Mathematics is a cornerstone of modern education, critical for individual success and the growth of entire economies. Yet, gender disparities in maths achievement persist, often beginning in primary school. Research highlights that many girls make decisions about their abilities in maths at an early age, decisions shaped by confidence, stereotypes, and societal expectations. These decisions have lasting impacts, influencing academic paths and career opportunities. To address this, targeted intervention programmes for girls in primary schools are essential.
Addressing the Maths Performance Gap
At the age of 11, boys in the UK outperform girls in maths by four percentage points at the expected standard and eight percentage points at the higher standard. Importantly, this gap isn’t due to biological differences but is linked to external factors like confidence and attitudes. The underperformance of girls in maths represents a significant loss of potential talent, which not only limits personal opportunities but also reduces national productivity and economic growth.
Research by the OECD suggests that improving girls’ attitudes toward maths could significantly boost overall school performance. Girls who expressed confidence in their mathematical ability performed better than boys with similar attitudes, underscoring the importance of fostering positive beliefs about maths early on.
Building Mathematical Confidence Early
Confidence in maths starts forming in primary school, often shaped by societal stereotypes and personal experiences. Unfortunately, many girls lack this confidence, which negatively affects their performance. Without intervention, this self-doubt can discourage girls from pursuing maths-related subjects and careers.
A striking finding from the OECD report revealed that while boys generally outperformed girls in maths tests, the gap reversed when confidence was taken into account. Girls who believed they were good at maths outperformed boys with the same mindset. This demonstrates that the key barrier for many girls isn’t ability but self-belief.
Overcoming Gendered Stereotypes
From a young age, girls are exposed to stereotypes suggesting that maths is a male-dominated field. These cultural biases often discourage them from engaging fully with the subject. Alun Jones, head of the Girls’ School Association, pointed out that these stereotypes are deeply entrenched, shaped by centuries of bias. While educational institutions alone can’t eradicate this cultural conditioning, targeted efforts can minimise its impact and boost girls’ confidence in maths.
Intervention programs play a critical role in countering stereotypes. By providing positive reinforcement, showcasing role models, and offering tailored support, these programs help girls see themselves as capable mathematicians.
Creating Equal Opportunities and Shaping Futures
When girls are supported in maths, they’re more likely to excel and pursue further studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. This creates a more balanced gender representation in industries such as engineering, technology, and data science.
Furthermore, the decisions girls make about maths in primary school often shape their future educational and career choices. Building a positive association with maths early on not only empowers them academically but also expands their career options, breaking down barriers to success.
The Way Forward
The gender gap in maths education isn’t just an issue of fairness; it’s a challenge with profound social and economic implications. Introducing intervention programs in primary schools can help build confidence, dismantle stereotypes, and set girls on a path to long-term success in maths and beyond. By prioritising these efforts, we can unlock the potential of a generation and foster a more equitable and innovative future.
The case for action is clear: the time to inspire and empower young girls in maths is now. Let’s give them the tools they need to dream big and achieve even bigger.
📣 F4S is proud to have submitted our response to the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review!
This autumn, the Government launched an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis. The review focuses on identifying the most critical challenges in curriculum and assessment, with particular attention to supporting children and young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs or disabilities. These groups continue to face the most significant barriers in education. The review also aims to ensure that the curriculum prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in their futures.
To share our insights and expertise, we submitted a response to the Call for Evidence. Our response reflects F4S’s commitment to shaping a future-ready education system. To develop our evidence, we hosted roundtable discussions and collaborated closely with partners, including the Careers and Enterprise Company, The Royal Society, Cambridge Assessment, MATs, and educators. These vital voices—who shape education every day—were at the heart of our submission.
We emphasised that education must evolve to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in an increasingly complex, technology-driven world. Breaking down barriers to opportunity is critical, and the social and economic value of equipping students with transferable skills cannot be overstated. We are pleased to have been helping teachers do that now for ten years via our services that provides resources and experts who help the navigation of the tech driven world easier.
Summary of Recommendations
- Social Justice and Inclusion
- The Department for Education should encourage schools to adopt proven initiatives from charities like F4S to break down barriers faced by SEND students, girls, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds by connecting them with relatable role models and career opportunities.
- Scale successful programs nationwide to deliver tailored role models and career insights at minimal cost.
- Ensuring an Excellent Foundation in Maths
- Revise the mathematics curriculum to integrate data analysis, statistics, and computational tools, ensuring students gain practical, future-ready skills.
- Mandate schools adopt highly effective intervention programmes like F4S’s Maths4Girls to inspire more girls to pursue mathematics beyond age 16, addressing gender disparities and encouraging STEM career pathways
- Curriculum and Qualification Content
- Require schools to provide at least three meaningful employer encounters annually.
- Promote AI literacy and professional development for teachers to integrate AI effectively into classrooms
- A Broad and Balanced Curriculum
- Embed skills-based activities throughout the curriculum to ensure a better balance between academic success and essential life skills
- Streamline subject content to foster deeper engagement and accommodate skills-based learning
These changes are essential for breaking down barriers to opportunity and preparing young people for a complex, technology-driven future. The social and economic benefits of investing in education that equips students with these transferable skills cannot be overstated.
🔗 Read our full response here
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed and supported us throughout this process. Together, we’re working to create an education system that empowers every student.
