It’s in the bag: Kilgraston wins Tayside Young Enterprise Regional Finals
Dundee used to be known as the home of the three Js: jute, jam and journalism and last night it held true to form with its jute heritage bagging top prize.
After a tense evening, Kilgraston’s Upper Sixth team scooped first place in the 2022 Young Enterprise Tayside Regional Finals.
Beating tough competition from across the county, Zara B, Anna T, India D, Tegan O, Poppy P, Robin B and Genevieve N, won with their ‘Joy in a Jute’ company programme, a mindfulness jute bag for young children.
Held at the Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort, north of Broughty Ferry, the team travelled early in the day to set up their stall and go through several assessments and presentations before the final announcement by Bruce Donaldson, Chairman: “The Young Enterprise Company Programme is an extremely valuable journey for students to undertake,” he said, “and, if entered into fully, creates an experience that will last with them for the rest of their lives.”
Winning eight out of ten categories - best trade stand, best marketing, best presentation, best business report, best business mentor (thank you Hannah Ovens!), sustainability, most inspirational journey and, of course, the 2022 Tayside Company of the Year - ‘Jute Joy’ was repeatedly commended for its “thorough” and “mature” approach.
Asked by an audience member if the enterprising experience had changed her thoughts on a future career, Kilgraston’s Upper Sixth, Zara, responded with a quick and clear, “No, but it has certainly cememted my decision to follow business management at university!”
Hear, hear to that and we wish the girls every success for the national championships in Glasgow on the 2nd of June.
25.3.22
Kilgraston’s Woman and Business series welcomes journalist and broadcaster, Catherine Pepinster
Who knew that a Ladybird book could alter the course of your life? One woman’s did and that is Catherine Pepinster, journalist, broadcaster, religious commentator.
Speaking to Kilgraston pupils from her base in west London, the journalist was delivering a lecture as part of the school’s Women and Business industry expert series: “I was only about seven or eight at the time and there, in my Christmas stocking, was the Ladybird book of newspapers, featuring a lady with a reporter’s notebook, and I thought, “that’s what I want to do!””
And she did, regaling pupils with stories of a childhood home filled with stimulating political discussion and intellectual reading material, noting, “My parents were always shouting at politicians on Panorama!”
Editing her school’s magazine fully galvanised a career in journalism, prompting Catherine to read Economic and Social Studies at the University of Manchester, before doing a Post Graduate diploma in journalism at City, University of London: “I know that being involved with the student newspaper at university definitely helped with my post-grad application. Work experience is absolutely vital, as is being insatiably curious; essential for a journalist!”
Proceeding to local papers, Catherine highlighted lessons learnt when pounding the pavements, attending courts, council meetings and inquests, explaining: “Very quickly, you learn the power of good contacts and being held to account by your community,” adding, “developing trust and respect lead to more stories being directed your way and that holds true to this very day.”
Moving-up to national newspapers, Catherine’s talent was spotted by The Tablet magazine, becoming its first female editor since its 1840 inception and where she experienced one of her career’s biggest scoops: “I received a tip-off about the resignation of Pope Benedict XV1 in 2013. It wasn’t trite to say this really was the first draft of history.”
The power of working and thinking as an individual – having ideas, following instincts – was counterbalanced with an explanation of how news comes together and the line-up behind production: “Always remember, well-presented, accurate reporting takes a large team of professionals.”
Concluding her talk, Catherine highlighted how her long career in journalism has offered “a reserved” child, self-belief and confidence: “During Downing Street’s Tony Blair era, I was curious to know about the acquisition by the Labour Party of a sizeable London building,” she continued, “Looking-up an old contact, I was able to request – and receive – information evaded by others. You have to hold your nerve and poise so people feel they can trust your judgement.”
Asked about the future of her profession, the focus was on ‘data journalism’, from the likes of Freedom of Information requests, and the creation of stories from available material: “I think that is definitely the way it is heading.” However, the power of the ‘long read’ was, she said, not to be under-estimated, referring to weighty weekly, The New Yorker’s terrific pieces.
