Students Recognised as High Potential Candidates by AmplifyME
Six Newcastle University Business School students have been recognised as High Potential Candidates by global finance simulation provider AmplifyME, placing them among the top performers worldwide.
16 April 2026
Six Newcastle University Business School students have been identified as High Potential Candidates (HPCs) by leading global finance simulation platform AmplifyME. This places them among the top performers across thousands of participants worldwide.
All six students demonstrated a high level of technical skill within AmplifyME’s immersive financial simulations. They showed exceptional commercial awareness and strong decision‑making ability.
As High Potential Candidates, the students gain access to advanced training, industry insights, and connections to top financial institutions. This helps remove barriers, enabling them to reach their full potential.
Valuable experiences support development
Four of the six students shared their reflections on the AmplifyME programme and how the experience has supported their development in finance.
Accounting and Finance BSc student Ben Kelly said, “I am grateful to the university for the opportunity to do the simulation and to benefit from the educational elements of the programme."
He highlighted how the simulations deepened his understanding of trading and risk. "I particularly enjoyed the second simulation where I learnt to cover risk in long trading with an opposite short. The competitive areas also drove me to outperform peers reacting to the macroeconomic news.”
The programme has already opened new doors for Ben. “The programme has boosted my CV – I was automatically entered for a Morgan Stanley summer internship for 2027, " he said. "I was grateful for the opportunity to apply my financial course into real-life scenarios.”
Four of the six Newcastle University students selected as High Potential Candidates (HPCs) by AmplifyME (left to right): Euan Burn, Ben Kelly, Ismael Akoumou, and Jack Laidler.
Finance BSc student Jack Laidler described finishing second in the hedge fund simulation as a key highlight. This led to an invitation to join the fast-track process for Morgan Stanley summer internships.
“I have really enjoyed the AmplifyME programme; it’s been a really enriching way to learn more about the world of finance," said Jack. "It has helped my career development. Potential employers can see the experience I already possess thanks to this programme.”
Fellow Finance BSc student Euan Burn emphasised how the programme brought finance to life. “I have enjoyed participating in the AmplifyME programme. It has made finance feel real and not just theory by putting it into practice," he said. "A personal highlight for me was finishing first place in one of the Markets pathway settings. This really confirmed to me that I would like to pursue a career in this field.”
Finance MSc student Ismael Akoumou also praised the immersive learning experience. “I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the AmplifyME programme," he said. "The fast-paced, simulation-based structure made the learning process both exciting and rewarding."
Taking part in simulations that mirrored real-world scenarios helped Ismael learn to make decisions under time pressure. He said the experience had strengthened his commercial awareness and increased his confidence in pursuing roles within finance.
About AmplifyME
AmplifyME is a global provider of immersive, role-specific simulations for the finance industry. Live financial simulations give students hands-on experience in markets, banking, and quantitative finance.
This year all undergraduate and postgraduate students at Newcastle University Business School have had access to over 50 AmplifyME Pathways simulations.
Senior Lecturer in Finance Dr Nikolaos Papanikolaou said, "AmplifyMe is an excellent tool to facilitate the active learning students require to understand how financial markets work, and gain insight into how a career is in the financial services industry.
"It offers students marketable, real-world skills, helping them become problem solvers and decision makers"
What Is a High Potential Candidate?
A High Potential Candidate is an exceptional student who has shown outstanding performance and the potential to excel in finance.
Students can earn HPC recognition through:
- University Pathways Programmes
- Flagship simulations
- AmplifyME’s Summer Analyst Training Programme
As HPC's, all six students will gain access to advanced training, industry insights, and connections to top financial institutions. This helps remove barriers, enabling them to reach their full potential.