The College Merthyr Tydfil hosted a brunch event aiming to inspire the next generation of young women in business.

Business Brunch for Tomorrow’s Women saw more than 80 girls from across local secondary schools as well as college learners attend three separate sessions hosted by inspiring women.

The sessions included talks on Women in STEM and Construction; Women in the Arts; and Women Who Did it their Way.

Women in STEM and Construction was chaired by Siobhan Price and featured Louise Pennell from USW, Lilly Phillips from Tenneco, Kirsten Postle and Taylor Hedditch from Willmott Dixon, and Dinda Yenon and Amber Murphy from General Dynamics.

Women in the Arts was chaired by Non Stevens from Into Film. She was accompanied by Danny Marie Elias from Square Peg Studio, Isabel Benavides, an independent writer and illustrator, and Finnuala Buckley, a content creator for Get Into Film.

During Women Who Did it their Way, pupils heard from three inspirational women – Fay Trowbridge, owner of Daisy Chain Florist, followed by Hannah Phillips, social runner and entrepreneur, and Rhian Lewis, an award-winning member of NHS Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

The event also featured an exhibition from Jenna McDonnell, who showcased her theatrical creations and spoke to pupils about running her own hair and beauty company.

Student Alanis Andriola said:

“I believe schools don’t give enough information about construction courses, especially to young women. So I am glad they’ve had an opportunity to learn more about the industry.”

Organised jointly with the Merthyr Tydfil Business Education Partnership, the event aimed to inspire school pupils and college students by showcasing the achievements of successful women in these fields.

The Business Education Together Partnership (BETP) and SEAL (Schools Employers Aspiring Learners) agreement launched in January aims to link careers advice and guidance to key curriculum areas to ensure pupils and students across Merthyr Tydfil can explore future pathways.