Event Helping Women in Business or Unemployed Set Up by School Pupils
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October 5, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
During work experience at a business networking company, two school pupils set up an event to help women into business.
Two schoolgirls have set up an event aiming to inspire and encourage women back into the workplace.
15-year-old Eleri Owen and Sophie Kensworthy, pupils at Ysgol John Bright in Llandudno, came up with the idea of the seminar Inspire Her.
With the support of Network She, they have organised an event which will bring in 24 exhibitors to share experiences and to help women get back into a career or to set up their own business.
It was during their work experience with business networking company for women Network She in July that they came up with the idea.
Eleri and Sophie spoke to the Daily Post in North Wales, saying that they felt unemployment is a major issue and that by providing an event such as this it will hopefully make women more aware of opportunities for retraining or learning new skills.
Sophie said: “We had a lot of fun doing the project. We think it is important to let women who are unemployed, or teenagers like us, know what opportunities are available for them.”
Helping the girls with the event, director of Network She, Ruth Lloyd-Williams spoke to The Fresh Outlook: “We were approached by the two girls to come and work for us a week as part of their skills course in school.
“As part of their work experience project, Eleri and Sophie put together a host of ideas and presented their proposal for an event aimed specifically at women.
“They came back with such a fantastic idea that we decided we should definitely use their ideas to roll out as an event.”
The event will incorporate and exhibit stands from companies such as Careers Wales, Job Centre Plus and the armed forces, to name a few, which offer opportunities for women and networking sessions.
The girls also hope to take their message to schools and colleges throughout North Wales.
Eleri said: “We hope to get the message across to people like us as well. We’re doing our GCSEs but don’t really know what career we want to follow and want to let people know that an event like this can help people make up their minds about their future.”
Ms Lloyd-Williams added: “We were thrilled with what they brought and the professional way they presented themselves.
“Not a lot of children their age can say they have achieved what Eleri and Sophie have done. Even students from universities who have come to work with us haven’t done half a good as work as the girls.
“They definitely realised that things are not always rosy in the world of business; they thought that not everyone was helpful when they tried to drum up interest.
“Because of their age, they found that not many people took them seriously but once they had the support of Network She, it became a lot easier encouraging companies to get involved.”
The seminar, Inspire Her, will be held on October 13 at the Imperial Hotel, Llandudno from 12.00 to 18.30.
By Rebekah Bickerton
[Image courtesy of Ingy the Wingy]