Updated 30th November 2021

Read more on Emma's achievement in the Watford Observer report - 25th November 2021

On Thursday 11th November the school was delighted to welcome Emma Shaw to talk to Year 10 students and unveil her Purple Plaque in recognition of her 2020/21 Women in Innovation award.  Emma won the prestigious award for co-founding the Library of Things - 

Library of Things is a social enterprise that helps people save money and reduce waste by affordably renting out useful items like drills, sound systems and sewing machines from local spaces – and by helping neighbours share practical skills.

About Innovate UK and the Purple Plaque Programme

In 2016, Innovate UK launched the Women in Innovation programme to support leading female entrepreneurs and address the under-representation of women in innovation.

Our Women in Innovation winners are developing pioneering innovations to tackle pressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges; from delivering precision medicine to underrepresented populations, to offering eco-friendly materials for the aerospace industry, to creating cutting-edge digital educational tools, and are all committed to becoming fantastic role models for future generations.

To inspire our next-generation of innovators, Innovate UK is partnering with schools across the UK to install commemorative ‘Purple Plaques’ to celebrate the incredible achievements of our Women in Innovation winners.

Currently, just 14% of blue plaques in the UK celebrate the achievements of women. This highlights a national issue of the under-representation of women in the media, the workplace and in the education system, resulting in a lack of role models for children and young people.

As champions of women in innovation, Innovate UK wants to put an end to this cycle of low visibility and absent inspiration, by celebrating the women leading the way in innovation today.

UKRI  - UK Research and Innovation