TV Apprentice Encourages Girls to Take Risks
Year 10 students met Claire Young, finalist in the BBC’s TV series The Apprentice (2008) at Burgess Hill School for Girls.
The ‘Push Your Boundaries’ careers conference took place at the school with workshops in a range of interesting and unusual skills designed to “push the girls’ boundaries”. An evening talk with other successful business women was held for pupils and parents at the Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex.
The students took part in workshops in bricklaying, sign language, photo editing, debating, line dancing, circus skills, Nia (holistic, sensory-based movement) and learning to drive, which involved driving a golf buggy and trailer around a course. They took part in two sessions; one which they rated highly on their list of choices and one which they hadn’t, in order to encourage them to experience something new.
Claire Young joined the girls in some of the sessions, including helping to build a brick planter. After the workshops the students reflected on their experiences and how they could be more open minded to new opportunities.
The evening conference took place at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex in Burgess Hill and was hosted by Andy Crabb, Executive Principal for the Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex and Ann Aughwane, Headmistress of Burgess Hill School.
Claire Young and Deanna Stark's talks provided inspiration and encouragement for the girls and their parents.
Claire Young, who is well known for her straight talking attitude which infuriated, then won over Lord Alan Sugar and 11 million viewers of the TV show The Apprentice, spoke about the risks she had taken in her life. She explained how she was educated at a girls’ school and graduated from Bristol University with an Equine degree. She took “educated risks” to quickly work her way up to the top roles in sales and marketing at L’Oreal, Colgate Palmolive, and beauty group AS Watson before entering The Apprentice.
Deanna Stark, the Manager of Online Commerce for IMB United Kingdom and Ireland, spoke to parents about how to encourage their daughters to take risks with small decisions as well as life changing decisions to open up new opportunities for their future careers.
Parents and students were given the opportunity to ask a panel of successful business women questions about careers and risk taking at the end of the event.
The students that took part were all girls from the following schools; Burgess Hill School for Girls and Oakmeeds Community College in Burgess Hill; Oathall Community College, Haywards Heath; Warden Park School, Cuckfield and Downlands Community School, Hassocks.
Picture shows : Claire Young speaking to girls at Burgess Hill School
