Highgate schoolgirls mingled with business heavyweights over croissants and coffee before their morning lessons at a networking breakfast club last week.

Branding expert Rita Clifton, a former vice chairman of Saatchi&Saatchi, joined Nationwide building society chairman, Geoffrey Howe, in speaking to Channing School pupils, alumni, parents and staff about their careers last Thursday.

Mr Howe, a Channing School parent, hosted the event at Nationwide’s headquarters in Threadneedle Street in the City.

The all-girls school, in The Bank, Highgate, started the breakfast club to offer girls the chance to develop networking skills and to get valuable work experience with top firms.

Helen Tranter, director of development, said: “It’s all about opening up the world of work to girls, so if somebody wants to be a lawyer, they can ask one of the parents or alumni about what they do.”