The Enterprising Schools Podcast

The Schools' Enterprise Association
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Are you involved in helping a school boost it's revenue? Have you ever wondered about the best way to handle hiring out a venue or, even worse, regretted doing so? The Enterprising Schools Podcast is here to help your school make the most of its assets. Hosted by CEO of the Schools' Enterprise Association, Dorothy McLaren, we've got the inside track on driving commercial revenue in a way that works for everyone and makes a real difference to your bottom line. Each time we talk to an expert guest who has insider knowledge of the sector to get tips, advice, and the benefit of their experience of what really works - and what doesn't! - when it comes to diversifying your school's revenue streams. Find out more at https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Sep 18

    Creating a Commercial Culture: Leadership, communication and embedding commercial thinking across your school

    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 sea@the-sea.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Creating a Commercial Culture: Leadership, communication and embedding commercial thinking across your school

  2. Sep 18 ·  Bonus

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Alastair Land, Head Master, Harrow School

    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 sea@the-sea.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Alastair Land, Head Master, Harrow School

  3. Sep 18 ·  Bonus

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Guy Collins-Down, COO, Alleyn’s School

    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 sea@the-sea.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Guy Collins-Down, COO, Alleyn’s School

  4. Sep 18 ·  Bonus

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Lou Bennett, CEO, IDPE

    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 sea@the-sea.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Lou Bennett, CEO, IDPE

  5. Sep 18 ·  Bonus

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Luke Ramsden, Headteacher, St John’s College, Cardiff

    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 sea@the-sea.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Luke Ramsden, Headteacher, St John’s College, Cardiff

  6. Sep 18 ·  Bonus

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Robert Garnish, COO, Morrison’s Academy

    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 sea@the-sea.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Leadership Series Long-Listen with Robert Garnish, COO, Morrison’s Academy

  7. Feb 27

    The SEA Commercial Benchmarking Survey: What does it mean for schools and how can they use it?

    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.

  8. Feb 13

    School Space: Are you making the most of your property assets?

    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.

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About

Are you involved in helping a school boost it's revenue? Have you ever wondered about the best way to handle hiring out a venue or, even worse, regretted doing so? The Enterprising Schools Podcast is here to help your school make the most of its assets. Hosted by CEO of the Schools' Enterprise Association, Dorothy McLaren, we've got the inside track on driving commercial revenue in a way that works for everyone and makes a real difference to your bottom line. Each time we talk to an expert guest who has insider knowledge of the sector to get tips, advice, and the benefit of their experience of what really works - and what doesn't! - when it comes to diversifying your school's revenue streams. Find out more at https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Schools' Enterprise Association
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Schools' Enterprise Association
  • Show Website
    The Enterprising Schools Podcast

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