In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, preparing young people for careers in the green economy has never been more essential. That’s where the idea for the Sustainable Futures Programme was born. This pioneering educational initiative, led by WWF-UK in partnership with Villiers Park Educational Trust and F4S, was designed to empower students aged 14 to 18. Completely free, the programme equips the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to excel in the future workforce while actively contributing to a sustainable world.
From its launch in June 2022 to its conclusion in July 2024, the programme has reached thousands of students and educators across the UK, offering a comprehensive approach to sustainability-focused careers education. With nearly 10,000 students engaged in career talks and almost 6,000 accessing sustainability course resources, the programme has made a significant impact on young people's understanding of and aspirations toward green careers.
The Three Pillars of the Sustainable Futures Programme
The success of the Sustainable Futures Programme stemmed from its innovative design, built around three core elements: the student course, career talks, and workplace experiences. Together, these components formed a holistic framework for learning and inspiration.
1. The Student Course
Central to the programme was the student course, which introduced learners to the principles of sustainability and their relevance in business and society. Delivered by educators, career leaders, or trained facilitators, the course encouraged students to reflect on their values, skills, and aspirations, aligning these with sustainable career paths.
By linking theoretical concepts to real-world opportunities, the course empowered students to think critically about their role in creating a sustainable future. The integration of knowledge and personal reflection promoted informed decision-making and a deeper appreciation of how sustainability intersected with diverse industries.
2. Career Talks
Career talks brought sustainability to life through interactions with professionals from various sectors. Hosted virtually or in person via the F4S platform, these sessions offered students unique insights into how sustainability was integrated into different industries and roles.
Speakers—from environmental organisations to companies embracing sustainable practices—shared real-world examples of sustainability in action. These talks were not only informative but also deeply inspiring, helping students envision how their career aspirations could align with their passion for sustainability.
3. Workplace Experiences
Providing hands-on exposure, the programme included sustainability-focused workplace experiences. These opportunities ranged from one-day insight sessions to virtual placements, allowing students to explore sustainable practices in action across diverse industries such as renewable energy and hospitality.
Empowering Students, Transforming Futures
The impact of the Sustainable Futures Programme has been profound, particularly in inspiring young people to consider careers in sustainability.
A post-programme survey revealed that 95% of students reported an increased knowledge of sustainability, while 88% said that career talks positively influenced their understanding of sustainability’s role in future careers. Insight days further heightened interest, with 89% stating they were now more enthusiastic about pursuing sustainability-focused roles.
The programme didn’t just change aspirations—it also shifted behaviours. Many students reported taking greater responsibility for environmental action, influencing friends, family, and even organisations to adopt more sustainable practices.
Students described the programme as a transformative experience:
“From documentaries and Geography classes, we had a basic understanding of sustainability. But through this course, our understanding was strengthened, and we became more confident in what sustainability really means.”
“It made me think about how sustainability could create more job opportunities in the future. It got me considering what I need to do now to achieve my goals.”
Building a Sustainable Future Together
As the Sustainable Futures Programme draws to a close, its success highlights the importance of partnerships between educators, businesses, and environmental organisations. By equipping young people with the tools and inspiration to pursue green careers, the programme has not only prepared them for the workforce but also empowered them to be agents of change in building a sustainable future.
For students, the programme was more than an educational initiative—it was a gateway to realising their potential and exploring ways to make a positive impact on the world:
- “This programme has shown me different ways I can make a difference. I now think more about how sustainable potential employers are and want to work for a company that cares about the climate.”
The Sustainable Futures Programme stands as a testament to the power of education to inspire meaningful change, shaping not just careers but also the future of our planet. To find out more about the programme you can visit this link here.
This year, we've been able to support over 15,000 small businesses and charities around the world! 🎉 This is all thanks to the amazing support of our mentors who all volunteer their time to help small businesses and charities.
We love to celebrate our community, so each year we spotlight our top mentors of the year to celebrate the amazing work our volunteers do. 🥰
Meet our Mentors of the Year (2024) here 👇
Most mentoring sessions - Anastasia
We love celebrating our community as they all go above and beyond to support our small business community. It's why we're delighted to celebrate Anastasia as her dedication to mentoring has been phenomenal this year! 🎉
Anastasia has received our 'most mentoring sessions' award after delivering over 154 mentoring sessions this year 🥳
Anastasia joined our volunteering community in January and threw herself into mentoring. You can definitely say she caught the mentoring bug as after delivering several amazing Masterclasses, Anastasia set out on a mission to mentor 100 mentees in 2024! It's been amazing seeing Anastasia dedicate herself to this challenge and we've loved how much our community of volunteers has cheered her on her journey. 🩵
We've had the privilege of Anastasia delivering amazing Masterclasses for our community and even joining us at one of our London in-person events with our partners at NatWest too. 😊
What we love most about Anastasia is her enthusiasm and passion for learning and helping others. She said recently, "I didn’t see myself as a mentor this time last year. But I’ve found my place with Digital Boost, where the mentoring is targeted and impactful" and we couldn't agree more! That's why our mentoring platform is so powerful! We believe anyone can be a mentor as we've all got unique experiences and ideas to share. And being able to show people what's possible on our platform means the world to us, so thank you Anastasia for showing us all what's possible! 🥰
It's been an incredible year for Anastasia and we can't wait to see what challenge she sets herself for 2025. 🎉
Here’s what our mentees have to say about Anastasia:
"Meeting Anastasia has been a quietly exceptional and positively memorable experience. Anastasia brings a wealth of unique personal qualities, and professionally, she is a remarkably perceptive, well-informed, attuned, committed and collaborative specialist. Anastasia distils and delivers a huge amount of value in a short amount of time to help accomplished clients achieve breakthrough results. Highly Recommended!"
