Belfast young person Jemma Simpson meets His Majesty The King after winning national Princes Trust award

Jemma Simpson, 32, from Belfast, has been awarded the prestigious Prince’s Trust, TK Maxx and Homesense national award, having previously won the Ulster Bank Enterprise award in the state final.

The laureate of the National NatWest Enterprise Award attended a reception yesterday at Buckingham Palace to meet His Majesty, Founder and Chairman of The Prince’s Trust, who congratulated the award winners on their achievements.

Gemma was honored at this week’s star-studded awards gala, hosted by Ant and Dec, and attended by many supporting celebrities and youth charity ambassadors. Gemma was presented with her award by former professional boxer, Nicola Adams, and England manager and former international footballer, Gareth Southgate.

The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards honor young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their life chances and made a positive impact on their local community. The NatWest Enterprise Award recognizes young people who have taken The Trust’s Enterprise course and subsequently developed a successful business.

Despite a rocky start in life, Gemma, 32, from Belfast, realized her own potential after being made redundant during the pandemic and now runs a successful all-inclusive recruitment business, Diverse Talent.

“I faced many challenges growing up. We moved home a lot and before I was 16 I was living in multiple places including a women’s aid shelter. As the oldest child, I felt a lot of responsibility to take care of my mom and brothers. School wasn’t a priority for me, and when I left at 16, I didn’t have much to show her.From a young age, my ambition was to create a better life for myself and my family.

“I got my first job at 17, but it required a huge change in my lifestyle. I ended up leaving the family home and living on my own. Looking back, I may not have been mentally ready for it, but I had no other choice. I pushed myself to let go of the past and focus on my career and what makes me happy. I didn’t come to terms with my sexuality until my mid-twenties. It was a process that took time, but I am very proud of where I am now in my life.

“I put a lot of time and effort into focusing on myself and healing from past experiences, working at (what I thought was) my dream job. But then Covid hit, and everything changed when I became redundant. This was a difficult time and I started planning what to do. done after that.

“I wanted to complete a CIPD course to become a Certified Human Resources Professional and the Prince’s Trust gave me financial support with the course fee. They also provided insight into other ways they could help, including the Enterprise programme.

“Having been in the recruitment industry for over 10 years, I dreamed of starting a staffing company that would specialize in sourcing candidates for STEM jobs and matching them with companies that prioritize equality, diversity, and inclusion. However, I never acted on the idea because I was nervous when it came to understanding each of Legitimacy and responsibilities related to HMRC.

“The Prince’s Trust helped me understand the business processes, which included writing a business plan, creating a cash flow and marketing the products.”

Jemma has now moved its business to its Belfast City Center headquarters and employs a team to handle demand. She is passionate about helping people find roles with ethical employers who are good places to work. Diverse Talent also sponsors a local football team called Belfast Blaze FC – the only LGBTQIA+ football team in Northern Ireland. Her company regularly hosts networking events, raises awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is a respected recruiting group within the industry.

“I have much more self-confidence than I used to and want to make a positive change in the recruitment industry. I am excited about what the future holds and we are now on our way to expanding diverse talent across the UK. I am more satisfied with life than I ever dreamed of.”

On winning the NatWest Enterprise Award, Gemma said: “I feel so lucky to have come across The Prince’s Trust. They helped me create my dream project, and in doing so, allowed me to give back to the community as well. It was an absolute surreal experience winning a NatWest Enterprise Award.”

Samuel Okafor, Head of Client Development, NatWest, said: “As proud sponsor of the Enterprise Prize, we are delighted to have chosen Gemma as this year’s winner. She is a well-deserved winner and a true inspiration to so many young and ambitious entrepreneurs across the UK.”

Commenting on Gemma’s win, Gareth Southgate said: “Gemma is an inspiration to all the young people out there. With her entrepreneurial spirit, she is an excellent example of how young people, with the right support, can achieve their dreams. I am very excited to see what the future holds for the diverse talent!”

Nicola Adams introduced Gemma to His Majesty yesterday. She said: “Big congratulations to Gemma who has dedicated her career to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. Not only does she make her friends and family proud of her accomplishments, but she also makes a positive difference to the recruitment industry.”

The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity, gives young people the skills and confidence to put their lives on the right track. Three out of four young people with the help of The Prince’s Trust move around the world for work, training or education.