Chester University Master’s student is an Emerging Entrepreneur

A Master’s student at the University of Chester is seeking help from the public to achieve her dream of winning a national competition for student entrepreneurs.

Gillian Seale, from the Wirral, is representing the University of Chester at the Santander Emerging Entrepreneurs Programme 2020. She will be pitching at the national semi-final on September 22.

As a Master’s Degree student in Psychology, Gillian was able to enter a business idea competition run by the University and supported through funding received from Santander Universities UK. Through that, she was awarded a grant that allowed her to start her own company, Tailored Yarn. The University then nominated her to take part in this national competition.

Tailored Yarn was set up to preserve family memories through fictional stories. Gillian has now embarked on a time sensitive challenge to create unique NHS legacy books which would be an entirely charitable venture.

Her aim is to create two books; one would be a non-fiction one to capture real life stories, the motivations of these individuals, the personal perspectives from family and staff, and, the patients they have saved. The other would be a fictional book to inspire five to 10 year old children; using the roles and jobs of NHS staff, to create an inspiring story for children. Both books would celebrate the lives of our late NHS workers on the frontline.

Gillian explains more: “I feel that creating a book in honour of NHS frontline workers' service, is a great way to celebrate their lives. These books will preserve memories by capturing the NHS staff names, the depth of their service and compassion, the voices of the people they saved, and their NHS story in order to celebrate their lives, and use their names to inspire the children of the future.”

The University has been a partner university of Santander Universities since 2008, supporting staff and students in a wide range of educational, entrepreneurial and employability activities. The Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards was launched in 2011 and has since grown to become one of the UK's largest student and graduate business pitching competitions. As part of this programme, all participating businesses have entered the Emerging Entrepreneurs Crowdfunding Challenge, where they will be crowdfunding to drive engagement for their businesses, and will have the chance to win a £6,000 cash prize.

Kirsty Badrock, Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator in Careers and Employability at the University of Chester, said: “We are delighted that Gillian will be representing the University at this national semi-final. Santander Universities UK awarded Gillian with the Excellence in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship during the Venture Pitch 2019, which helped her to kickstart her business, following Gillian’s engagement with the University’s Venture Programme. After a year of earned success, it is brilliant that Tailored Yarn has the opportunity to virtually pitch at this prestigious event. We wish Gillian all the best.”

Gillian said: “Memories gradually fade but books can satisfy our curiosity, build our confidence, mould our identities and impart wisdom. These stories will encourage children to talk about their loved ones no longer with them. This is why I am dedicating my life to mapping fiction into reality.”

To support Gillian’s campaign, her Crowdfunder page can be found here:  

https://crowdfunder.co.uk/nhs-memory-storybook

People who follow Gillian’s project can show their support by following, sharing (+1 point) or pledging (+10 points). This engagement will determine places on the leader board. The business with the highest engagement score on September 29 will be the winner.

More about Gillian’s work can be found at:  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailoredYarn/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TailoredYarn

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tailoredyarnstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-seale/

Santander Universities Emerging Entrepreneurs:

Click here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/programmes/santander-universities-emerging-entrepreneurs to find out more about the challenge and to support Gillian by liking, sharing and pledging to her project.