‘Long reads’ is something with which Catherine is all-too-familiar, having just completed a 100,000 word book, entitled ‘Defenders of the Faith.’ It was, she concluded, an “ambitious six-month deadline” even for someone for whom words do come easily.
Kilgraston was greatly appreciative of her sharing her words with the school.
4.3.22
Catherine Pepinster taking over the reins of The Tablet. pic.David Sandison, The Independent
Pupils in front of Catherine’s ‘remote’ lecture
Women and Business with Professor Kim Dale
“Finding your passion is the key,” Professor Kim Dale told senior pupils at Kilgraston School, “finding that work/life balance is absolutely vital.”
The Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology and Assistant Vice Principal (International) of the University of Dundee, was speaking to girls as part of the School’s Women and Business industry insider lecture series.
A world-expert in Notch Signalling Pathways, the research scientist detailed her own career pathway, starting with a BSc Hons in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Southampton before progressing to a PhD in Developmental Biology and Embryology at London’s UCL: “This was a very tough course,” she told girls, “however, I cannot tell you how exciting it is to be asking a question no-one else in the whole world knows the answer to and you’re going to find!”
This passion for science saw the Professor pursue her interest to sunny southern France and the Campus de Luminy at the CNRS Faculté des Sciences at the Aix Marseille University. Here, she took a post-doctoral position, as an independent scientist, asking “really exciting biological questions.”
Professor Dale investigated embryonic Somite skeletal development and timeframes for different species – in a mouse it’s two hours, in a human eight! For the very first time, the presence of a gene ‘clock’ was established, discovering that if the Notch Pathway was interrupted (the ‘clock’ going wrong) normal development would be hampered.
From here, it was off to mid-west America to a brand-new Science research facility. While here, Prof Dale not only became a mum but developed her own independent research questions and pilot data which allowed her to apply for and secure funding to establish her own research laboratory back in Scotland and to the University of Dundee’s Faculty of Life Sciences.
Upon returning, several new skills had to be learnt - budget responsibility, people management and recruitment. “The biggest key to making it work is employing the right people,” the Professor emphasised, “my success was their success and their success was my success.” Key to success with the cutting-edge research in stem cell development was the team: “We’re all always learning from each other.”
Professor Dale concluded her talk by describing how her career had moved into management, last year accepting the position of Assistant Vice Principal where she draws on her international connections and experience: “Open your eyes for a great mentor at every step,” girls were advised, “always make sure you are passionate about the job.”
Professor Dale was given rapturous applause from all year groups, one pupil commenting: “She was just so inspiring!”
Ewan Connolly, Head of Science at Kilgraston, said: “Being presented with industry experts goes a long way to helping pupils with both tertiary education and career choices. We were very privileged to have someone of Professor Dale’s calibre visit the School.”
Kilgraston School is very proud of the fact that, on average, every year over 60% of Sixth Form leavers pursues an undergraduate STEM subject including, in 2022, to read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge.
3.2.22
Kilgraston’s Women and Business welcomes the British Transport Police
Kilgraston’s senior pupils were lucky this week to benefit from a visit by British Transport Police officers.
As part of the School’s commitment to industry insight, BTP members were taking part in the on-going Women & Business series, where girls are given first-hand experience of a highlighted career.
Appearing in full uniform (including reflective ‘stab vest’ weighing a hefty 6.5kg) all four officers described life within the most specialised and oldest Force in Great Britain, the broad range of skills needed and huge rewards gained: “We are very much part of life on the rail networks,” explained one officer from Central Glasgow, “so much of what we do is about prevention and anticipation, knowing how and when to make a difference.”
Girls learnt about the different aspects of the job, including the handling of explosive-expert dogs and firearms: “Women can be particularly good at conflict resolution,” explained one officer, “frequently they have the best gut-feeling for a situation.”
