On Wednesday 24th September, we welcomed Jane Pearce, co-founder and CEO of Rookwood Operations, and the recent winner of Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award. Her company is a pioneer in the sustainability sector, transforming the way we handle excess phosphate in water treatment.
Jane took to the stage in Parabola Arts Centre (PAC) and spoke to a mixed audience of UC4 and SFC students about the challenges of setting up a business. From generating ideas, IP protection through to financing and fundraising. At the end of the talk, Chemistry student representative, Hannah (SFC2), hosted an engaging and thought provoking Q&A session.
Following the talk, our Professional Guidance Centre (PGC), led by Mrs Mooney, held a lunch with Jane and invited students who have an interest in science, economics, geography and sustainability. One of Jane’s key messages was around the importance of networking and how that process should start at school.
Dr Starkey, Teacher of Chemistry
Read thoughts from students who attended the session, below.
“This talk really reaffirmed the importance of self-belief and perseverance and how essential it is to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough or when you start to doubt yourself.
“Another message that particularly stood out to me was the idea that a business model doesn’t have to be complex and that sometimes, the simplest concepts are the keys to a successful execution.”
Zahra (SFC1)
“I really appreciated hearing about the realistic side of starting up your own business, including struggling to find investors, having little support, and having to find your own way by experimenting without much knowledge.
“It was very inspiring to hear about the independence and confidence with which Jane was able to proceed with her business.”
Amelia (SFC1)
“I absolutely loved hearing about Jane's first-hand insights on building and scaling Rookwood Operations from scratch, a type of experience we don’t come across often!
“The idea behind Rookwood concerning circular sustainability is ingenious. In particular, I found her thoughts on the importance of gaining funding, securing patents, and pitching to investors especially interesting. I look forward to seeing the successes of Rookwood in the future!”
Giselle (SFC2)
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