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Sophie Pender
Sophie Angela Pender (born 1996)[1] is a British social mobility campaigner and activist. She founded the registered charity the 93% Club, the UK's least exclusive members club for people educated in state schools. Early life and educationPender grew up on a council estate in North London.[3][4] She lost her father to substance abuse.[3] Pender was educated at Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood. She worked two jobs to support herself during her studies, and achieved straight A*s for her A-Levels the first student in her school to do so.[5][6][7] Pender studied English at the University of Bristol, and was the first in her family to attend higher education.[3][8] Pender graduated from the University of Bristol in 2017.[9] During her time in the University of Bristol she became involved with efforts to improve social mobility, with the University of Bristol Students' Union[1] and the charity Access Aspiration.[3] Whilst an undergraduate student Pender founded the 93 Percent Club.[10] The club became a national network of student societies, who worked with organisations to improve the employability of graduates educated in state schools.[7] Pender has referred to the 93% Club as an alternative Bullingdon Club challenging old boy networks.[4][11] CareerAfter graduating she worked as a city lawyer for Herbert Smith Freehills and Bates Wells Braithwaite before working full-time for the 93% Club.[11][12] Awards and honoursPender was named as Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022,[2] and won the Diana Award[13] and was named a Woman to Watch by The Times in 2017.[8] References
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