Is there such a thing as a finishing school or business etiquette school for young women between university and first job?

[Moonriver987]

Do these places still exist nowadays?

I know this sounds incredibly old-fashioned but one of my young adult daughters is autistic and isn't very self aware when it comes to table manners, and when to speak, and when to not speak, and I think she would benefit from being given a set of rules concerning the "correct" way to behave in different situations.

I haven't guided her as much as I should have done on this as she found school so hard, that when it came to dinner time, I couldn't bear to add any more pressure.

Also, she finds being the centre of attention very difficult and I think she will need help with this when it comes to professional settings.

Also, she' s older now and navigating university reasonably well, so will be more receptive I think.

Does anyone have any ideas please? We are not particularly affluent and we aren't based in UK but my DD could travel to London, or thereabouts, and we have relatives in various parts of uk. And I suppose she could travel to anywhere in France, The Netherlands, Germany Switzerland etc.

Thank you in advance for any tips or recommendations.

Isn't this something you can do with her? I think putting her into a finishing school for young ladies, even if they still exist, as a person without basic table manners would be a pretty horrendous experience for her no?

Lucie Clayton used to be the finishing school IME. Does it still exist?
Does your DD want to be 'finished'?

@Chewbecca - yes! I lived in a dump flat share around the corner from Lucie Clayton's and it was THE place.

Dear god in heavens... just look it up on YouTube...

Thanks for responses so far. I was prepared for my op to attract a fair bit of barracking 😄

The reason I wanted personal recommendations is that my DD has ASD so I want to ask follow up questions.

Also, I thought that the Lucie Clayton-type places for gals of a certain upbringing had been replaced by business etiquette centres? Not sure? Which is why I am asking.

And yes, she is open to the idea, or I wouldn't be asking.

If anyone could reply with recommendations I'd be very grateful.

And thanks she has basic table but is lacking in confidence.

Again if anyone has any recommendations I'd be much obliged.

What I am trying to say is that I don't want to pay lots of money for some fancy knob place in London that exists to attract bored young socialites.

I want somewhere that is focused on women having a career.

I don't think it's very popular opinion now that women need to pay to be "finished" before they can have a career, for the same reason we don't have business finishing schools for men who want a career.

I'm just not sure the market is there for this to exist as a thing?

The following online courses might be useful, I'd try the free ones first and then try a more expensive one and see how much more information you get.

Free business courses
The English Manner
Mandatory Training
Udemy

I have seen there are “etiquette coaches” where you hire them to give advice for this sort of thing. Often in London womens expats will hire them so might be helpful rather than a school as such

I am really grateful for any replies.

But I'm after recommendations rather than advice on whether this is a good idea or not.

I hope that doesn't sound rude but DD has special needs and as her mother I think I have a reasonable idea of what would be helpful for her.

I know these places exist because I heard someone I don't know mention them a year or so ago at a social gathering.

Thank you very much for those links. I will have a look.

Yes maybe I am Googling with the incorrect terminology! Thank you.

I went to Lucie Clayton's to be finished!

The only one now is a school in Switzerland.
My dd1 went for a term

Rather than a school you could try a business coach specialising in communication. I’m sure they’d be happy to work with your DD on a 121 basis (could even do it online).

someone like this https://gracefogarty.co.uk

(this is just an example, there will be loads)

My daughter did a degree in history of art followed by a course at Quest Business School (the former Lucy Clayton college). She studied marketing and took a module in personal presentation. She reckons it gave her a bit of an edge when she started out.

Institute villa pierrefeu is the traditional type and Surval Montreux is more business focused

I agree a coach for communication skills/ presentation skills etc would be great- LAMDA type coaches worth looking at. It’s about giving your dd a toolbox of skills to help handle situations.
Does her uni careers service offer anything?

There was an interesting BBC1 programme on a few years ago about social mobility. Sadly no longer on iplayer but I think clips might be around on YouTube. They touched on this topic a little and came to the conclusion that it shouldn’t matter, but it did.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001fygm

I think Debretts might do some kind of workshops or training?

There is also the etiquette chap William Hanson, but he is trying a bit harder to be funny these days (quite a bit of innuendo) which might make him less easy to follow for your DD.

An acquaintance went to a business college which seemed to be half way between a finishing school and a secretarial school, turning out PAs for banking, finance etc.
However all were quite posh to begin with, and it was a year long course. Suspect the fees were high, although it did guarantee a job at the end.

Not exactly what you are looking for, but things in that ball park do exist.

As another mum in your shoes OP I can see the point of your question. Please ignore the ableist responses you are getting. I’d be interested to know responses. My DD would want to be in a single sex environment to learn this kind of content. Doesn’t make her, me or you, regressive sexists.

If you keep getting obnoxious answers I would suggest perhaps moving this question to the Feminism and Women’s Rights area

Ooh, tell us about it! 😃. What did you learn? I find it all quite fascinating!

Following out of interest. I think there are a lot of neuro diverse young people who could benefit from something like this. I'm nearly 40 and even now I don't always feel like I know the rules.

+1!

I was going to say one of those courses that prepares people for working a ski season or on yachts but then saw you want more career focused than fancy society.