Last Wednesday evening, found me in Scale Space White City (new scale-up community located on Imperial College London’s ground-breaking White City Campus), judging alongside the Master Educator Roy Blackwell and Past Master Educator Pam Taylor, in one of the Sheriffs’ Challenge heats. 
 
The Sheriffs’ Challenge, introduced by former Lord Mayor, & Alderman Sir Peter Estlin in 2016, provides teams of Year 12 students in London schools with an opportunity to work together to research the topic set by the Sheriffs, write a project plan, practice and then perform their pitch, to demonstrate their public speaking skills in a formal setting in front of a judging panel. 
 
Each team is sponsored and coached by a Livery Company and provides a brilliant opportunity for the participating Livery Companies to establish/extend links with the participating schools and for them to add to the experience of the pupils.
 
This year’s Sheriffs ‘Challenge is ‘Should the purpose of the City of London go beyond creating wealth and jobs?’
 
St Saviour’s & St Olave’s Girl’s School, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, won our heat with an incredible performance. I wish them all the best in the final to be held at the Old Bailey on the 9th March, where the finalists from all three heats will battle it out for the winning spot in Court No. 1, on this occasion judged by Sheriffs Alderman Alison Gowman and Alderman Nicholas Lyons and Old Bailey Judges, what an incredible and unforgettable experience!
 
Participating in the challenge is tough and takes the pupils outside their comfort zone, however the life skills learned, such as confidence building and teamwork, are invaluable. The feedback from the participating schools and pupils is always heart-warming and it was lovely to receive this message from Rokeby School, one of the five school teams competing in our heat, via an email from their coach, David Lock – Past Master Chartered Secretaries & Administrators:
 
Before closing may I thank you for judging last evening. The whole evening was excellent, and the objectives set for the challenge were certainly achieved. In an email from the school this morning Head of Drama, Miss Shana Noelise said, "There is a real buzz around school in relation to the competition last night."
 
With very best wishes to you and the Entrepreneurs Company,
 
David
 
I have included a photo of the team from Rokeby School, who creatively donned fancy dress to demonstrate their points.

The Entrepreneurs’ usually field a team in the Sheriffs’ Challenge each year and on two occasions our teams have reached the final. Unfortunately, this year because of Covid, our sponsored team were unable to compete. We will be back in 2023!
 
Judy Hadden
Master Entrepreneur 2021-22