Last week the Artemis Profit Hunt concluded, and one of the teams LAE entered, the 'Smart Cookies', won the top prize! They achieved an amazing 14% returns over sixth months with their impressive teamwork and stock picks. 

The Artemis Profit Hunt is a competition where year 12 students from London state schools create imaginary stock portfolios and receive expert mentorship. 

Read on for a student report from Lolade in Year 12:

I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity as the experience was invaluable and inspiring. The teams at Arrival and Artemis Investment Management organised another successful programme that will definitely educate and motivate young people to pursue careers not only in finance but in the corporate industry as a whole.

If you asked me in November anything about stock exchange and share prices, I would have replied with a look of pure confusion, but now I can confidently inform you about so many factors affecting the market.

Through discussions with our coaches, meeting alumni and current employees who adore their jobs, my understanding of Investment management has pleasantly skyrocketed and although I am nowhere near an expert, I now believe I am capable of fitting in and thriving in a fast paced environment like this one.

I never believed that I would have the confidence to speak to a room full of young people and professionals in the finance industry, let alone speak about a sustainable palm oil company that unfortunately resulted in our portfolio plummeting drastically.

But this is a clear example of the growth and development that this programme has given me and although we did not place on the podium, the skills I will utilise forever are an achievement in themselves. I am so lucky to have worked with such an amazing and hardworking group that challenged my reasoning and motivated me to think critically.

Finally, I want to congratulate the winning team from LAE, the Smart Cookies!

Once again, I am so grateful for the coaches and organisers at Artemis and Arrival for their hard work and commitment to the success of this year’s Profit Hunt.

- Lolade, Year 12