After the formal lecture - interspersed by several questions from the audience - officers spoke with members of the team on a one-to-one basis, finding out more about the career: “It was really fascinating,” said one Fifth Former, “I had no idea that there was a separate police force for the railways. It was the first time I’ve actually spoken face-to-face with a policeman!”
Kilgraston would like thanks the BTP for their time.
7.10.21
BTP officers speaking with Kilgraston pupils at the school
Women and Business - Clootie McToot
Tradition dictates
“They used to fill-up socks, tea-towels, even bloomers,” Michelle Maddox told Kilgraston’s surprised senior pupils, “then they boiled them for hours on the fire!”
The inspirational owner of Clootie McToot was describing the history of Clootie Dumplings (rich, traditional Scottish fruit puddings) and her own entrepreneurial journey, as part of the School’s Women and Business lecture series: “It’s been a rollercoaster,” said the busy mum and businesswoman, “from making everything in the family’s utility room, we now employ fourteen staff in a professional kitchen.”
Small beginnings
Starting just five years’ ago – inspiration came after her son’s appeal for edible donations for a Christmas school fete - Michelle’s traditional Clootie Dumplings sell like hot-cakes, exports reaching North America and Germany: “I was brought-up making them,” explained Michelle, “it was a family tradition and now we use my granny’s very own recipe, it’s the company’s unique selling point.”
Thankfully, these days, the ‘cloot’ (Scottish for cloth) is tailor-made for the job in borders town, Kelso, with no-one, Michelle assured, losing their underwear in the process.
Initially involved with the London food industry, immediately before starting Clootie McToot, Michelle was employed in the community grant application field, however, sales success at her son’s stall soon had her thinking: “I handed in my notice the next day!”
Expansion planning
Based in Perthshire’s Abernethy village, the business consists of a busy café, training kitchen, subscriber demonstrations and tasting sessions, together with a thriving shop and online retailer. Expansion plans are in the pipeline: “Spring 2022 will see a much bigger café and kitchen, allowing 24/7 production,” Michelle explained.
The need to be flexible and nimble in business, coping with unexpected obstacles and continually looking to diversify, was a recurring theme: “You’re always learning,” she explained, “For instance, fresh dumplings have a shelf-life of 21 days, which can be difficult for stockists, so we came up with the idea of a clootie kit, where you get all the dry ingredients, muslin cloth and string, just adding butter, milk, egg and an apple at home.”
This new product increased lifespan to a year, making stocking far more attractive to retailers: high-street giants John Lewis soon adopting the dumplings. Additionally, lockdown saw a huge spike in home-cooking interest, offering clootie kits the perfect chance to shine: “We went from making 200 to 1,500 a week.”
Michelle described how she’d learnt the importance and power of great social media, constantly adding to the brand’s story, discussing new ingredients and developments and always responding to comments: “We’d established a very active digital shop and loyal customer base, proving an absolute lifeline when Covid arrived.”
Highs and lows
Pupils were fascinated to learn about Clootie’s branding, the whole family initially having had input. But the need to redesign became obvious when one outlet stated that they loved the product, but not the logo: “I was a bit hurt by that one,” said Michelle. However, taking it on the chin, a branding expert was enlisted - a new subtle colour palette decided – with the family’s original design always making a small guest appearance “to remind us what we’re about.”
Concluding her talk, the entrepreneur reiterated how much of a juggling act running your own business is: “Every day is about balancing responsibilities,” she told girls, “it is immensely rewarding, but you do have to be prepared to accept risk, the fear of failure is always there.”
Women and Business
The Women and Business programme, together with the dynamic Unifrog careers platform, are just part of Kilgraston’s dedicated curriculum, ensuring every pupil has the very best industry insight and future opportunity. The School is passionate about encouraging business enterprise among pupils, with a group of girls recently winning a Young Enterprise Awards.
