BRADFORD, UK. 1st October, 2024 – Bradford-based entrepreneur Helen Hill has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2024 Digital Women Awards, in recognition of her ground breaking work in the digital and education sectors. This accolade comes at a pivotal time, as Helen also celebrates securing funding through 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] with Sally Giblin, an entrepreneur based in Sydney, Australia. Together, they are pioneering immersive educational experiences to teach children about climate action and sustainability. Their project, TOGETHER, blends storytelling, multimedia, gamification, and interactive environments to inspire behaviour change and equip educators with tools to teach sustainability. With a pilot set to launch in West Yorkshire, the first site will be hosted at the premises of their headline sponsor, audio-visual company Posynergi, based in Huddersfield. The pilot’s initial theme, “Rewilding & Nature-Based Solutions,” will include an on-site exhibition style experience, and a touring offering.
Speaking on her double success, Helen Hill said: “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 win at the Digital Women Awards 2024, which celebrates women excelling in digital industries, highlights her achievements as a business leader and innovator in using technology for educational transformation. The Digital Women Awards, held at the Connaught Rooms in London on September 18, 2024, honours women making significant strides in business and digital industries. The event was supported by Constant Contact, a global leader in digital marketing solutions for small businesses.
Erika Robinson, General Manager UK at Constant Contact, commented: “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, said:
“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, General Manager UK at Constant Contact, added:
“Constant Contact is proud to support Digital Women, a vibrant community of people using technology as a bridge to business success.”
The funding Helen received through Innovate UK will enable her team to scale their innovative educational program across the UK and beyond, creating a purpose-built digital platform to further its impact. Be The Future IMMERS[ED] has already drawn attention through creative awareness campaigns like last year’s World Oceans Day, where Helen and Sally dressed as 13ft reclaimed plastic mermaids, reaching over 25 million people.
As Helen Hill continues to gain recognition for her efforts in both business and education, her vision for Be The Future IMMERS[ED] represents a powerful fusion of creativity, technology, and a commitment to driving positive environmental change.
For more information about the TOGETHER project and to book your school or community group in, please visit https://www.bethefuture.earth/together