>> Visit our Breaking the Mould section to read about Financial Mail’s Breaking the Mould 2010 conference and the MoneySense Apprentice Challenge, judged by stars of The Apprentice Margaret Mountford, Saira Khan and Tim Campbell.
>> Watch clips from our Breaking the Mould 2010 conference on YouTube.
Following the incredible success of our third Breaking the Mould careers conference for schoolgirls earlier in the year, Financial Mail is planning an even bigger event for next Spring.
And, once again, there will be thousands of pounds worth of prizes on offer for the winners of our Apprentice Challenge.
To be held at the prestigious Royal Institution in London’s Mayfair next March the theme of Breaking the Mould 4 will be careers involving science and technology.
We expect some 400 girls and their teachers from state and private schools throughout the country.
But ever mindful of our mission to broaden the career horizons of young women and help them think afresh about the world of work, Breaking the Mould will be challenging the idea that science is something done only in laboratories and that technology is restricted to cars and aero-engines.
We are planning a glamorous, top flight line up of speakers who will give the girls behind-the-scenes insights into the way in which industry, cosmetics and high street retailers deploy scientists as well as the food and pharmaceuticals sectors. We will look at the technology behind top-of-the-range bras as well as that deployed by the growing green sector and cutting edge building designers.
After the latest conference which featured one panel on IT and technology, Rachel Key, the work-related learning co-ordinator at Stratford upon Avon Grammar School for Girls told us: ‘ The quality of the speakers, in terms of both their achievements and ability to engage young people, was outstanding.
‘It is easy to under appreciate just how rare it is for young women to be in a room with any women who are leaders in their field, let alone the number we saw yesterday. I was particularly pleased to see so many technology advocates as we really struggle to deliver the relevant and exciting role models who are so critical to non-traditional career paths.’
In addition to the day long conference – which we again intend to provide absolutely free to all our delegates – we will be staging another Apprentice Challenge with judges led by Lord Alan Sugar’s former right hand woman, Margaret Mountford.
Thousands of pounds worth of prize money will be in offer for the winners and finalists.
The planned challenge will be for teams to invent a beauty product, to devise packaging and – hopefully with the help of a business advisor – to put together a business plan and make a pitch for shelf space to a real buyer from one of our leading high street chains.
After the team from Withington Girls School in Manchester carried off the laurels in the last Apprentice Challenge, Stephen Boddy, the school’s Head of Economics said: ‘For our students this was an outstanding experience.
‘They were given the opportunity to use flair, imagination and teamwork to produce a resource that could teach personal finance in schools. Realising the importance of financial education they worked hard to develop a lively, informative and challenging business game. At the national final they had the unique and fascinating experience of being questioned by Margaret Mountford, Saira Khan and Tim Campbell of The Apprentice. An unforgettable day which challenged and engaged the students.’
>> For more information about our 2011 Breaking the Mould – please contact Jackie Jay jackie.jay@mailonsunday.co.uk.
Tags: apprenticeships, Breaking the Mould, Mothers and daughters, teenagers, Women in Science Engineering and Technology
This post has been commented 4 times
1
December 10th, 2010 at 2:59 pmTime is running out for schools and students to register interest in the 2011 Apprentice Challenge « FMWF says:
[...] grand final will be held on the day of the Breaking the Mould conference on March 14 2011 (read more) when we will, again, have Apprentice-style live judging and Financial Mail on Sunday will be [...]
2
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:02 pmChristine Brown-Quin says:
I attended last year’s conference in my role as Business Advisor for Young Enterprise at the St Albans Girls School. The conference was truly amazing – nothing like this existed when I was young. Female role models are crucial for broadening the horizons of today’s young women and Breaking the Mould does a fantastic job putting together a day packed full of women leaders and entrepreneurs.
3
May 9th, 2011 at 7:05 pmWomen 2.0 - Founding Startups » Never Been a Better Time for Women Entrepreneurs says:
[...] believe it’s important to support young women at grass roots level. Breaking the Mould is an event run by Lisa Buckingham, Editor of Financial Mail and FMFW which supports girls of [...]
4
June 22nd, 2011 at 9:41 pmNever Been a Better Time for Women Entrepreneurs | 500 Startups says:
[...] believe it’s important to support young women at grass roots level. Breaking the Mould is an event run by Lisa Buckingham, Editor of Financial Mail and FMFW which supports girls of [...]