Having delivered numerous presentations and meetings over the years and attended my fair share of careers evenings face to face, it was interesting to take a different perspective this week when I delivered a virtual event to the pupils of Newport Girls’ High School in Shropshire talking all around entrepreneurialism and digital marketing.
At the beginning of lockdown 3 the Headteacher reached out to parents and carers to ask if they had subject matter specialisms and would they be prepared to bring and add flavour to the fantastic work that the teaching staff within the school are doing remotely.
This was an opportunity for year 12 students, studying a varied A level economics curriculum, to listen and spend time discussing what it is like to start a business, form a business, methods of finance, developing corporate governance and how you grow a business and enter new markets – keeping ahead of your competition.
And of course, there was a generous sprinkling of creativity and digital marketing to add in too – but I can’t help thinking the audience knew more than me certainly when it came to TikTok!!
It was vibrant, fun and a great way to talk with aspiring ambitious intelligent young women around what it’s like to start a business and the practical elements of running a business plus how to keep ahead in the market.
It’s incredible to see how the teaching staff have adapted and are engaging their pupils in tough, difficult conditions but with no less ambition, drive and determination. Their efforts will ensure our young people get the best education they possibly can during these weird times. But it’s clear to me that in the future, it’s real-life experience that these young people need so much, and we as a business will continue our policy of engaging and welcoming interns into the owb hub as soon as the situation allows – and I would encourage all of our business partners to do the same if they are able.
So finally, we hope that this small session will develop the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and already it was interesting to note the number of pupils who sent LinkedIn requests immediately after the lesson.