"Anastasia was friendly, well-prepared and thoughtful with her recommendations for my startup website. She even followed up with a summary of what we discussed and also shared some useful resources! So glad to have met her through the Digital Boost platform, this is really a great platform for entrepreneurs to get the advice and support they need to build and grow their business."
Most Masterclasses hosted - Paul
We're extremely lucky to have incredible mentors who volunteer to deliver Masterclasses and Workshops with us throughout the year 🎉. This year, we delivered over 300 live sessions on everything from business strategy to AI to wellbeing for founders!
The number of live sessions wouldn't be possible without incredible mentors like Paul, who volunteer to support our community through our Masterclasses. 🎉 Paul was one of our top Masterclass hosts this year, delivering several incredible sessions about creating a winning business strategy for small business owners.
This isn't Paul's first rodeo! 🤠 He's been volunteering with Digital Boost since 2023 and in that time become a very popular Masterclass host with our community. What we've loved most is seeing Paul's skills develop over the last year as one of our Masterclass hosts. His presentations and delivery have gone from strength to strength and he's been a joy to collaborate with 😊
Here’s what Paul’s mentees had to say:
"Paul delivered extremely useful feedback on my business pitch and helped me to get inside the brain of an investor to match what they are looking for. This session was probably the most useful session I have had in relation to this subject and has really helped me to deliver a better pitch. I am meeting with Paul again soon and I am very excited to share my updated pitch with him because, thanks to his feedback, it is a lot better!!"
"Paul was great and introduced me to new ideas. Even though it’s a one hour call, I’ll be going away and spending a lot of time delving into everything he taught me, which will result in some considerable upskilling in the areas of business planning and growth strategies. Thanks so much Paul"
Marketing mentor - Sid K.
Our Marketing Mentor of the Year award goes to Sid! Since joining us in June of this year, Sid has delivered over 21 hours of mentoring support, volunteered to host several Masterclasses and, most recently, joined us on stage at our Edinburgh Solopreneur Bootcamp for a live workshop!
Sid supports our community with digital marketing, branding, and most recently, KPI tracking and reporting!
If you've been lucky enough to meet Sid, you'll know he's an absolute powerhouse, and his enthusiasm for small businesses is infectious. He's had an incredible career working with industry giants like Coca-Cola and Meta, but now he supports SMEs through his business Unlock Growth and by volunteering with Digital Boost.
Here’s what Sid's mentees had to say:
"Took the time to ask probing questions and challenge my assumptions. Was very helpful in moving my plans forward. Thank you so much"
"Sid was so helpful giving me advice and tips about business strategy for my small business. He was very professional and clearly knows his stuff. I have a lot of things to work on now and have a better idea about how to figure out my future business strategy. There were lots of interesting things he said that really made me think about what I'm currently doing and what I will do in the future. Thank you Sid!"
Leadership mentor - Sarisha
We're delighted to be celebrating Sarisha as our leadership mentor of the year! Since joining us in 2023, Sarisha has gone on to deliver over 80 hours of 1:1 mentoring, several exceptional Masterclasses, and even hosted a live workshop at our International Women's Day event in March of this year!
Sarisha is a lawyer turned founder. Sarisha was inspired to retrain as a life coach after navigating her own personal challenges with the support of a life coach. She created Navigating Life Coaching to support and help others find balance and happiness in their own lives 😊 We're grateful to have mentors like Sarisha in our community who can share their first-hand experiences building a business to inspire and guide others on their journeys. 🤗
Here’s what Sarisha's mentees had to say:
"It was wonderful speaking with Sarisha. It had such a positive impact on me! Her empowering approach, coupled with the dedication to understanding my business, and providing advice on growth and personal development. I feel I will definitely benefit from her professional insights and guidance."
"Sarisha's mentoring session was outstanding, combining inspiration, creativity and practical guidance. Our well-organised session covered introductions, goal-setting, challenges, and action planning, leaving me with a clear strategy and a SMART follow-up plan. I highly recommend Sarisha for her invaluable mentoring advice."
Business strategy mentor - Julia
Meet Julia, our business strategy mentor of 2024! Julia joined our volunteering community back in 2022 through our EY partnership 😊
With an extensive career in international marketing, Julia offers mentoring in marketing, social media, B2B marketing, and business strategy. 🙌
As well as being one of our amazing mentors, Julia has also been a huge support to us by joining our in-person Small Business Bootcamp in London to deliver speed mentoring sessions! 🤗
Here’s what Julia's mentees had to say:
"Julia was extremely helpful in her area of expertise and she taught me a lot about a subject I don't know that much about. I left feeling very inspired and excited to get working on all of her suggestions. it was the most worthwhile 50 minutes of my day today. Thank you Julia."
"It was really interesting talking with Julia and she gave me a lot of actionable feedback about not just my website, but my business planning in general. Thank you!"
