The Enterprising Schools Podcast

In this third episode of the Enterprising Schools Podcast Leadership Series, four leaders from the schools sector explore why having the right people, skills and structures in place is essential to building a more sustainable education model.Alastair Land, Head Master, Harrow School; Guy Collins-Down, COO, Alleyn’s School; Robert Garnish, COO, Morrison’s Academy; and Lou Bennett, CEO of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education (IDPE), share their perspectives on recruiting people with the right skills and mindset, and creating the conditions for commercial talent to succeed.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. Alongside the thematic Leadership Series episodes, you can also hear the full ‘long-listen’ interviews with each contributor wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode of the Enterprising Schools Podcast Leadership Series, five leaders from the schools sector explore the themes of building sustainable schools, starting out with commercial activity and making better use of existing assets and spaces.Alastair Land, Head Master, Harrow School; Guy Collins-Down, COO, Alleyn’s School; Robert Garnish, COO, Morrison’s Academy; Luke Ramsden, Headteacher, St John’s College, Cardiff; and Lou Bennett, CEO, IDPE (Institute of Development Professionals in Education), share their perspectives on the imperative of building more sustainable schools, how to get moving from a standing start, and how school spaces can be reimagined through a school-first: dual-use approach.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. Alongside the thematic Leadership Series episodes, you can also hear the full ‘long-listen’ interviews with each contributor wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of the Enterprising Schools Podcast Leadership Series, four school leaders explore the importance of building a strong school brand, communicating commercial strategy effectively and ensuring commercial activity is aligned with the wider aims and values of the school.Alastair Land, Head Master, Harrow School; Guy Collins-Down, COO, Alleyn’s School; Robert Garnish, COO, Morrison’s Academy; and Luke Ramsden, Headteacher, St John’s College, Cardiff, share their perspectives on the role leadership plays in creating the right culture for commercial activity to thrive – and why bringing colleagues with you is critical to making it work.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. Alongside the thematic Leadership Series episodes, you can also hear the full ‘long-listen’ interviews with each contributor wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you build genuine whole-school support for commercial activity – particularly among colleagues whose primary focus is education rather than enterprise?In this Leadership Series Long-Listen, Alastair Land, Head Master of Harrow School, joins Dorothy McLaren and Leanne Chandler to explore the role commercial activity can play within the wider mission and strategy of a school.Drawing on his experience at both Harrow and throughout his academic life, Alastair reflects on why generating additional revenue matters, how commercial thinking can sit comfortably alongside educational priorities, and the importance of bringing academic and other colleagues with you on the journey.The conversation explores what effective commercial leadership looks like from a Head’s perspective, how schools can communicate the purpose behind enterprise activity, and why commercial success ultimately depends on alignment across the whole organisation.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. You can also hear Alastair alongside other school leaders in the thematic Leadership Series episodes wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can schools create spaces that serve pupils first while also opening up meaningful commercial and community opportunities?In this Leadership Series Long-Listen, Guy Collins-Down, COO at Alleyn’s School, joins Dorothy McLaren and Leanne Chandler to discuss his extensive experience of developing and operating commercial activity within schools. Guy explores the principle of creating genuinely dual-use spaces, facilities designed around the needs of the school and its pupils, but which can also work effectively for external users and generate additional revenue.Drawing on years of experience in school operations and commercial development, Guy reflects on the importance of thinking long term when investing in buildings and facilities, understanding future educational needs, and ensuring commercial considerations are embedded early in the design process rather than added as an afterthought.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. You can also hear Guy alongside other school leaders in the thematic Leadership Series episodes wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Commercial enterprise and fundraising are both important sources of non-fee income for schools – but how should the two work together?In this Leadership Series Long-Listen, Lou Bennett, CEO of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education (IDPE), joins Dorothy McLaren and Leanne Chandler to explore the relationship between fundraising, development and commercial revenue generation in schools.The conversation looks at the two disciplines as different but complementary parts of the same strategic picture: how they can support a school’s long-term ambitions, where responsibilities should sit, and why collaboration between commercial, development and senior leadership teams matters. Lou also reflects on the importance of embedding both fundraising and commercial activity within wider school strategy rather than treating either as a standalone income-generating function.