David with students at the Winter Cup

Milton Abbey appoints entrepreneur in residence

David Ross, co-founder of Carphone Warehouse, announced as Milton Abbey's next entrepreneur in residence

Posted by Stephanie Broad | June 27, 2016 | School life

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• #independent-schools
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• #business-skills

Milton Abbey School in Dorset has appointed David Ross, co-founder of The Carphone Warehouse, is to be its next Entrepreneur in Residence for 2016/17. The successful entrepreneur will provide a boost for the school’s many entrepreneurial students who are either studying for qualifications in business and enterprise or who have already set up businesses of their own. 

David Ross qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. He co-founded The Carphone Warehouse Group plc in 1991 and has also been involved in leading other public and private companies. David is passionate about developing educational opportunities for young people and established the David Ross Foundation, which currently sponsors 33 academies in Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and the Humber Region. David is a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery and on the Board of the British Olympic Association. 

Milton Abbey’s Entrepreneur in Residence scheme is now in its third year. David Ross will judge a school wide competition whereby students develop and start up their own business initiatives; finalists have a one to one business workshop with David and he will also teach some of the Entrepreneur and Enterprises classes and give a talk to the whole Sschool. 

Previous Entrepreneurs in Residence include Anya Hindmarch, Cath Kidston and Johnnie Boden.

David said of his appointment: “It is a great honour to become Milton Abbey’s ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ for 2016-2017. Entrepreneurial dreams and ambitions come alive during one’s teenage years and I am delighted to take on this role for Milton Abbey. This will give the pupils the opportunity to understand how you can think as an entrepreneur and take responsibility for one’s own destiny. I am looking forward to working with them and the school to broaden their horizons.”

Milton Abbey Headmaster, Magnus Bashaarat, said: “We are very grateful to David Ross who will be an inspirational Entrepreneur in Residence for Milton Abbey School, providing our students with real insight into what makes a successful entrepreneur and enabling them to learn from one of the UK’s most successful self starting businessmen. David’s role will provide a real boost to our many pupils who are budding entrepreneurs. We very much look forward to welcoming David to Milton Abbey and showing him our unique educational offer which fosters original, independent, creative and entrepreneurial thinkers able to contribute to work and life in the 21st century.”