decade for the current economic crash. Rowan McDade, 18, from Didsbury, who hopes to study Economics at Warwick University, said: Banks have been with us for over 500 years and clearly have immense social benefit, but they have become far less socially useful with the advance of risky proprietorial trading in derivatives.

Alex Ganose, 18, Hale, who has an offer to study Natural Sciences at Homerton College, added: We all welcome the appointment of Vince Cable to regulate the banks. Self regulation has been frankly facile and the City needs a firm hand.

Manchester Grammar School’s Head of Economics Helen Jones, who has seen a dramatic surge in interest in the subject, with 75 boys now taking the subject each year at A-level, said: Today’s students undoubtedly have a different attitude towards finance, banking and the City, believing that profitability and social value do not have to be at odds with each other. It was a massive achievement to reach the final from 11,000 entries.
 
Pictured from left to right are: Matt Jones, 17, from Wilmslow, Alex Ganose, Rownan McDade, and Adam Checkround, 18, from Middleton

The 2010 Hugh Oldham Lecture
Students from MGS and surrounding schools have the tremendous opportunity to hear Stanley Fink, British Hedge Fund Manager and Philanthropist, talk at this years' Hugh Oldham Lecture in July, which is open to the public.  The 10 afternoon seminars, for the Sixth Form students, include speakers from prestigious companies such as Schroders and JO Hambro, Manchester and Leeds Universities Business Schools, along with talks given by highly successful entrepreneurs.  Read more here.