Kilgraston would like to extend its thanks to Michelle for taking the time to speak with the girls.
13.9.21
Women and Business - career inspiration at Kilgraston School
Preparing our pupils for their future starts from the first day of Reception, with the focus on professions becoming more focussed from aged 12 when girls start to work with the Unifrog careers platform.
Everyone agrees that the adult workplace can be a bewildering arena. To assist girls with these crucial choices, Kilgraston’s innovative Women and Business lecture programme was implemented.
Throughout the academic year, senior pupils – Lower and Upper Fifth and Sixth Form – enjoy talks from industry experts from a myriad of professions. Hearing first-hand from experts in their field is frequently the catalyst on which a whole life can pivot. Despite social distancing restrictions, our lectures continued online, often encompassing an even wider school audience.
“Let nothing stand in the way of learning,” Dorothy MacGinty, Head teacher
Industry expertise
Do you fancy creating and marketing a unique blend of tea? Our pupils did with Clare Pinchbeck of Hettie’s Tearoom with the innovative brand being launched at Etape Caledonia in September 2021.
Learning about the role of Daily Telegraph columnist, Judith Woods, gave the girls an insight into life as a journalist at the very top of the game, her route to a national newspaper and some of the characters encountered along the way: “Did she really say that?!”
Mental arithmetic proved a great qualification when tax specialists from international accountancy firm Saffery Champness described the many opportunities available within their field. Within a day, two pupils had signed-up to learn more about apprenticeships within the firm.
Potential legal-eagles were offered the chance to glean the inside track from solicitor, Nyree Conway, of Edinburgh firm Thorley Stephenson and, from the other side of the judicial divide, Procurator Fiscal Karon Rollo, detailed her professional life, representing the Crown Office, including gory stories of bodies on dark hillsides!
Energy and inspiration were clearly in evidence when young entrepreneur Helen Stewart, owner of Badvo Gin, gave girls an insight into starting and running your own rural business.
For those – and there are many – keen to pursue a medical career, Sally Ibbotson was on-hand to detail life as Professor of Photodermatology and Consultant Dermatologist, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School.
The hospitality industry has been much in the news and nowhere more so than in hotels. Gleneagles Hotel’s Commercial Director, Jane McGee, was kind enough to spare the time come to Kilgraston, offering insight into her incredibly demanding and varied role including some of the world’s other top establishments.
Each year, over 60% of Kilgraston leavers proceed to take STEM undergraduate courses. Bearing this in mind, the School was thrilled to welcome Rachel Battilana MIStractE, an engineer with SSE’s hydro scheme upgrade projects who works throughout Scotland, turning up the pressure on Scotland’s waterways.
Dental enthusiasts were entertained by Rhu McKelvey BDS (Glasgow) 1995, FDSRCS 1998, M.Orth (Edinburgh) who is not only a highly-qualified orthodontist but a very successful entrepreneur, starting, running and continually expanding BEAM Orthodontics in Dundee.
Since Spring 2020, being “guided by the science” is a phrase with which we have all become familiar. But for Dr Julie Maxton CBE, Executive Director of London’s Royal Society, life is actually about helping to produce the scientific facts and data that can sway governmental decisions. We were honoured that Dr Maxton was able to join us.
Putting a twist on the traditional is what businesswoman Michelle Maddox of Clootie McToot is all about. Just five years ago, the Perthshire mum took her gran’s clootie dumpling recipe, added flavours such as Plum and Gin and Banana and Toffee (yum), in the process, turning it into a massive commercial enterprise, now stocked by high street giants, John Lewis. Michelle spoke o Kilgraston girls in September 2021.
Medicine is a perennial favourite with Kilgraston leavers, and, in January 2022, Kim Dale - Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vice Principal (International) School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee visited the School to speak with girls about her fascinating journey to become one of the UKs leading experts in her field.
