Hurst College’s Young Enterprise team, Plants with Purpose (PwP) won the Sustainability Award at the regional Young Enterprise final. As event winners of the overall county title and the Digital Skills Award, PwP went forward to the regional competition against six schools from Kent, Surrey and Hampshire, three of whom won awards. As well as winning the Sustainability Award, PwP only just missed out on going through to the national finals. The Hurst team also made the final of the JA (Junior Achievement) competition, the European version of YE, as one of only five UK teams selected to take part.
Earlier in the year, PwP took part in a Dragons’ Den event and won the Business Plan Award and the Dragons’ Den Award. The dragons praised PwP for having the best produced video, a stand-out logo, impressive website, good market research, cohesive brand identity/packaging/channel marketing as well as a professional business plan and presentation. PwP’s product was a range of herb planting kits packaged in a reusable fabric bag, with a choice of Thyme, Lavender, Mint, Chamomile and Rosemary.
“This is a phenomenal achievement. Covid made the whole process of building and running a viable business more difficult than usual. PwP have achieved financial success and been recognised by Young Enterprise, JA Europe and Dragons’ Den for the quality of their product and the exemplary way they have managed their company,” said Jan Leeper, Head of Careers, Hurst College.
In other news, Hurst College’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Jami Edwards-Clarke, won the Outstanding INDEX (Inclusion and Diversity Excellence) Leadership Award at the Boarding Schools’ Association Awards 2021.
Jami was appointed last year, alongside her responsibilities as a boarding housemistress and PE teacher. Under Jami’s leadership, the support from staff and pupils to drive the movement forward has been overwhelming. She created pupil and staff D&I platforms to share and develop initiatives under the mantra #Be#Yourself@ Hurst; and led the team in organising support for the numerous D&I events including Black History Month, Disability Awareness Week and Pride History Month involving pupils, staff and their families. The judges said: “Jami has shown exemplary leadership and management. These results are visible in the impact of her strategies and the clear emphasis placed on stakeholder voices.”
In response Jami said: “Pupils and staff have been the engine throughout. Despite a global pandemic what has been achieved is more than impressive. This award isn’t about me, it’s about the College, with everyone embracing the challenge. The journey isn’t over, but we can be really proud of what we have achieved.”
Hurst College
College Lane, Hurstpierpoint,
West Sussex, BR6
