Episodes

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

    School Space: Are you making the most of your property assets?
    Feb 13 2026
    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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    25 mins
  • Looking back to look forward: How can the SEA help the UK's schools generate commercial revenues?

    Looking back to look forward: How can the SEA help the UK's schools generate commercial revenues?
    Jan 30 2026
    In this special episode of the Enterprising Schools' Podcast, the tables are turned and the SEA itself goes under the microscope. SEA Founder, CEO and presenter of the podcast, Dorothy McLaren, takes the hotseat and is quizzed by Chair of the SEA and Operations Director at Denstone College, Leanne Chandler. They look back at the journey the SEA has taken over the last seven years, how priorities have shifted and changed as well as expectations for the future. It's a deep dive into what the SEA can really do for its members to help maximise revenue from non-fee income, with plenty to come away with about how schools can get the very best out of the organisation. For more information go to schoolsenterpriseassociation.com. You can also email the podcast team with your own suggestions of what you'd like from the SEA, email podcast@the-sea.org.uk. 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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    22 mins
  • Safeguarding: Barrier to, or enabler of, commercial activity?

    Safeguarding: Barrier to, or enabler of, commercial activity?
    Nov 7 2025
    Is there a way to host commercial activities and events at schools, whilst still keeping everyone safe? What are the key considerations? How do we make sure staff, students, parents, commercial partners and guests understand and mitigate the risks? Jane Bee of Jane Bee Safeguarding is the SEA's Professional Advisor for safeguarding in England and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Luke Ramsden, the Senior Deputy Head of St Benedict's in Ealing and the newly appointed Head of Compliance for the SEA, is committed to using his extensive hands-on experience to make safeguarding policies and practices work in a way that they enable rather than prevent commercial activity from taking place. For more information and advice on safeguarding, visit The Schools' Enterprise Association - www.schoolsenterpriseassociation.com or contact compliance@the-sea.org.uk. For Scottish-specific advice, you can contact Audrey Sime - https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/corporate_member/audrey-sime-safeguarding-consultant/. Jane Bee can be reached through www.janebeesafeguarding.com. If you have questions you'd like us to answer or issues you'd like us to cover, please get in touch at podcast@the-sea.org.uk. 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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    28 mins
  • Catering partners: Could there be icing on the cake?

    Catering partners: Could there be icing on the cake?
    Oct 17 2025
    Is your school really making the most of its school caterers? Could they offer more than school dinners to drive non-fee revenue? In this episode we hear from Noelle Jones of Lodestone House school catering company. She shares the ways the teams behind school meals can provide opportunities for revenue growth and experiences beyond the dining hall, and how to make relationships between commercial teams and caterers thrive. And Emma Tumelty of Bishop's Stortford College gives us an insight into how they worked with Lodestone House to really get the best out of their partnership - leading to a brand new cafe and school community space. You can find out more about what Lodestone House offer at https://lodestonehouse.co.uk/. And if you'd like to know more about Bishop's Stortford College, go to https://www.bishopsstortfordcollege.org/. For more information about The Schools' Enterprise Association go to https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/. If you have questions you'd like us to answer or issues you'd like us to cover, please get in touch at podcast@the-sea.org.uk. 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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    27 mins
  • Sporting partnerships: Working for the whole school.

    Sporting partnerships: Working for the whole school.
    Oct 3 2025
    Are there partnerships to be made with like-minded organisations which could really help your school and the local community thrive? That's exactly what Rydal Penrhos School in Colwyn Bay has achieved. Dorothy was invited to the opening of Rydal Penrhos all weather pitch, and caught up with Maria and Tom on how they got a sporting partnership with Hockey Wales and Sport Wales off the ground, resulting in a brand new facility for the use of the school and wider community. You can find out more about Rydal Penrhos school and all it has to offer here - https://rydalpenrhos.com/. For more information about The Schools' Enterprise Association go to https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/. If you have questions you'd like us to answer or issues you'd like us to cover, please get in touch at podcast@the-sea.org.uk. 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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    26 mins
  • The school shop: Make the most of opportunity

    The school shop: Make the most of opportunity
    Sep 19 2025
    When someone steps through the door of your school shop, will they find something to persuade them to part with their hard-earned cash? Is a branded rugby ball available pitchside after matches, or a tasteful china school mug invitingly available for sale alongside the match tea? Matthew Henderson is a Trustee of the Association for Cultural Enterprises and brings years of experience working with museums and cultural venues. He shares how to really make retail part of the overall visitor experience, encouraging guests to snap up a school umbrella to shelter under or a branded water bottle as a memento of the game. More details about the Association for Cultural Enterprises at https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/, and if you'd like to visit the museum where Matthew began his career, more details here - https://www.beamish.org.uk/. For more information about The Schools' Enterprise Association go to https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/. If you have questions you'd like us to answer or issues you'd like us to cover, please get in touch at sea@the-sea.org.uk. 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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    25 mins
  • Making school shops pay

    Making school shops pay
    Jun 27 2025

    Does the school shop still have a role to play in creating revenue for your school? What are the key money-spinners, and how do you stay on trend with what pupils and parents want? With years of prior experience in the commercial sector, Chief Operating Officer at Glenalmond College Robert Garnish shares advice on keeping your school shop costs down and sales up, making the most of outside providers, and using the "Exit through the gift shop" strategy.


    For more information about The Schools' Enterprise Association go to https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/.


    If you have questions you'd like us to answer or issues you'd like us to cover, please get in touch at sea@the-sea.org.uk.


    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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    25 mins
  • Can small schools still be enterprising?

    Can small schools still be enterprising?
    Jun 13 2025

    Should small prep schools be trying to create commercial revenue? What are the risks and opportunities? What impact could it have on leadership teams? CEO of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Dominic Norrish discusses why it's a crucial time for smaller schools to start thinking about enterprise. Plus, he offers some ideas which could work well, and explores the kind of investment necessary to bring those ideas to life.


    Find out more about IAPS here - https://iaps.uk

    For more information about The Schools' Enterprise Association go to https://schoolsenterpriseassociation.com/.


    If you have questions you'd like us to answer or issues you'd like us to cover, please get in touch at sea@the-sea.org.uk.


    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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    26 mins