Encouraging girls to think like entrepreneurs is central to the educational ethos of Sherborne Girls and its commitment to preparing women of the future, writes Emma Wimhurst, Business and Entrepreneurship lead at the School.
Starting a cosmetics business from scratch at my kitchen table, and growing it into a multi-million-pound operation with fifteen employees, has opened some unexpected doors. The opportunities that followed – publishing a book, speaking at major business conferences, judging business competitions and giving talks to schools – made me realise that I wanted to inspire and support the bright young minds of the future.
Now in my seventh year as Business A Level teacher and Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator I am privileged to be educating future generations of women. I am also fortunate to be doing so in a school that was built on an entrepreneurial vision.
Fostering the qualities and skills associated with an ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ is enshrined in one of Sherborne Girls’ five strategic pillars: our commitment to preparing girls for their future in the workplace, whether as business leaders, entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs. This commitment is embraced by all staff and is embedded in everything we do at Sherborne Girls.
There are two reasons why entrepreneurship is woven into our DNA. First, we recognise that being entrepreneurial is not just about knowing how to start and run your own business, it is about being the best you can be, making sure that you are in the driving seat, and making a difference. It’s about having the confidence to disrupt the norm and defy the doubters. It’s about creating opportunities, rather than waiting for them. This is what it means to be a Sherborne girl.
Second, we want to make sure that, when they leave us, our girls are prepared to make the most of a world where there are more opportunities for female business leaders and owners than ever before. Female entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the greatest opportunities for economic growth in the 21st century. Following the Treasury-commissioned Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, published in 2019, the UK Government committed to increase female entrepreneurs by an additional 600,000 by 2030, through a range of education initiatives and financial support.
According to the World Economic Forum, the skills required to thrive in the workplace include complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and co-ordinating well with others. The Entrepreneurship in Education Programme I created for Sherborne Girls, now in its third year, is designed to foster these skills and more across all year groups.
The Programme is built on four key elements. First, we use real-life challenges to foster problem-solving and confident decision-making. Working with The Inspirational Learning Group, our L4, U4 and Mid 5 participate in one-day challenges, set by real employers and designed to encourage pupils to develop and apply workplace skills.
This year, for example, our Mid 5 took part in the NatWest ‘Go Green Challenge’. They were asked to create a new product or service to help NatWest customers ‘Go Green’ by saving energy or reducing their carbon footprint. The winners (Winnie Foster, Betsy Chow, Diyala Deeley, Ella Davidson and Rose Wingfield-Digby) came up with ‘Coffee Print’, a paper manufactured from coffee grounds by solar-powered machines, reducing dependence on trees, coffee waste and carbon footprint.
Second, we give our girls opportunities to learn from the many successful local businesses within our thriving local community. Our L5, for example, take part in a ‘Coffee Shop Challenge’ in which they work in teams to create a new coffee shop concept. During this six-week programme, they carry out market research in Sherborne to identify gaps. Visits to some of the town’s most popular coffee shops, including lively and informative talks from owners such as Graham Cox (Bean Shot) and Jane Wood (Oliver’s) not only inspire but also encourage discussion around target audience, marketing and branding. The teams present their ideas to a panel of judges in the summer.
Third, regular exposure to a wide range of entrepreneurs provides valuable insights into what can be a rollercoaster ride between idea and business reality. In attending talks given by some of our highly successful alumnae, girls learn about the importance of qualities such as resilience, courage, tenacity and integrity. As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022, for example, we are hosting lunchtime talks with Tattie Isles (Founder of Tattie Rose Flowers) and Thea Carroll (Property Consultant) who will share their own entrepreneurial journeys.
Finally, and perhaps most powerfully, we take a genuinely cross-curricular approach to entrepreneurship. For example, during the ‘Coffee Shop Challenge’, our L5 will receive support from staff across the curriculum including in Computer Science, Food, and Art and Design. My colleagues will help the girls with web design, food costs and production, as well as product design and manufacture.
This collaborative approach is, in my view, one of the main drivers behind our track record of fostering individuals who leave their mark on the world. The Entrepreneurship in Education Programme is my responsibility but the skills, qualities and habits it fosters are also supported and celebrated by all members of staff working in partnership to prepare young women of the future.
