Call for businesses to sponsor university students

The chairman of Jersey's Consumer Council is proposing businesses in the island sponsor students to go to university.

Advocate Rose Colley's intervention comes as the Education minister admits he's unable to find a system of student loans the States can afford.

A campaign group in the island is pushing for government-backed financial support, but at a time of austerity with £130million of cuts due within the public sector over the next four years, their call looks unlikely to succeed.

Advocate Colley argues on-island firms should shoulder a greater financial burden to fund students, as it's they who ultimately benefit from qualified staff.

It was one of a number of suggestions raised at the latest Any Questions debate.

This month's, in St John, also explored the concept of a graduate tax, and even the possibility of an across-the-board education tax paid by all islanders.