A group of Junior Achievement Young Enterprise (JAYE) Malta Foundation students who were interning at HSBC Bank Malta this summer to develop personal and professional skills got more than they signed-up for when the bank provided them with an experience outside of the office to gain a deeper appreciation for the environment around them.

The students spent a day at Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park oiling the wooden fences and picnic furniture at this important natural reserve in the south of Malta. In addition, the team of 12 interns assisted in cleaning a dinghy that is used by site manager of Nature Trust Malta for the rescue of turtles at sea. The 155,000-square metre park in the south of Malta is home to research on renewable energy, water, biodiversity and energy efficiency.

Daniel Robinson, head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Malta, said: “At HSBC Malta, environment and its protection is an integral part of how we run our business. In fact, it is one of the three key areas of our social investment, along with supporting education and the preservation of Maltese heritage. We hope that the interns’ time at HSBC Malta this summer shaped not only their professional acumen but also helped them appreciate our precious natural environment.”

As well as honing their budding skills HSBC also fostered a deeper appreciation of the environment in the JAYE participants.

Kurt Spiteri, a JAYE intern, said: “This experience allowed us to give a contribution towards a noble cause while also serving as a great team-building activity.”

Back in the office, the JAYE students had a busy summer at HSBC Malta. Through various JAYE Malta Foundation programmes, participants had the opportunity to meet and interact directly with several key officials at the bank, including the heads of human resources and retail banking and wealth management.

Another group of students spent a day at the bank as part of JAYE Malta’s Leaders for a Day 2018 initiative. Yet another opportunity brought the students together with the bank’s designated future leaders of the bank to learn about career progression options.

It is to be noted that last year HSBC Malta welcomed the largest intake of JAYE Malta interns any business in Malta ever accepted. The NGO also receives funding from HSBC Group as part of the global bank’s investment in the area of Future Skills.