Most enthusiastic mentor - Cheryl
Don't tell anyone, but this is one of our favourite categories to award every year! 🤫 We have so many incredible volunteers who are passionate and excited about what they do with us which is so special to see. 🥰
This year's most enthusiastic mentor of the year award (or cheerleader of the year as we like to think of them!) goes to Cheryl from the NatWest team! 🩵
Cheryl has been our constant champion since becoming one of our volunteer mentors in 2021 through our partnership with NatWest 😊. She's supported numerous mentees in both the Digital Boost community and Royal Bank of Scotland's MentorMatch programme 🎉. And if you've ever attended any of our in-person events, you'll know that Cheryl is our right-hand woman! She's become a very beloved honourary member of the Digital Boost team and we're eternally grateful for all the support she's given us over the years! 🤗
Here’s what Cheryl's mentees had to say:
"Cheryl is a warm, kind and knowledgeable lady. We had a great rapport during the meeting and she supported me well. She was able to appreciate the challenges that I face in my business and was able to provide advice & guidance."
"Loved my session. With so much info to unload in this session there was a danger there would be too many strands to focus on. But Cheryl was great at bringing the conversation back to a semblance of order, and really helped me focus on what needs to be achieved.
She has some great ideas and useful insights to share, and I know I'm going to be leaning on her in future"
Money mentor - Claire
This year we're delighted to be celebrating Claire as our Money Mentor of the Year! 🎉
Claire is the founder of Addison Accounts & Training and initially joined Digital Boost as a mentee to get support on her business journey. She soon realised she could give back to the community by sharing her accounting and financing skills so she signed up as a mentor as well!
We've got several founders who have decided to become mentors in order to give back to the small business community and we love that our platform allows our mentees to get and give support! It creates a beautiful community and we're delighted to see so many of our mentees throwing themselves into our mentoring! 🤗
Claire brings her own understanding and compassion as a fellow founder to her sessions. She easily breaks down and explains accounting and finance concepts that can be tricky for first-time founders! We're grateful to have amazing mentors like Claire volunteering to share their skills to decode accounting and simplify things for small business owners. 🥰
Here’s what Claire's mentees had to say:
"I was delighted with the level of service I received today with Digital Boost. I had a mentor session with Claire R who was very accommodating when I requested a change of time. Claire was knowledgeable of the topic I was seeking advice on and I really appreciate the time she gave to the session. I left knowing a lot more and I know this will help me on my journey in setting up my business! Thank you, Claire! 10/10 - I would highly recommend Claire's services!"
"I had a fantastic first meeting with Claire, and she truly impressed me with her knowledge and approachable, supportive style. I came in with very little understanding of the ins and outs of setting up a limited company, and Claire quickly understood my situation and gave me tailored advice that made everything feel manageable. What I really appreciated was how she guided me to think about the long-term impact of my decisions, rather than just focusing on the immediate steps. Thank you, Claire, for your insight and support!"
Longest serving mentor - Parvez
We love this award as it allows us to celebrate volunteers who have been with us for a long time and continue to consistently support our community 🥰
Parvez joined us through our volunteering programme with our partners at EY back in 2022. 🎉 Since then he's delivered over 38 hours of mentoring, delivered several Masterclasses, supported us at in-person events, and most recently joined us at our AGM to talk about his experience volunteering with Digital Boost!
Parvez is a true champion of Digital Boost and has been an immense support to us over the years. We're grateful to have him in our community and be celebrating him this year!
What Parvez's mentees had to say:
"Parvez helped me a lot in just one session. The feedback and ideas I received helped me set up and build my CRM and customise my marketing funnel. I have managed to progress a lot thanks to the help I received from Parvez."
"I feel more confident to make the progression I wanted to before the session. The mentor helped with more than I expected and I’m very happy with the service. I’ll definitely be reaching out to him again."
All-rounder - Nishanth
Each year it gets harder and harder to spotlight just one mentor who's been a true all-rounder for the year BUT Nishanth from the BT team has totally blown us away this year 💫
Nishanth joined us in 2021 through our volunteering programme with our partners at BT. Since then he's delivered over 114 hours of mentoring, facilitated numerous Masterclasses, hosted workshops for our Small Business Jumpstart programme, and joined us for in-person events too 🥳
If you've been lucky enough to meet Nishanth, you'll know he's just the loveliest person ever! His energy and enthusiasm for the small business ecosystem is totally infectious. We feel extremely lucky to have had his unwavering support in our community over the past few years! 😊
What Nishanth's mentees had to say:
"My confidence in getting my campaign off the ground was fueled by Nishanth's encouragement and sound advice which I have taken on board with gusto! Thanks again"
"Fantastic session with great advice and a clear strategy with which to move forward."
"It was lovely to connect with Nishanth, not only he was great on the call, but he also introduced me to 2 of his friends/connections, so I'll be able to learn from them as well."
Rising star - Charlie
So many incredible volunteers have joined our community this year and we’re very excited to announce Charlie as our Rising Star of 2024!
Charlie has had an extensive fashion career, ranging from selling her own collection, Charlie Barley, in stores including House of Fraser and Harrods to writing a regular column in Drapers Tade magazine. 🎉 She now has her own business, Fashion Threads where she helps fashion brands design and produce collections!
