Entrepreneurial skills and agency

We define entrepreneurial not simply as starting a business, but as a mindset: ambition, curiosity, creativity, initiative and the belief that you can shape opportunities for your future. These are skills all young people deserve access to, regardless of background.

William Ellis has a long history of alumni who have gone on to build outstanding charities, social enterprises and businesses. Many of them are eager to support current pupils, and we are excited to strengthen these connections in the years ahead.

Working with the school community, alumni and local partners, we develop initiatives that:

• Broaden access to high-quality work experience placements for pupils in Years 10 and 12 through our alumni network and local business partners, while helping ensure younger year groups also benefit from meaningful encounters with employers.

• Deliver Trust-led and Trust-funded programmes that give pupils hands-on opportunities to practise entrepreneurial thinking such as problem-solving, designing ideas, leading projects, and to apply these skills to improve their school and wider community.

• Develop educational programmes around social enterprise, helping students understand how entrepreneurial approaches can drive social impact and how they themselves can organise to effect change.

Through these plans, we aim to empower every student to step forward with confidence, imagine new possibilities, and build the skills that set them up for success wherever their ambitions lead.