On the 30th of April, the Junior Entreprises Belgium network organized its traditional “national meeting” during which three student structures were awarded. A jury of professionals notably awarded the best “Junior Company”, that is, the best structure managed by students.
We remind you that a Junior Company is a non-profit organization whose particularity is to be 100% managed by students. These, numbering 15 in Belgium, work in different areas, such as law, IT, finance and marketing.
Every year, the network awards three awards, including “Best Junior Company in Belgium”. This was won for the sixth consecutive year by Junior Consulting Louvain. “It’s an immense pride,” reacted Theo De Lievre, its president. “This award recognizes the work we have done throughout the year. The fact that we have won it for the sixth year in a row also illustrates our consistency and our will to improve.”
To convince the jury of professionals that awarded this award, Junior Consulting Louvain put all odds on its side. “We worked a lot on our presentation”, explains Théo De Lievre. “We started preparing our pitch three weeks ago. We refined it by sending it to our alumni and partners. It wasn’t easy to summarize in 3 minutes everything we’ve done over the past year.”
Students from all faculties
Junior Consulting Louvain, linked to UCLouvain, is in fact particularly active. The 48 students that comprise it provide services to companies in three main areas: IT, marketing and CSR (corporate social responsibility). “This can range from machine prototyping, to creating a website, but also financial plans, through consulting to enable companies to meet the social and environmental requirements imposed by the B Corp certification.”
In order to be able to work in all these areas at the same time, Junior Enterprise recruits students from 7 different faculties (law, management, agronomy, IT, etc.). “We opened our doors to all student profiles. I think this is one of the things that strengthens us”, explains its president.
Remaining as the “best junior company in Belgium” is a challenge in itself. “As Asbl is run exclusively by students, we face a large number of arrivals and departures each year. Maintaining our level and constantly seeking to improve is not always easy. But this award shows that we have been successful. As president, there is also a little pressure to tell ourselves that we should do as well, if not better, than in other years. But we often question ourselves, which allows us to move forward.”
Recently, Junior Enterprise has organized new types of conferences, expanded the diversity within it from 40% to 50% women, and extended its services to companies. “Even if the students are not paid for their work, it gives them a great professional experience. integrated into our structure. For our associates, this is a great gateway to the professional world, which offers them many opportunities for work later on.”
the other prices
Yes Junior Leuven Consulting thus winning the “best junior company” award, two other student structures were also highlighted.
In the “Best Business Approach” category, which rewards the structure that had the best relationship with customers during the year, it is CSLabsbased at the award-winning faculty of computer science at UNamur.
Finally, JEWaC’Sactive in consultancy and linked to the Warocqué faculty of the University of Mons, he won the first prize in the “Best Improvement” category, which rewards the student structure that presented the greatest evolution throughout the year.