Bermuda High School students are learning how to make money in a new programme designed to teach the finer points of business and finance.

Future female business leaders are swinging into action after brainstorming an idea for their project in the programme Young Enterprise.

Twentyone members have to create, produce, manage, market and sell their products later this year in competition against other Young Enterprise groups during a trade show.

The BHS group, lead by 16-year-old managing director Iesha Castle, has begun production of colourful, bound journals.

Personnel director Alex Edwards, 16, told The Royal Gazette : "We (the group) sat up one night and brain stormed all the different ideas -- things that were fun and innovative.

"They're (journals) for a variety of things -- like sketches, recipes or autograph books.'' Iesha said: "We were mostly trying to target females because we can relate to them better.

"The journal is basically an anything book.'' she added.

The group rolls up their sleeves after school and on weekends in order to meet their quota of 125 books by this Saturday, and will be selling their journals to the public on Front Street near English Sport Shop, on Saturday.

Managing director Iesha said its about learning organisational skills and how to operate a real business. She admits one of the hardest parts of the job is coordinating everybody's roles.

"It's getting everybody to listen.'' she laughed.

Alex said as the personnel director she has similar concerns because her job is specifically "the balance of being fair and enthusiastic.'' She said in order to be fair to the group, she has to be firm with those who aren't pulling their weight.

"You know, if you aren't making the cut -- time to start thinking about things.'' she gestured a falling guillotine with her hands.

The group agreed Young Enterprise is a fun, learning experience even though it's very time consuming.

Iesha said all the members have stuck around school as late as 6 p.m.

sometimes.

Alex noted: "It's taught me to manage my other activities.'' And the group's marketing department appears to be ahead of themselves as student body interest in the journals has welled up, but posters are not due to be put out until later.

"We have a lot of interest from the younger girls.'' said Alex.

The group leaders hope to raise enough money to liquidate their assets at the end of the trade fair for a profit that will be split up between the members.

Iesha joined Young Enterprise after watching previous years go through it and develop products, but she wants to move into computer science as a career.

"I want to go to Bermuda College for computer science and then away to another school to finish up.'' she said.

Alex said she was interested in business as a career.

"I want to be a business lady in my future and we can learn a lot from a this.

"Right now I'm undecided about college but I want to do either the International Baccalaureate here (BHS) or the Senior Graduate Year at Saltus.'' The programme was introduced to the girls by Economics teacher Emma Geraghty and the group is advised by two gentlemen from Ernest and Young, David Reid and Glenn Henderson.