Future speakers
- March 2022 we will welcome social, philosophical and religious commentator, Catherine Pepinster, a research consultant at St George’s House within Windsor Castle. Catherine will draw on her many achievements, including as first female editor of The Tablet review; a development consultant with The Anglican Centre in Rome and an Assistant Editor of The Independent on Sunday newspaper. As a visiting Scholar (Religion, philosophy, politics) at St Benet’s Hall, Oxford University, and an alumnus of Heythrop College, University of London, together with The University of Manchester and City, University of London, Catherine has combined intense academia with a varied and stimulating career.
- June 2022 - Mike Harvey, Technology PR specialist - Mike will chart his successful route from reading French and Russian at the University of Oxford, to working as a journalist on The Times, becoming Communications Director for multi-platform behemoth, Google, and now running his own PR consultant for the technology industry
- September 2022 - Sally Patten, editor of Sydney’s leadership magazine, BOSS, will - with the benefit of many decade of experience of the business-world - give pupils the inside track on life in the boardroom.
- November 2022 - Kathleen Hornby, South African-based entrepreneur, trained with legendary chef Pru Leith in London before returning to her native country, starting and building a bespoke safari company
- Continuing the entrepreneurial theme, young mum Sophie McEwan of the beautiful home wares and interiors outlet and online venture, Quince & Cook, will come to Kilgraston in January 2022 to describe her idea for the business, finding premises, opening-up then - boom - Covid caused lockdown and a swift volte-face to an online business model was required. Resilience and flexibility, two of the core principles taught at Kilgraston.
In line with our on-going commitment to building the next generation of entrepreneurs, in 2019 Kilgraston was also the proud sponsor of the Inspirational Women category at the 2019 Business Women Scotland Awards.
Learning life always goes on.
Women and Business at Kilgraston School - Dr Julie Maxton of The Royal Society
“Nobody has a monopoly on wisdom, always be open to learning.”
Wise words indeed from Dr Julie Maxton CBE, Executive Director of London’s historic Royal Society, spoken via Zoom while giving her inspirational talk as part of Kilgraston School’s Women and Business lecture programme.
Brought up in Edinburgh, and originally training as a barrister at the Middle Temple in London, Dr Maxton talked to girls about her career-trajectory and what had brought her to the position of the first woman in 350 year to hold the post at the world’s oldest, continuous, scientific academy: “I’ve had a lifetime of looking at evidence,” she told girls, “always try to look through the eyes of each side.”
The Royal Society enjoys patronage of scientific super-brains including, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir Isaac Newton, Jennifer Doudna, Dorothy Hodgkin, Sir David Attenborough, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, together with Elon Musk, one of only five, global, centibillionaires.
It’s motto ‘Nullius in verba’ means ‘take nobody’s word for it’: “This is an expression of the determination of members to withstand the domination of authority and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment,” expanded Dr Maxton, “we always look for the facts, we’re the opposite of ‘fake news’”.
Part of Dr Maxton’s job is to administer the RS’s £100m annual grant budget, nurturing a pipeline of over 3,000 young scientists who benefit from the global network of experts offering mentoring, investment and business advice. “I didn’t know a thing about spreadsheets,” laughed the good-humoured speaker, “but I sat down and learnt and knew how to ask if I didn’t!”
Girls also learnt how Dr Maxton’s progression drew on various life- influences, including, in her current position, legal contacts nurtured during time as a barrister: “I knew quite a few judges and one of the recurring subjects was the need for better understanding of the strength of accurate scientific evidence presented in court.” Continuing, she added: “the right questions must always be asked, based on a clear statement of science.”
This thought-process resulted in RS Fellow and renowned University of Cambridge Professor of Public Understanding of Risk in the Statistical Laboratory, Sir David Spiegelhalter OBE, giving several senior judges topic-specific lectures on scientific assessment: “Remember,” commented Dr Maxton, “you must always keep learning; learn anywhere and from anyone.”
