What does it mean to be a Junior Enterprise?

Nova Junior Consulting (NJC) is the Junior Enterprise of NOVA School of Business and Economics, Portugal’s highest ranked business school with a reputation across Europe. Here it is discussed what it means to be a Junior Enterprise and how, across ten years, NJC has helped businesses in Portugal and across Europe to realise their potential. Discover our website to see how NJC might be able to help your business.

Fifty-four years ago, the first Junior Enterprise was established in France, aiming to offer students a practical learning experience alongside the theory that they learnt in the classroom. Since then, Junior Enterprises have emerged all over the world, providing business-related services to clients and giving students opportunities to jump-start their professional careers.

But what is a Junior Enterprise? Effectively, a JE replicates a traditional business environment, pushing talented students to meet targets, fulfil business functions and create impact for the clients that they serve. These enterprises vary considerably, yet they are united in being non-profit, entrepreneurial and run wholly by students. They are future-driven: aiming to promote the development of their members, the Junior Enterprise movement and the creation of a sustainable future.

In the global Junior Enterprise Network these enterprises are united, allowing for knowledge sharing and relationship building to further the success of these organisations. Nova Junior Consulting (NJC) is proudly a member of this movement and was honoured to be awarded Most Impactful Project in Europe in 2020.

NJC stems from Portugal’s top ranked Business School - NOVA School of Business and Economics. Each year, a select group of student applicants are hired to conduct consulting projects. They work hard, alongside their studies, to produce high quality, actionable insights for their clients, in teams with more experienced members.

The quality that is achieved is reflected in how our members go on to complete internships and gain full-time positions at top consulting firms and other companies. They go out into the professional world having learnt much of their craft from their time at NJC.

This success is, fundamentally, the result of the huge support that NJC gratefully received. From top consulting firms and other learning partners; alumni and NOVA SBE professors; and the JE Network, a wealth of knowledge is provided that enables our work and develops our members into the professionals of tomorrow.

Being a Junior Enterprise is a badge that NJC proudly wears. It means seeing education as not just abstract learning but something to be applied practically to the problems of today and tomorrow. It means believing that cooperation brings out the best in all. And it means looking forward optimistically with each class of future business leaders that we support.