During the morning on Wednesday 14th February, we welcomed alumna and financial advisor, Emma Maslin (née Ritchie, BHS 1999), into school for a money-themed workshop with our Upper Sixth students.

Emma runs her own company the Money Whisperer and is very passionate about educating young women in financial matters and making them money-savvy for the future.

The workshop was very interactive and Emma warmed the students up initially with some quick-fire questions on basic food costs such as bread and milk. She also shared with the group that women were not allowed to open their own bank account until 1975, having previously had to have the permission of either their father or husband to do so, further explaining that progress has come a long way but there is still a way to go before women are on an equal financial footing to men.

A lively and fast-paced session, Emma covered important subjects such as living within your means, tips to reduce your spending and developing good saving habits. Emma also talked about understanding what borrowing products are and what compound interest is, impressing on the students that it is good to have a 48 hour ‘abstaining period’ before making a decision on a purchase. Financial apps were also discussed with some suggestions of ones to help you personally budget, as well ones that are better-suited for shared housing and the splitting of bills and household essentials.

Avleen Jandu (Upper Sixth) commented: "Emma used interactive breakout-style discussion groups to help us evaluate important financial decisions - from loans, to credit scores, to the power of compound interest, we all left feeling much more informed about our financial future."

Sophie Wesson (Upper Sixth) added: "Emma’s talk covered some really important issues about money that I had previously not thought about in much depth, such as taking out loans, credit, and budgeting for university. I also found what she said about money in regard to women to be very provocative, as discussing issues like the gender pay gap made me realise how important financial education for women is."

Thank you to Emma for a very informative session that has really equipped our students to make informed financial choices in the future.