The government is working on legal changes that will allow student-run companies under the Junior Achievement (JA) programme to continue operating even after their school projects officially end — a move that would make Malta the first country in Europe to give JA businesses formal recognition.

The reform, announced in the 2026 Budget, is being developed with the Malta Business Registry (MBR) and Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, with the legal notice now said to be at an advanced stage.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana told Parliament that the new framework is intended to help “young entrepreneurs who are ready to take the next step” continue running their businesses instead of having to shut them down at the end of the academic year.

From School Project To Startup

The Junior Achievement programme — previously known as Young Enterprise — allows secondary and post-secondary students to set up and run a mini-company as part of their education. Participants create real products or services, manage sales, and pitch to investors before winding down their operations at the end of the programme.

Currently, JA companies must close once the school cycle ends, even if they have genuine potential or an active customer base. The upcoming reform would bridge that gap, giving young entrepreneurs the option to register their ventures legally, open bank accounts, and keep operating independently under supervision.

Encouraging Real Youth Entrepreneurship

The goal is to turn JA projects from classroom simulations into real business opportunities — allowing young founders to gain experience, retain their brand, and grow beyond the educational stage.

The move forms part of the government’s wider effort to reduce bureaucracy and encourage entrepreneurship among young people, ensuring that promising student-led projects don’t disappear for purely administrative reasons.

If implemented, the reform would likely make Malta the first European country to give Junior Achiever companies a legal pathway to continue trading after their school year — setting what officials described as “a new benchmark for youth entrepreneurship policy.”