Lizzie Gimblett, Founder, Pupils Profit
Find out how Lizzie Gimblett started her own business.
Why do I love my job?
I love seeing children take charge of a school-based business, and see what they can achieve through teamwork, creativity, problem solving and leadership. They are capable of so much more than people sometimes think, and we need to give them the tools to fly.
What did I love doing at school?
At school I enjoyed art, needlework and eventually French which I was not very good at to start with, but I worked hard and ended up studying at university and living in France for a year – that was so much fun!
Childhood hobbies?
I loved riding horses, baking and sewing! I really enjoyed teaching my friends to ride horses too, so sharing what I love and teaching that to others has always been part of me.
How to get into the sector?
It was an unusual journey. I went into fashion retail after I left university and was lucky enough to travel very widely with work. When I had children I wanted more flexibility, and I eventually started Pupils Profit, which combines retail and enterprise learning with doing something to help the community - Healthy Tuck Shop helps everyone eat more healthily and an ECO Refill Shop reduces our plastic waste.
Career high?
Launching the ECO Refill Shop Platform https://ecorefillshop.com – I’m not very tech savvy and I can never remember my passwords, but I wanted to create a Platform that’s fun to use and really practical, and I’m very proud of the result. I didn’t do this alone, I had some amazing people help me achieve this, from web designers, illustrators and cartoon animators to teams of teachers and children in schools, and I’m grateful to all of them for their knowledge, help and advise.
Begin your career journey
Find out more about Pupil's Profit and the eco refill shop.