“Eve” (Y12) has kindly sent in a blog describing her time on the Dealing Floor with JT
As a young woman interested in finance, I wondered what it would feel like to step onto a trading floor. With 9% of traders being women, I worried the industry was too male-dominated and intimidating. Junior Trader challenged that assumption, shifting my mindset from the outset from hesitation to excitement and eagerness to embrace the challenge.
JT captured my interest on the first slide of the presentation by framing trading through the lens of female representation – an empowering image of Debbie Moore of its era standing confidently among a sea of men set the tone for the programme. I instantly recognised her from my dancing background, and learning she was the first woman to float a company on the Stock Exchange was motivating as her determination allowed her to excel across multiple fields. That introduction grounded our Junior Trader experience in both ambition and possibility.
Coming from an all-girls school, walking into a room filled with female traders was unusual and incredibly encouraging. It wasn’t just a unique experience; it reflected what the future of finance could look like. The atmosphere felt purposeful and progressive — not just about learning to trade, but about reshaping who feels they belong in the industry. JT focused on Food, Fashion and Online Stocks, so I felt at home.
Once trading began, the experience became even more immersive. Selecting our stocks through team research
required analysing data, visiting shops, assessing consumer behaviour, and thinking strategically under time pressure. It mirrored real investment far more closely than I expected, turning complex economic theory into something tangible. As someone already interested in fashion and food as a consumer, it was eye-opening to see how these markets operate behind the scenes — from seasonal spikes at Christmas to the strategies brands use to drive sales.
At the same time, I wasn’t as familiar with commodities, so the experience taught me about these markets and the broader political and economic factors that influence them. Tracking our performance in real time on phones built camaraderie and sparked my curiosity about emerging opportunities in digital assets, where similar analytical skills can be applied to new markets.
After the trading period, we produced investment reports assessing successes and setbacks. This encouraged critical thinking, trend analysis, and data interpretation. The focus was on learning, not competition, allowing us to absorb the key lessons of trading safely and working as a team.
Junior Trader gave me the opportunity to work like a real investor, providing invaluable insight into finance. From hands-on trading and teamwork to analysing performance and reflecting in reports, every step reinforced skills I’ll carry into the future. It also boosted my super-curricular experience and deepened my interest in economics and maths. Most importantly, it built my confidence and challenged my assumptions about women’s role in finance, inspiring me to see myself on the trading floor just as strongly as Debbie, a fellow Mancunian did.
This is what JT is all about. Thank you Eve!
#TradeSafe
