School children got inspiration from some leading black female entrepreneurs at an event aimed at encouraging the next generation of business leaders.

Five businesswomen including a founder of a dance school and a chief executive  met students at St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls in Carshalton at an event organised award winning social enterprise the Twenty Ten Club.

Sam Snowden, assistant headteacher and head of sixth form at the Pound Street school said: "At St Philomena’s we pride ourselves on giving our girls the opportunities to feel inspired and motivated in their lives and by being involved with the Twenty Ten club we hope to achieve this.

"The entrepreneurs that the girls have interviewed so far have all offered their ongoing support and mentoring for those students and we hope to use what we have learnt to the benefit of all of our students. Our students are the women of the future and we want them to be confident, happy and successful."

The five speakers were Clare Eluka, founder of Premae Skincare, Sharon Gaisie, founder of SAG Media, Ronke Lawal, chief executive of Islington Chamber of Commerce and founder of RSL Management Services, Jessica Elliott, founder of J’s Dance Factory, Dancing After School and JDF Management and Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of social enterprise Avisami.

Ms Eluka , 26, who created the UK's first allergen-free vegan beauty brand, said: "I understand the power of sharing knowledge with young people.

"Before going into business, I was a qualified A-Level teacher at the tender age of 24. It is important for diverse inner city teenagers to know that it is possible for them to achieve the highest levels of academics and economic success. I hope to be one of their role models and an example."