RAUTECK student-company won the ‘FedEx Access Award’ at the 26th annual Company of the Year Competition (COYC). The students impressed the FedEx Signature Award jury with their strong attention to social impact, financial performance and innovation. Taking sustainability and social commitment into consideration, RAUTECK (Recycled AUToparts ECKernf?rde) creates new products with recycled automotive parts. They turn buckle tongues into bottle openers (F?rde?ffner) and seat belts into fancy bags (F?rdeTaschen), marketing them as “products of great authenticity”.

　　Over 350 COYC participants gathered in Berlin, Germany between 28-31 July, to celebrate the top mini-companies from across Europe. 37 student-teams from 36 countries competed as part of JA Europe’s flagship Company Programme, which gives them an opportunity to set up and run a real business with the support of business mentors.

　　“Winning the FedEx Access Award is incredible. We are very proud to receive this special recognition of our hard work, and we are of course very happy to be a part of this European event!” – RAUTECK team member, Bendix Sibbel

　In the 2014-2015 school year more than 275,000 students participated in the JA Europe Company Programme.

　　Learning to run a company from top to bottom, these JA Company Programme students created and marketed real products and services. The success of the programme is largely due to the wide support from business volunteers, who act as mentors, offering expert advice to the students. Partnering education and business is essential to closing the gap between classroom theory and real-world business.