ONE of the world’s leading institutions in the accountancy and finance profession has chosen to team up with a small, but booming, York company.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) which has a global membership of more than 130,000 people, is piloting a national school project using SimVenture, the made-in-York business simulation game which is exciting educationalists around the world.

Peter Harrington, one of the founding directors responsible for creating the award-winning software, said: “We were delighted when ICAEW chose to work with us.

“The Institute needed an engaging and robust business simulation platform that they could offer to schools throughout England and Wales. Since we were also able to modify and fine-tune the software so that it included important information about the ICAEW, we were chosen as their preferred partner for this pilot project.”

As part of the contract, which is initially worth £25,000 to the SimVenture team, bespoke scenarios will also be created so that school students can develop and test key business and finance skills using the software.

Adam Birt, senior manager at ICAEW, said, “We are delighted to be using SimVenture to help promote the development of key employability and business skills to school students. SimVenture is a brilliant way of illustrating how the decisions they make can impact on the future success of a business.”

The pilot project will conclude in 2012 and if the results prove positive, both organisations will look to work together to introduce the product to schools all over the world.

Mr Harrington said: “For a relatively small company like ours, it’s very exciting to be asked to work with organisations with the pedigree and reputation of the ICAEW. “We are already working in most parts of the world but this kind of experience and opportunity can only help accelerate the development of the company.”