Having delivered over 28 hours of mentoring since joining us in July, we've been blown away by Charlie's support and love for our small business community! As a small business owner herself, Charlie brings real-life experience to her mentoring sessions and is a huge hit with our community! We can't wait to see what's in store for Charlie in 2025 ✨
What Charlie's mentees had to say:
"Charlie was a big help today. She explained a lot of concepts in an easy to understand way. She was very generous with her time, and she really wanted to help. I really appreciated that she shared her valuable time with me. It was a great call and I learned so much. Thank you, Charlie!"
"Thank you Charlie for your time and kind advice during our mentoring session. Your advice has been greatly appreciated and I will be implementing the changes we discussed to improve both my website and social feeds to increase brand awareness. Once again thank you for taking time out, especially on a Friday afternoon !!!"
Conclusion
We’re extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful community of volunteers, giving their time to founders and making a difference in the world.
If you’ve ever volunteered with us, we just want to say a huge thank you - we appreciate you!
If you’ve been inspired by our Mentors of the Year and would like to join our community of volunteers - we’d love to have you onboard 🥳
At Digital Boost, we’re all about celebrating small businesses in every way and Christmas is a great time to do exactly that! 🎄
We’ve worked with our partners at BT to arrange a two-day Christmas Fair at their London HQ featuring some of the incredible small businesses from our Digital Boost community to encourage BT employees to shop small this Christmas!
Our mission is to help small businesses and charities grow and thrive. Through this market, we aim to empower entrepreneurs, help them increase their sales, and introduce more people to the incredible products and people behind the small businesses. 🥰
When you shop small, you’re not just buying a product—you’re strengthening local economies, as well as helping someone make their dream a reality and making a real difference. 💖
We’re very grateful to our partners at BT for arranging this Christmas Fair and allowing us to showcase some of the small businesses in our community. As well as hosting the Christmas Fair in their London HQ, BT Group has created a digital catalogue so employees based across Europe can shop online. 🙌
Whilst the Christmas Fair is only open to BT Group employees, here are the businesses taking part so you can shop online and support them too:
Harris of London 🕯️
Harris of London sells luxury home fragrances at accessible prices while prioritising sustainability. Their products are clean and refillable and they have both classic and festive scents, making them a great gift choice.
Carlotta London 🎀
Carlotta London is a brand specialising in high-quality and stylish hair accessories created to encourage people to pursue their goals while looking and feeling great.
BATISTE 🧣
BAPTISTE is a luxury womenswear brand specialising in handmade silk scarves with bold and vibrant prints designed by the founder, Jen Baptiste.
Rythmik Cocktails 🍹
Rythmik Cocktails sell bar quality pre-mixed, ready-to-serve drinks with DJ curated playlists to compliment each drink. They have a wide variety of flavours and sets - perfect for a gift!
Malka London 💖
Malka London create easy-to-tie head wraps for women looking to stylishly cover their hair, providing a sense of confidence and elegance
Datsit 🧴
Datsit is a multi-award-winning organic skincare brand that is 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty free, specifically formulated for dry and sensitive skin.
Teddo Play 🚂
Teddo Play sells beautifully crafted toys and games designed to combine hands-on play and conversations to make learning fun and spark intellectual curiosity for children.
Maria Callisto 💚
Maria Callisto is a luxurious and sustainable bridal loungewear and lingerie brand that sells silk products and bespoke items using traditional craftsmanship.
MSA Skincare 💜
MSA Skincare helps you achieve the radiant skin you deserve through expertly formulated skincare products and facials in North London.
Eastnole ✨
Eastnole have created expert tools to help you prevent injuries, recover faster and stay at the top of your game for years to come!
Paper Mingo 💛
Paper Mingo sells unique, handmade products, including Origami cards and gifts, bespoke sustainable paper bouquets, favours, and decorations for weddings, and more.
Hafeez Jewellery 💎
Hafeez Jewellery are a luxury jewellery brand that celebrates the beauty and colours of interculturalism through 18ct jewellery.
New Shell 🥰
New Shell create and sell holistic hair and scalp care products that are 100% vegan, lab tested, and backed by science.
Eluroom 👗
Eluroom is a business that sells consciously created dresses that inspire women to radiate joy through effortless style abd a mindset to live a full spirited life with confidence.
Oat Avenue 🩷
Oat Avenue is the UK’s first granola butter. It is a vegan, gluten, and nut free spread and comes in a variety of flavours to add to your porridge, toast, or straight out of the jar!
Iris & Lolli 🫶
Iris & Lolli are a sustainable luxury jewellery brand that’s inspired by nature! They made handcrafted demi-fine jewellery in gold and silver.
Three Little Birds 🕊️
Three Little Birds is a space for people relax, de-stress, and rebalance with Reiki-infused soundbaths in London. They sell gift vouchers so you can give someone the gift of relaxing!
BibEasy Bibs 🍼
BibEasy Bibs create 3-in-one baby bibs with the aim to reduce rashes on babies' sensitive skin, keep babies drier and stop stains on the collar, one bib at a time.
Elstree Soaps 🧼
Elstree Soaps is an award winning small business that makes vegan and palm oil free skincare using only high quality ingredients and essential oils.
Skynwear 🩱
Skynwear is a sustainable brand which sells chic, practical suits designed for the outdoors, crafted for longevity and style.
