Last Updated on: 1st October 2024, 03:11 pm
Bradford-based entrepreneur Helen Hill has been named the Entrepreneur of the Year at the prestigious 2024 Digital Women Awards, recognising her innovative contributions to the digital and education sectors. This award comes at a crucial time, as Helen also celebrates securing funding from the Innovate UK Creative Catalyst competition to launch her climate change education initiative, Be The Future IMMERS[ED].
Helen co-founded Be The Future IMMERS[ED] alongside Sydney-based entrepreneur Sally Giblin. Together, they are revolutionising climate education by creating immersive experiences to engage children in learning about sustainability and climate action. Their project, TOGETHER, combines storytelling, multimedia, gamification, and interactive environments to inspire behavioural change, equipping educators with the tools to teach sustainability effectively. The pilot scheme will be launched in West Yorkshire, hosted by their headline sponsor, Posynergi, an audio-visual company based in Huddersfield. The pilot’s first theme, “Rewilding & Nature-Based Solutions,” will feature an exhibition-style experience and a touring option.
Reflecting on her dual success, Helen Hill commented: “Winning Entrepreneur of the Year is a huge honour, and what’s even more exciting is the opportunity to bring Be The Future IMMERS[ED] to life with this new funding. We aim to inspire the next generation of changemakers and support schools in teaching sustainability—a topic that’s often challenging for educators. We want to push the boundaries of technology and education to create experiences that both excite young minds and encourage meaningful action against climate change.”
Helen’s achievement at the 2024 Digital Women Awards, which celebrates women’s achievements in digital industries, highlights her leadership and innovation in leveraging technology to transform education. The awards ceremony, held at the Connaught Rooms in London on 18 September 2024, recognised women making significant strides in business and digital sectors. The event was sponsored by Constant Contact, a global leader in digital marketing solutions for small businesses.
Erika Robinson, General Manager UK at Constant Contact, expressed her pride in supporting the awards: “We’re proud to support an incredible community of empowered women like Helen, who are using digital tools to drive innovation and business success.”
Lucy Hall, Founder of Digital Women and Director at Skills of the Future Ltd, added:
“We are excited to celebrate the incredible women who are going above and beyond, doing truly amazing things in the digital space. This is a significant time to recognise businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and those working in digital industries. I’m so glad we get to acknowledge these fantastic achievements from our community and beyond.”
Erika Robinson reiterated Constant Contact’s support: “Constant Contact is proud to support Digital Women, a vibrant community of people using technology as a bridge to business success.”
With funding from Innovate UK, Helen’s team is set to expand their innovative educational programme across the UK and beyond, using a bespoke digital platform to increase its reach. Be The Future IMMERS[ED] has already gained attention through creative campaigns, such as last year’s World Oceans Day, when Helen and Sally dressed as 13ft reclaimed plastic mermaids, reaching an audience of over 25 million people.
Helen Hill’s continued recognition for her work in both business and education underscores her vision for Be The Future IMMERS[ED], a project that blends creativity, technology, and a commitment to fostering positive environmental change.
For more details about the TOGETHER project or to book your school or community group, visit https://www.bethefuture.earth/together
