Collection: NatWest WISE100: Leading Women
The Liverpool social enterprise building on a legacy of education for women: Good Stories episode 5
Join Pioneers Post reporter David Lyons in Liverpool, England, where social enterprise Blackburne House is providing educational courses for underserved women in the local community while innovating its business model to expand its positive impact.
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Blackburne House, a historic building in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool, England, has been home to a social enterprise which provides courses and additional support for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, for over 30 years.
The social enterprise’s purpose is intimately linked to the history of the building. Originally built in 1788 as a residence for the mayor, John Blackburne, it was converted into the first non fee-paying girls' school in England in 1844. A covenant on the building ensures it is only ever to be used for the education of women.
The need for Blackburne House’s work is clear. According to a January 2025 report, the Liverpool City Region has significantly lower educational attainment levels, a higher number of people with no educational qualifications and a lower employment rate than the averages for the rest of England.
For the staff at Blackburne House, it is imperative to provide a safe and supportive environment to the women who study there, to remove barriers which may prevent them from gaining qualifications or employment.
Women feel safe when they come in here, we've ensured that they're safe
Andrea Rushton, CEO of Blackburne House, said: “Women feel safe when they come in here, we've ensured that they're safe. So we have probably between 500 and 700 women every academic year. We know from last academic year, there were 70 nationalities represented, countless languages spoken on the corridors. So having that safe and culturally sensitive environment is essential.”
Join Pioneers Post reporter David Lyons as he speaks to staff at Blackburne House, women studying there and social investor Livv Investment to find out:
- How Blackburne House is providing vocational placements and employment opportunities to the women it trains to maximise its positive impact
- Why learners at Blackburne House feel like it’s their ‘second home’
- How social investment from Livv Investment enabled Blackburne House to open its doors to more women in the local community
This episode was supported by a partnership with Good Finance.
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