As a result of this collaboration with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, benchmark-documents, on subjects such as ‘Forensic DNA analysis,’ ‘Forensic gait analysis,’ and ‘The use of statistics in legal proceedings,’ are now embedded in the UKs legal framework.
Pupils were quick to fire questions at the impressive guest-speaker with one Sixth Former intuitively asking how she dealt with career set-backs.
Answer? “At my first job, I was the only woman in the faculty. Always be analytical and objective, your professionalism will carry you through. Very quickly, I learnt that you have to look after yourself.”
Hugely impressed by the visiting speaker, one Fifth Form girl described Dr Maxton as “inspirational,” adding that it had “opened her eyes to global possibilities.”
Concluding the lecture, Dr Maxton urged pupils not to feel pigeon-holed by following one path: “Be prepared to change career, take opportunities. No one will think for you. Put your own hand up.”
Sound advice indeed.
Women and Business - Helen Stewart of Badvo Gin
Helen inspired pupils with tales of her entirely hand-foraged product, and the testing process of setting-up a successful business: “Think about what really motivates you; follow your passion,” she told the senior school pupils.
After just two years in operation, the eponymously named Badvo Gin (Badvo is the name of the family farm, meaning ‘tree by the house’ in Gaelic) is now found in over 50 outlets. Since its inception, the product has earned the young entrepreneur several awards, including ‘Great Taste’, ‘Scottish Young Thinker’ and ‘Scottish Young Inspirational Person’.
Developing the taste
Girls heard how Helen’s interest in the spirits industry was ignited at Glasgow University while achieving joint honours in English Literature and Linguistics and doing a holiday job at a local distillery: “I decided to do my dissertation on whisky and gin, ‘The Linguistic Legacy Illicit Distilling left in whisky and gin’ combining my love of writing and spirits!”
During what little free time she had, Helen juggled studying with experiments at the family farm of Badvo, which has been worked by her ancestors since 1599: “My parents told me about distant relatives who used to distil on the farm and I became really drawn into the romantic stories of illicit stills in the hills.”
Pursuing her interest, Helen decided to invest in some equipment, emphasising to the attentive audience that it’s all about one step at a time. “I bought small, copper, half-litre still from a street vendor in Portugal and, with the help of dozens of jam jars, vodka and juniper berries from my parents’ farm, I experimented for months before finally coming up with a recipe I was happy with.”
Crafting the brand
Giving girls an insight into branding considerations, Helen talked them through the thought-process behind her labelling: “Where you find pure water, you find plentiful fish and where you find plentiful fish, you find feeding herons; hence the logo.”
Water used in the gin’s distilling process flows off the foothills of the Cairngorm mountains and straight over her parents’ land.
Propelled by the very modern method of crowd-funding, Helen took pupils through the process of raising money online and getting investors to feel enthusiastic about taking a stake in your company: “Early adopters were real gin enthusiasts who wanted to learn – and talk – about the product’s provenance and authenticity. Generating good content is vital to create enthusiasm.”
Marketing, as with so much of the process, was a big learning curve. “I found that different age-groups preferred different methods of communication, the idea often has to be ‘sold’ in different ways.”
Pupils found the talk inspirational: “It’s really made me think about starting my own business,” said one. “There’s so much to think about but it just shows you what can be done if you put your mind to it.”
Helen’s visit to Kilgraston School was featured in Scottish Field magazine 5.3.20
Kilgraston’s Women and Business initiative continues with a talk by legal expert
Family Law expert, Nyree Conway - a solicitor with Thorley Stephenson SSC - visited the School on 24 January as part of the Women and Business initiative to speak to Fifth and Sixth Form pupils about a career in the legal profession.
During the lecture, Nyree explained her route from reading Law at Glasgow University to her current position as the Edinburgh firm’s only female Director. “I really love what I do,” said Nyree, “specialising in this particular field, you have to be good at listening and negotiating - it’s all about the people.”