Bottlebee 💍
Bottlebee is a luxury ethical handmade jewelllery brand specialising in gold and silver jewellery and wedding rings jewellery, all of which is made from recycled gold and silver and most can be customised.
Imogen Partridge Illustration and Design 🎨
Imogen Partridge is a designer who creates bespoke watercolour illustrations and hand lettered calligraphy for businesses and people. They also sell Christmas cards, gifts, and bespoke wedding stationery.
By Soni Panda x 💙
By Soni Panda x is an eco-friendly and gender-inclusive hosiery brand that is dedicated to changing one’s perception of and removing the stigmas attached to hosiery and the wearer.
Botanyx 🌸
Botanyx produce natural skincare solutions for radiant and healthy skin. They aim to empower women to embrace their changing skin with confidence while navigating dry skin challenges.
Valeri Christina 🤩
Valeri Christina produces original handmade jewellery for men and women, which are inspired by African and European trends.
Watababe 🩱
Watababe sells sustainable, durable swimwear and beach bags made of neoprene, which are waterproof and machine washable.
This Christmas (and beyond!), make your gifts more meaningful by shopping small. With every purchase, you’re helping entrepreneurs and local communities thrive.
Would you like to take part in future events like this? Join our F4S community and we’ll keep you updated on all opportunities we have to showcase your small business!
In the fast-paced world of startups, it feels like most stories we hear are overnight successes. But what we love about our Digital Boost community is the variety of entrepreneurs and stories we have! It's why stories like Abi's are so important to spotlight and celebrate. Success doesn't happen overnight, it's a slow burner, but the results are still amazing 🙌
Thanks to our mentoring for startups, Abi was able to get her idea off the ground and build something she's really proud of. She's seen her confidence grow, had great press for her business, and done this all whilst holding down her 9-5 job! This is Abi's story 👇
A passion-fuelled startup
Like all startups, Abi's business began with a passion and a gap in the market! With a background in science and a natural affinity for learning, Abi noticed that there were next to no experiences or events celebrating science. With the rise of 'sip and paint' or similar experiences in the wake of Covid, Abi noticed no one was doing science-based events. She realised that she could transform her passion for science into an immersive experience - and so the idea for the Lit Laboratory was born 🎉
Figuring things out
Although she had experience in corporate businesses, Abi didn't necessarily have all the tools she needed to grow her business. Like any budding entrepreneur, she threw herself into her idea and figured things out as she went along! She recalls her first ever Lit Laboratory fondly where she invited her friends and family to do experiments in her mum's church to work out how to structure her events! With their encouragement, she started seriously working towards building up her startup.
Accessing local startup support
Abi was introduced to Grow London Local, a local support team that helped her to build on her business idea and work out how to make it viable. She received amazing support and was able to sit down with an advisor and get quick, accessible support to understand what her business could look like in 5 years. Abi recalls that the support helped her think about the future of her business which she'd never considered before! Through Grow London Local, Abi was referred to Digital Boost for marketing and business strategy support to build her startup.
Discovering Digital Boost
"Digital Boost was a game-changer for me [...] having access to experienced mentors who could guide me through the challenges was invaluable"
As much as Abi's family and friends supported her, Abi felt like she'd almost run out of favours. And because her startup was so unique, as much as they tried to help, they didn't always have the answers she needed. That's where Digital Boost came in!
Through Digital Boost, Abi could access thousands of experienced mentors whenever she needed. As someone building a side hustle alongside her 9-5, Abi could meet with mentors at a time that suited her and join Masterclasses around her work schedule.
The role of startup mentoring
Mentoring became Abi's secret weapon as she built her startup! Her mentors helped her understand her business model better, sharpen her marketing strategies, and connect more deeply with her audience.
A turning point was a Masterclass on email marketing, where Abi learned the value of building a community of engaged followers instead of just chasing social media numbers. "The Masterclass on email marketing changed my whole business model," Abi says. "I completely underestimated the importance of building an engaged audience."
One piece of advice from one of her mentor stood out: "Treat each event like a launch." This shifted Abi's approach completely and allowed her to have fun with each event and see it as an experiment that she could tweak and improve with each launch!
Abi reflected on that advice when sharing her story with us: "That still feels very real. Every time I run an event, I'm much clearer now on what I'm trying to achieve."
Navigating challenges with mentoring
As with every startup, things aren't always plain sailing! After spending months building her Instagram following, Abi's business account was suddenly suspended. With no reason or guidance on how to fix it, Abi turned to her mentors for support. Abi's mentor was there to help her stay calm and find alternative ways to keep her business growing. Thinking back to that time, Abi remembers how "having a mentor to turn to in that moment was incredibly reassuring."
When asked what piece of advice she'd give other startups, Abi reflects: "Don't worry about what you don't know. You'll find ways to ask the right questions and people to help you answer them."
Celebrating the wins
Although there were challenges, Abi has seen huge success with her startup! She's steadily built a community of loyal followers and had some amazing press for her business. "The day my Instagram went down, I also got featured in Time Out," Abi recalls. "It was a day of highs and lows, but the support from my community and mentors kept me going."
Since we interviewed Abi, she was also invited to speak on her first panel discussion! As part of our International Women's Day event, Abi joined a panel of female founders to share her story. This was her first speaking event as a founder and she absolutely smashed it! The audience loved hearing Abi's honest account of her first year as a startup and she shared inspiring advice that's stuck with us. You can watch the panel discussion here.