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. You can also hear Lou alongside other school leaders in the thematic Leadership Series episodes wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you are starting almost from scratch, how do you begin building a commercial culture within a school?In this Leadership Series Long-Listen, Luke Ramsden, Headteacher at St John’s College in Cardiff, joins Dorothy McLaren and Leanne Chandler to discuss the opportunity to develop commercial activity as part of a school’s wider strategy from the outset.Having recently been appointed to his headship at St John’s, Luke reflects on how a new Head can approach commercial development, build support internally and identify opportunities that deliver more than financial return alone. The conversation explores the links between enterprise, admissions and marketing, community engagement and the ambition for a school to become a genuine hub at the heart of its local community.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. You can also hear Luke alongside other school leaders in the thematic Leadership Series episodes wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can schools learn from the commercial sector when developing new income streams and making better use of their assets?In this Leadership Series Long-Listen, Robert Garnish, COO at Morrison’s Academy in Scotland, joins Dorothy McLaren and Leanne Chandler to explore the commercial opportunities available to a smaller, rural school and the thinking required to turn those opportunities into sustainable activity.Drawing on his wider commercial experience, Robert considers how schools can assess the potential of their site and facilities, develop products and services that respond to genuine demand, explore different funding options and apply commercial disciplines to operational delivery. The conversation provides a practical perspective on how entrepreneurial thinking can be adapted to the realities of a school environment – regardless of size or location.The Leadership Podcast Series brings together members of the SEA’s Leadership Advisory Group to explore how schools are embedding commercial activity in support of a more sustainable model for education. The Group is chaired by Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College and immediate past Chair of the SEA, who co-hosts the series. You can also hear Robert alongside other school leaders in the thematic Leadership Series episodes wherever you get your podcasts.The Leadership Series is sponsored by S&C Slatter, who combine professional services expertise with proven construction experience to help schools create outstanding sports facilities and appealing outdoor spaces that enhance the school experience, support holiday programmes, drive community bookings and deliver long-lasting value.To find out more about the Schools’ Enterprise Association, visit schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. If there is a subject you would like us to address in a future podcast, contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Hope is the driver of the SEA's first ever Commercial Benchmarking survey - a hugely important piece of research which will help inform all schools about what great looks like and how they can reap the optimal rewards from their commercial activity. Ben, as Head of Research at the SEA, explains why this survey is so necessary right now, how it was created and carried out, and what it covers - and doesn't cover! He and Dorothy discuss how the research can be used in schools to drive change and - ahead of the big results reveal later this year - what more the SEA can achieve with it in years to come. The survey results will be shared at the SEA annual conference - for more details go to https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/annual-conference-and-exhibition/. The Enterprising Schools podcast is a Podcart production. The producer is Tory Pope of the Feast Collective. The Executive Producer is Jayne Morgan  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From building lego classrooms to transforming Alleyns School in London, COO at Alleyns Guy Collins-Down has spent a lifetime turning school buildings into truly inspirational multipurpose venues. He looks back at the leaders and mentors who helped him build his vision, lessons learnt along the way, and lays out how long-term thinking will always pay off. He also shares tips and advice for anyone wanting to make the very best use of their own school space to bring in extra revenue. This episode was recorded at one of Guy's very own creations, the All-Pod studio at Alleyns. You can find out more about the spaces Guy has created at www.alleyns.org.uk and for more information about driving commercial actitvity in schools from the SEA go to www.schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. The Enterprising Schools podcast is a Podcart production. The producer is Tory Pope of the Feast Collective. The Executive Producer is Jayne Morgan  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.