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Jemma Simpson, 32 from Belfast, has gained a prestigious nationwide Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx and Homesense Award, after beforehand profitable the Ulster Bank Enterprise Award within the nation remaining.
Winner of the nationwide NatWest Enterprise Award attended a reception yesterday at Buckingham Palace to satisfy His Majesty The King, Founder and President of The Prince’s Trust, who congratulated the award winners on their achievements.
Jemma was honoured at this week’s star-studded award ceremony, hosted by Ant and Dec, and attended by many celeb supporters and Ambassadors of the youth charity. Jemma was introduced her award by former skilled boxer, Nicola Adams, and England Manager and former worldwide footballer, Gareth Southgate.
The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards recognise younger individuals who have succeeded in opposition to the percentages, improved their probabilities in life and had a optimistic affect on their area people. The NatWest Enterprise Award honours younger individuals who have taken half in The Trust’s Enterprise course after which developed a profitable enterprise.
Despite a rocky begin in life, Jemma, 32 from Belfast, realised her personal potential after being made redundant in the course of the pandemic and is now working a profitable, inclusive recruitment firm, Diverse Talent.
“I confronted many challenges rising up. We moved home lots and, earlier than I used to be 16 years previous, I’d lived in a number of locations together with a girls’s support refuge. As the eldest youngster, I felt a variety of accountability to take care of my Mum and siblings. School wasn’t a precedence of mine and after I left at 16 I didn’t have a lot to indicate for it. From a really younger age, my ambition was to create a greater life for myself and my household.
“I bought my first job at 17 years previous nevertheless it required an enormous change to my way of life. I ended up leaving the household house and dwelling by myself. Looking again, I in all probability wasn’t mentally prepared for it, however I had no different possibility. However, I pushed myself to shake off my previous and deal with my profession and what makes me blissful. It wasn’t till my mid-twenties that I started to simply accept my sexuality. It was a course of that took time, however I’m so happy with the place I’m now in my life.
“I put a variety of time and work into specializing in myself and therapeutic from previous experiences, and dealing in (what I assumed was) my dream job. But then Covid hit, and all the things modified after I was made redundant. This was a tough time and I began to plan what to do subsequent.
“I needed to finish a CIPD course to change into a licensed HR skilled and The Prince’s Trust provided me monetary assist with the course payment. They additionally offered perception into the opposite methods they might assist, together with the Enterprise programme.
“Having labored within the Recruitment trade for over 10 years, I’ve dreamt of beginning a recruitment firm specialising in hiring candidates into STEM jobs and matching them with firms that prioritised fairness, range and inclusion. However, I had by no means acted on the concept as a result of I used to be nervous when it got here to understanding each the legality and HMRC-related tasks.
“The Prince’s Trust helped me to know enterprise operations, which included writing a marketing strategy, making a cashflow and product advertising.”
Jemma has now moved the enterprise into premises in Belfast City Centre and employs a crew to deal with demand. She is captivated with serving to folks discover roles with moral employers which can be good locations to work. Diverse Talent additionally sponsors a neighborhood soccer crew referred to as Belfast Blaze FC – Northern Ireland’s solely LGBTQIA+ soccer crew. Her firm frequently hosts networking occasions, raises consciousness of equality, range and inclusion within the office and is a revered recruitment group throughout the trade.
“I’ve a lot extra self-confidence than I used to and need to make a optimistic change within the recruitment trade. I’m enthusiastic about what the long run holds and we’re now in movement to develop Diverse Talent throughout the UK. I’m extra happy with life than I dreamed I may very well be.”
On profitable the NatWest Enterprise Award, Jemma stated: “I really feel so lucky to have come throughout The Prince’s Trust. They’ve helped me create my dream enterprise and, in doing so, have allowed me to present again to the group too. It’s been an absolute surreal expertise profitable the NatWest Enterprise Award.”
Samuel Okafor Affluent Head of Client Growth, NatWest stated: “As the proud sponsor of the Enterprise Award, we’re delighted to call Jemma as this 12 months’s winner. She is a really deserving winner and a real inspiration to so many younger and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the UK.”
Commenting on Jemma’s win, Gareth Southgate stated: “Jemma is an inspiration to all younger folks on the market. With her entrepreneurial spirit, she is a stellar instance of how, with the fitting assist, younger folks can obtain their goals. I’m very excited to see what the long run holds for Diverse Talent!”
Nicola Adams, introduced Jemma to His Majesty yesterday. She stated: “Huge congratulations to Jemma who has devoted her profession to selling equality, range and inclusion. She will not be solely making her family and friends proud along with her achievements however can also be making a optimistic change within the recruitment trade.”
Youth charity The Prince’s Trust offers younger folks the talents and confidence to get their lives on monitor. Three in 4 younger folks helped by The Prince’s Trust around the globe transfer into work, coaching or schooling.
