South Bromsgrove High School in Worcestershire is celebrating a remarkable milestone as another former student leads a top-ranked company on the Sunday Times 100 list.

Liam Molesworth, aged 31, has propelled Clive Henry Group—a technology and recruitment firm in healthcare—to join three other prominent companies created by the high school’s alumni. Cumulatively, these businesses have generated nearly £1 billion in personal wealth and employ over 1,000 people, many of whom are former students of South Bromsgrove High and others from the West Midlands.

The three other standout enterprises include: Gymshark, the activewear brand founded by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan, both 32, which topped the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 in 2016; the activewear brand AYBL, launched by brothers Reiss Edgerton, 31, and Kristian Edgerton, 30; and the fashion label Manière De Voir, established by ex-Manchester City footballer Reece Wabara, 32, which appeared on the list in 2022 and 2023.

James Siddle, deputy head of the school, fondly recalls a 2019 textiles class visit to Gymshark’s headquarters, highlighting the number of former students employed there, likening it to a reunion of the sixth form common room. Key alumni at Gymshark include Dan Parkin and Richard Boon, with even Molesworth’s younger brother, Jordan, contributing for five years as a product designer.

Gymshark, established in 2012 by Francis and Morgan during their university years, reached a £1 billion valuation in August 2020 when US private equity firm General Atlantic acquired a 21% stake. Gymshark’s sales soared to £556 million, despite profit margins tightening.

Read the full list of companies on this year’s Sunday Times 100, along with interviews and company profiles.

Meanwhile, Molesworth founded his business, Clive Henry Group, in 2019 alongside Sam Alsop-Hall, 34, after a stint as a professional footballer. The firm provides a variety of services to the NHS and has been recognized as the second-ranked business this year, showing a 265% sales growth to £20 million over three years, even though recent trading has been challenging.

Paul Topping, who served as headmaster from 2010, recalls Molesworth as a student unafraid to express his opinions. Siddle remembers his memorable performance of Michael Bublé’s Fly Me to the Moon at the school’s Pop Icons competition.

Molesworth has light-hearted memories of school, even recounting a suspension incident during a Year 12 study period game. This camaraderie among South Bromsgrove alumni has seemed to spur their entrepreneurial spirits.

Alsop-Hall humorously ponders the recipe behind the entrepreneurial wave from South Bromsgrove, while Ben Francis emphasizes the importance of friendships and the shared experiences at school.

The group’s strong bonds are evident. Reece Wabara, who turned professional in football, inspired others with his early success. Francis’s passion for weightlifting improved his grades and led him and Morgan to create Gymshark.

Wabara launched Manière De Voir as a project alongside Gymshark’s rise. Initially a hobby, the brand now thrives, focusing on artistry over his previous football career.

Lewis Morgan believes the group’s success stems from mutual inspiration and healthy competition.

Edgerton and Molesworth cherish their school memories, crediting sports for their competitive edge and teamwork skills, attributes they took into their business ventures.

South Bromsgrove continues to produce stars. Katherine Priddy has graced Glastonbury and the BBC Proms, while Poppy O’Toole, a Michelin-trained chef, regularly appears on TV and is a bestselling cookbook author. Meanwhile, Jess Varnish competed as an Olympic cyclist.

The school, the largest Duke of Edinburgh awarding center, continues to excel, with significant participation in the awards and competitive house activities fostering essential skills.

Headteacher Chris Smith emphasizes the importance of employability, collaborating with local businesses to enhance students’ real-world experience and job readiness.

Smith advocates for continued educational investment to foster entrepreneurial success similar to its notable alumni.