Secondary School Entrepreneurship Contest Will Open October 6
The competition's tenth edition invites students to manage virtual companies in an international business simulation.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The tenth National Secondary School Entrepreneurship Competition will officially open on October 6, 2026. This international program challenges students to develop business skills by operating virtual companies through a six-week simulation.
Why it matters
The program aims to foster business ambition and capability in students, with past participant data showing a significant track record of graduates launching their own ventures.
Since its inception, the program has provided over 50,000 hours of training to 5,000 students across 128 schools and organizations. In 2025, 28 percent of participants ranked within the top 10 percent globally in business simulations.
The players
Shell Trinidad and Tobago
The local branch of the global energy corporation has served as the premier sponsor of the competition since 2017.
The details
Teams consisting of five students manage virtual companies during a six-week operational period. Participants make critical business decisions concerning product pricing, customer segments, advertising strategies, and production investments to compete in global business simulations.
Timeline
2017: Shell began sponsorship of the competition.
2025: Participants ranked in the top 10 percent globally.
March 2026: Dominican Republic edition launched.
October 6, 2026: Tenth edition of competition opens.
November 11, 2026: Closing and prize-giving ceremony.
The Home Front
This competition aligns with global trends in secondary education to integrate professional business simulations into the standard curriculum. It follows the established pattern of specialized enrichment programs that track long-term student outcomes against regional and international performance metrics.
Families with students interested in business should confirm if their school is among the 128 participating organizations. Encourage students to evaluate their readiness for managing virtual production and pricing simulations before the October 6 start date.
The takeaway
The program serves as a practical testing ground for students to build business acumen before entering the workforce. Participating families should mark November 11, 2026, on their calendars to track final outcomes and celebrate student achievements.
What happens next
The competition will reach its conclusion with a prize-giving ceremony on November 11, 2026. Organizers have also committed to a ten-year tracer study to monitor the ongoing career and business paths of program participants.
Further reading
For additional insights on student development programs, explore the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trinidad Express Newspapers.
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