By Isabel H, Year 12

In a world full of challenges, it is often easy to feel like your voice doesn’t hold power – especially as a young person. But the GDST LEAD programme proves the opposite.

Delivered in partnership with the London School of Economics, LEAD is an innovative leadership and enterprise initiative designed to equip young women with the skills and confidence needed to become future leaders and entrepreneurs. At its core, the programme challenges students to set up their own social enterprises, whether this be a sustainable product or service, with proceeds going to a chosen charity. 

Over the past six months, two teams of Year 12 students have quite literally ‘taken the lead’, identifying important issues and developing innovative business ideas in response. Throughout this process, we have attended expert-led online workshops, refined our business plans, raised funds and overcome a range of setbacks and challenges. 

From this process emerged two enterprises: NextGen Politics and Educycle. 

NextGen Politics is a non-partisan digital platform designed to empower young people to better understand UK politics. Driven by a shared passion for political awareness, we were determined to engage young people to feel more confident about their understanding of UK politics. 

Educycle, on the other hand, was created in response to the rising cost of school uniforms and supplies. This initiative aims to reduce the barriers to education through collections of second-hand uniform, stationery, school bags and other essential school items. 

Throughout the programme, we have developed invaluable skills in teamwork, communication and resilience. As Issy P, member of the NextGen Politics team, reflected, LEAD was ‘an amazing opportunity to understand the thought that goes behind the creation of a business and to develop our communication skills’. Above all, LEAD proved to each of us that we are all capable of taking initiative and creating something meaningful.

On Thursday 19th March, both teams travelled to the LSE for the final LEAD showcase. Although it was very daunting to pitch our ideas in ‘Dragon’s Den style’ to an audience of 200 students and judges, it was a hugely rewarding experience – an opportunity to share not only our ideas, but the motivation and passion behind our enterprises and our journey in creating them. We are especially proud that NextGen Politics was awarded the most socially impactful award. 

Overall, the LEAD programme has been an invaluable experience. It has allowed us to grow stronger friendships through our teamwork, challenged us to think creatively and shown us that we are capable of meaningful change. A massive thank you to Mrs Arnold and Ms Farmer who have supported the teams throughout the entirety of the programme, without whom we would not have been as successful.