Conclusion
We're unbelievably proud of Abi and the journey she's been on with her startup! Abi's story is a testament to determination and figuring things out. It also shows just how important mentoring for startups is. With nearly a million businesses registered in 2023, the UK is leading the way in startups and small businesses. But making sure those startups are properly supported and nurtured is key to them succeeding.
We're delighted to have been even a small part of Abi's journey and we look forward to supporting her and many others as they build their startup businesses 🚀
📸 All images shared courtesy of Lit Laboratory London.
Feeling inspired by Abi's startup story? 😊
We have thousands of mentors in our community, ready to support you on your business journey!
All our mentoring is totally free and unlimited to access - get started here 👇
Finding the right guidance can be transformative when you're a creative entrepreneur. Meet Kate, founder of Kate Walton Collections who's had this exact experience with Digital Boost! through Digital Boost's creative business mentoring, Kate's business is thriving 🚀
Kate is a talented artist who transformed her passion for painting into a flourishing wallpaper & prints business. Thanks to the support of her mentors Kate has been able to grow her business, securing deals with amazing interior brands and outgrowing her studio! You can watch Kate's interview here or read the full interview below 👇
A creative past
At the beginning of her journey, Kate created beautiful hand-painted murals. However, being a mother challenged her to start thinking differently about her business. On-site murals were becoming hard to juggle alongside childcare, so Kate began exploring other avenues for her business. With her love of painting, she found herself drawn to creating hand-painted wallpapers.
Whilst creating wallpaper was a new avenue for Kate, her designs found traction in the interiors space thanks to the beautiful designs that were inspired by Kate's countryside upbringing.
Navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship
Kate admits that those early days were more about 'rediscovering [her] identity as an artist'. She also says that when she first started her business, it didn't feel like a real business! As a creative starting a business, there's so much passion poured into your art sometimes it can be challenging to see the business side of things initially.
Although incredibly talented as an artist, Kate jokes that she wasn't the most organised when she first started her business. She acknowledges that she didn't necessarily have a business plan or marketing on her radar, so knew she needed support to grow her business!
Finding Digital Boost
Knowing that she needed strategic support, Kate found Digital Boost's free mentoring platform. Kate could browse thousands of mentors and filter by topics that she wanted support with to find the perfect mentors to meet her needs.
With Digital Boost, it meant I could really look through and find who was best suited to what I needed
Kate was supported with her business strategy, website and marketing by Digital Boost's mentors, and saw tangible results and a growth in confidence thanks to their mentorship.
The power of personalised support
With creative businesses, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't always work because the business is so unique! That's why Digital Boost's mentoring was the perfect fit for Kate and her business.
She was able to meet with experts 1:1 and get truly personalised support that addressed the needs of her unique business.
Kate was matched with Ian from the BT team to get help with her marketing! Ian volunteers his time to help small businesses through BT's longstanding partnership with Digital Boost 😊
SEO mentoring
Ian played a crucial role in helping Kate to navigate the challenges of running a creative business. He reviewed Kate's website and helped her to optimise it to increase website conversion. Focusing specifically on SEO optimisation, Ian helped Kate to upskill and learn all about SEO and how to use it to organically grow her business. SEO was totally new to Kate, but through Ian's support, she's now confident using tags and optimising her content to rank for SEO in her industry. Kate noted that her website had a 'complete turnaround' thanks to Ian's SEO support!
Building confidence
As a solopreneur and creative business owner, feedback can be hard to come by. This is why mentoring has been so impactful for Kate; having a mentor means she has access to feedback and can 'bounc[e] energies' and ideas with someone!
As a result of Digital Boost's mentoring, Kate feels less 'stressed' about her business. All her plans 'are laid out in [her] head in a more organised way' now thanks to mentoring!
Additionally, Kate has also seen her belief and self-confidence increase thanks to the support and championship of mentors like Ian!
Celebrating wins as a founder
When we asked Kate what she was most proud of, she had two wins!
She secured a collaboration with Lick, a luxury paint brand, that showcased 3 exclusive Kate Walton wallpaper - you can see the campaign here 😍
At the time of our interview, Kate had outgrown her studio and was building her dream space! ✨ Thanks to all her hard work and the support of her mentors, Kate's business is growing and we couldn't be prouder of how far she's come!
We're looking forward to seeing more gorgeous prints and wallpapers as Kate's business grows and we can't wait to see the new studio too 😍
If you've been inspired by Kate's mentoring story, why not try our mentoring for yourself!
We've got 1000s of volunteers ready to help you reach your business goals 🚀
Meet Nick: A Digital Boost Volunteer Business Mentor
We have a community of volunteer business mentors, all giving their time freely to support small businesses and charities! We're on a mission to share their experiences and hopefully inspire even more people to try their hand at mentoring. Today we'd love you to meet Nick from the NatWest team 😊
Nick is the Enterprise Manager for NatWest and he's passionate about helping small businesses to thrive! With over 28 years of experience, Nick shares his skills and knowledge with founders around the world through Digital Boost. He's dedicated to supporting micro-businesses and charities at every stage of their journey so they don't have to struggle alone.
We were lucky enough to interview Nick and hear about his experience as a volunteer business mentor!
Q: What motivates you to work with small businesses?