Nyree told the girls how she briefly considered a career in accountancy but soon realised her true calling was law: “Roughly two thirds of my university contemporaries progressed to accountancy and management consultancy, but pretty early on I decided I wanted to concentrate on a legal career, earning a traineeship in criminal law.”
She went on to describe how earning a degree in Scottish Law is a much-coveted qualification and opens doors and possibilities around the world: “One of my best friends works in Australia. Having completed his Law degree he took his CA qualification and now works for as a fund manager in Sydney.”
Entering the legal process was, Nyree said, all down to the traineeship and often you had to plan well ahead: “Bigger law firms recruit up to two years in advance,” she said, “They operate a rotation system, usually of around three months, in tax/family/corporate/conveyancing, giving you a ‘taster’ of each specialty.”
The Scottish Legal News was highlighted as a good place to look for opportunities but, as someone whose remit includes recruitment at TS, she also pointed out that there is still an “argument for a personal, well written letter, detailing your experience.”
Nyree, told the girls that there was no such thing as a “typical day” as a family lawyer and often she would have to dash from client meetings to law courts, with work frequently taking her all over Scotland: “You have to employ a huge range of skills on a daily basis.”
Girls heard how Nyree had been a Director since September 2016, having initially joined the family law division as associate in 2014, “Be ambitious, there’s a lot of opportunity out there.”
There were lots of questions from the ‘courtroom’ including: “What would you have read at university if it hadn’t been Law?” “History,” and”Can you work in England after qualifying in Scotland?” “Yes, after a one year conversion course.”
“A really inspiring insight,” one Sixth Form pupil, “It was great to hear first-hand how her career had progressed and the experience she had gained along the route. It definitely sounds like a very worthwhile degree to gain.”
Headmistress, Dorothy MacGinty, said: “These sort of opportunities and connections are invaluable. Planning your tertiary learning and career can be a daunting process; hearing from an industry insider gives an unparalleled understanding of what’s really involved with a job.”
In February, Kilgraston will welcome Procurator Fiscal, Karon Rollo, as part of the Women and Business series of lectures.
Kilgraston would like to thank Nyree very much for having come to the School.
(l-r) Dorothy MacGinty, Headmistress of Kilgraston School, Nyree Conway from Edinburgh legal firm, Thorley Stephenson, and pupils at the Women and Business talk on January 24 2020
Independent Education Today magazine highlights Kilgraston’s Women and Business events
Started at the beginning of 2019’s academic year and designed to give Kilgraston’s Senior School pupils the opportunity to meet industry experts and learn more about various careers, the programme has caught the press’ attention with this months’s much-respected Independent Education Today magazine featuring the initiative.
“The aim is to turn the school into an industry hub,” commented Kilgraston’s Head, Mrs MacGinty: “becoming the go-to destination for ambitious girls looking to enter the world of business, knowing that they will be nurtured and mentored, fully developing their entrepreneurial spirit.”
Daily Telegraph journalist, Judith Woods, visited Kilgraston during September, subsequently writing about her day with the pupils in her weekly newspaper column: “They (the pupils) want to fulfil their potential, in the classroom, on their mandatory cross-country runs and in their chosen fields of endeavour,” she enthused.
Later this month, tax specialists from Saffery Champness will be spending time with pupils.
During spring 2020, Nyree Conway, a Director with leading Scottish law firm, Thorley Stephenson SSC, together with a Procurator Fiscal and a Consultant Dermatologist, will, independently, spend time talking discussing their respective careers with senior school pupils.
During the visit from Hettie’s Teas, owner Clare Pinchbeck commented: “Logos, branding, names and promotional ideas were all discussed. Girls were very engaged. They were surprised that the product didn’t start with the tea but with a business plan instead.” She continued: “Girls’ wanted their tea to make drinkers feel ‘bubbly’, ‘invigorated’, ‘driven’ and ‘full of energy’. The creative energy from them was amazing, they just ran with it and their ideas for the brand and logo were superb and are now being carried forward into a viable product.”
