Working with their local partner and supporter, Baillie Gifford, Taylor Wimpey East Scotland was approached to be the business that the girls would analyse and research before creating their pitch for the competition.

As well as facilitating interviews with members of the team, Taylor Wimpey East Scotland welcomed the group to its Ravensheugh development in Wallyford. This helped the girls, known as Team Dave, to see for themselves how Taylor Wimpey East Scotland is working to deliver new homes in their local area.

Future Asset’s goal is to enable girls in the senior phase of high school to learn how investment can change the world for the better, gain valuable, transferable skills, and consider the benefits of possible future careers.

“We’ve been astounded by the level of engagement from our companies for investment in this year’s competition,” remarked Helen Bradley, CEO at Future Asset. “The support and insights from esteemed companies such as Taylor Wimpey truly encapsulate the essence of our work. We are so delighted with the support they have shown offering students a unique opportunity to learn and grow in the realms of finance and investment.”

Kate Gascoigne, business education teacher at Preston Lodge High School, said: “Taylor Wimpey East Scotland was incredibly supportive of the Futures Assets Competition. The team benefitted from an online interview with senior members of the Taylor Wimpey team and a fantastic site visit. The girls gained invaluable insight into Taylor Wimpey and the huge range of diverse opportunities available to women in construction.”

Kirsty McGill, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, added: “We were delighted to be approached to support Preston Lodge High School’s Team Dave and to become the featured company for their business pitch in this year’s Growing Future Assets Investment Competition.

“At Taylor Wimpey, we actively promote a diverse workplace within our sector and we continue to promote and upskill a diverse range of talent, to ensure women are given the same opportunities to succeed in the world of work – irrespective of industry.

“We also recognise the importance of inspiring future talent to consider our industry, and we hope our involvement in this project has given the girls in Team Dave a real taste of what we do, and how we operate which we hope will encourage them to consider one of the many career paths that housebuilding offers. We wish them every success in the competition.”

Gill Pearce from Baillie Gifford said: “As the coach of Team Dave, this visit was a fantastic opportunity for the girls to engage directly with Taylor Wimpey and gain real insight into what the company does both as a national housebuilder but more importantly at a local level. Being on-site and getting that first-hand account of how the business operates from a wide range of employees was inspirational for the girls.

“This has been a great way of highlighting the amazing work of Future Assets in connecting our future talent with local industry and for me it truly epitomises the quote from the American activist Marian Wright Edelman ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ and the power to break down stereotypes and gender barriers which still exist in society. It has been my absolute privilege to work with Team Dave and Kate from Preston Lodge on their 2023 pitch and I wish them every success in the competition!”