2025–26 Academic Year Wins
QUIET ONLINE.
BIG ON IMPACT.
Our 2025–26 Academic Year
in Review
While Ms Independent may have been quieter online, behind the scenes we were delivering one of our busiest academic years yet.
Across the 2025–26 academic year, MIC took career confidence, employability and entrepreneurship into schools and colleges across London, reaching more than 500 girls across 10 or more schools.
Our work focused on three major programme themes: entrepreneurship, careers and employability, and confidence-building.
RICARDS LODGE × MIC
Five Years. One Growing Partnership.
But this year, we wanted to take the finale somewhere new.
We continued our long-standing relationship with Ricards Lodge, a school MIC has now worked with for approximately five years.
Across Year 8 and Year 9, around 60 girls participated in our two core programmes: Girl Boss, which focuses on entrepreneurship, ideas and enterprise, and Leading Ladies, which explores employment, careers and confidence.
FROM THE CLASSROOM TO BEBETO HEADQUARTERS
For the first time, our programme finale took place at Bebeto’s headquarters.
The girls presented their work, met members of the head-office and senior leadership teams, and discovered the different careers behind a major confectionery business.
They also heard about Bebeto’s marketing internship opportunities, bringing the careers they had discussed in the classroom to life.
And, of course, there were sweets. Bebeto generously gifted products to the girls, including halal options so everyone could enjoy the experience.
We don’t just want girls to learn about careers.
We want them to experience them.
LEADING LADIES EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME GOES TO COLLEGE
Another 25 young women completed our Leading Ladies employability programme through our work with South Thames Colleges.
For their finale, students presented to guest professionals from backgrounds including professional services, energy and law.
The students received real professional feedback, with programme winners also receiving Amazon vouchers.
The programme was also celebrated in the college’s own news and newsletter.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
BLACK WOMEN. PAST. PRESENT. FUTURE.
For Black History Month, MIC created a bespoke programme exploring the achievements of Black women across history, today and into the future.
Approximately 120 girls, from Year 7 through to Year 10, took part.
Through careers, role models and resilience, students explored the women who have helped transform industries while considering the contribution their own generation could make next.
One bespoke programme. Four year groups. 120 girls.
WE CAN BE × THE LORD MAYOR’S APPEAL
From the Classroom to the City
MIC continued its long-standing involvement with the We Can Be programme, working with young women across multiple London schools.
Students first completed MIC’s online career-confidence workshops, helping them prepare for their final experience.
Then came the part they had been preparing for.
Around 400 young women took part in the wider programme journey, representing approximately 10 schools.
The finale saw girls enter some of the City’s major workplaces for insight experiences before coming together for the final event at Guildhall.
Young women shouldn’t only hear that these careers are possible. We want them to walk into these spaces and see themselves there.
Ms Independent Careers
MIC IN HIGHER EDUCATION
And the conversation continued…
MIC CEO Zoe Garsh also joined women working across academia for a university panel attended by approximately 50 women celebration International Woman's Day 2026
The discussion provided another opportunity to contribute to conversations around women, careers, entrepreneurship and education.
WHILE WE WERE QUIET, WE WERE BUILDING.
Behind the programmes, MIC was changing too.
We reviewed what was working, strengthened our infrastructure, grew our team, developed our programmes and asked ourselves what young women will need from MIC over the next ten years.
As we approach our 10th anniversary, our goal isn’t simply to celebrate how far we’ve come.
We want to reach more girls.
Create more career experiences.
Build more employer partnerships.
And turn more career confidence into real career opportunities.
2025–26 gave us plenty to be proud of.
Now, let’s get to work on 2026 - 27. ❤️
WANT TO WORK WITH MIC?
Schools and Colleges
Bring Girl Boss or Leading Ladies to your students.
Employers
Partner with us to create a Career Experience or programme finale.
Corporate Partners and Funders
Help us create more opportunities for the next generation of independent career women.
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