A: My passion for small businesses stems from a deep understanding of the challenges they face. Over the years, I've witnessed firsthand the dedication and resilience of micro-business owners, and it's truly inspiring. I believe in the importance of supporting these entrepreneurs; they're the backbone of not only the wider economy but local economies too.
Q: Why did you become a volunteer business mentor
A: Over the years I've been fortunate enough to accumulate a wealth of knowledge and experience. I feel a sense of duty to share this knowledge and give back to the next generation of business owners. Mentoring allows me to share lessons learned from my own journey, and share the experiences I've gained working with other entrepreneurs across my career. For me, it's the fuel and the inspiration I need to go about my day-to-day work. Any time I meet with a mentor I feel inspired and I pour that energy back into what I'm working on!
Q: Can you share a standout experience from your time with Digital Boost?
A: One particularly memorable experience was mentoring a determined founder who had been grappling with various challenges in their business. Over the course of several months, we worked together to address these obstacles and formulate a strategic plan for growth. Seeing the progress and success that this entrepreneur achieved was immensely gratifying. It just goes to show how much of a difference mentoring can make for founders, regardless of where they are in their journeys.
Q: How do you balance mentoring with your other responsibilities?
A: Balancing mentoring with my other responsibilities requires careful time management and flexibility. Fortunately, my role at NatWest provides me with the flexibility to integrate mentoring sessions into my schedule. I love seeing supporting founders, so I prioritise my time to meet regularly with mentees throughout the week.
Q: What have you learned from your experience as a mentor?
A: As a mentor, it's been really interesting seeing just how universal certain challenges are for business owners. Whether that's navigating the world of digital marketing or working out the logistics of running a business, many entrepreneurs face similar obstacles along their journey. As a mentor, I've gained so much insight into what affects founders and how I can tailor my skills and guidance to support them and their unique needs.
Q: How would you describe Digital Boost to potential users and volunteers?
A: For me, I think Digital Boost serves as a lifeline for entrepreneurs seeking guidance and support on their business journey. It provides a platform where individuals can tap into a wealth of expertise and resources, ranging from marketing and legal advice to funding opportunities. Similarly, for volunteers, it presents a chance to make a meaningful impact by sharing their knowledge and experiences with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Conclusion
Nick and all the volunteer business mentors on our platform make the world of difference to founders all around the world! And as Nick says, mentoring doesn't have to be complicated, it really is as a simple as offering founders the space to sound ideas and get clarity to move forward ✨ If you're inspired by Nick's story, we'd love to invite you to join our mentoring community.
Unlike other mentoring programmes our mentoring is flexible to your schedule, has no time commitment, and can be done from the comfort of wherever you are in the world 🌍
If you're ready to make a real difference, join our volunteer community here 👇
The Healthy Hustle Plan is your personalised roadmap to achieving your business goals while prioritising your well-being over the long term.
Set aside some time to think about what you'll do differently to get on the right side of the hustle. Capture specific actions, receive nudges to complete tasks, and track your progress over time. Share your plan with mentors to drive accountability and gain valuable feedback and support.
Creating your plan
To get started with your Healthy Hustle plan, create an account on the Digital Boost platform, then follow these three steps:
What kinds of tasks should I add?
Your plan will be personalised to you - and may evolve over time.
Review our Healthy Hustle resources for ideas - and connect with mentors, events and our community for support!
We're a community of small business mentors, all here volunteering our time and skills to support founders in need 🥰
We're a friendly bunch! So we'd love to introduce you to some of the mentors in our community today so you can see who you're volunteering alongside 😊
Ian D., Programme Manager @ BT
Meet Ian, one of the digital marketing and strategy mentors in our community! Ian splits his time between programme management at BT and supporting small businesses with their marketing here at Digital Boost 💪
Ian is known for his no-nonsense mentoring (which his mentees love!). If something isn't working, he'll tell you because he wants you to improve!
Ian offers ongoing mentoring through the platform and meets regularly with his mentees so that he can see their progress. He's had the pleasure of long-term mentoring Gary and seeing his sales increase by 1400% which is amazing!
Sarisha N., Founder of Navigate Life Coaching
Say hi to Sarisha, founder of Navigate Life Coaching 👋
She's a life coach who volunteers her time to help founders navigate their emotions and business journeys!
With her holistic approach to mentoring, Sarisha helps her mentees build confidence and find clarity! Sarisha's mentees love Sarisha's compassionate approach to mentoring sessions and she works closely with mentees to ensure they're supported every step of their journey ✨
Nick H., Regional Enterprise Manager @ NatWest
Up next, we'd love you to meet Nick from the NatWest team 🥰 Nick juggles mentoring alongside his full-time role at NatWest and his mentees absolutely love him!
Nick is best known for his inspiring Masterclasses and his confidence-building mentoring sessions. If you need a nurturing mentoring session, Nick is your man!
With his business banking background, Nick supports our mentees with fundraising and strategy sessions, helping his mentees get on track for success 💪
Allexia G., Founder of Soash Media
Last but not least, meet Allexia, the founder of Soash Media! Allexia is on a mission to demystify social media and make it easier than ever to achieve your goals on social platforms 🎯
Allexia supports our community with social media marketing, and she's our go-to for all things Instagram and Facebook! She even wrote a guest blog here busting 10 social media myths which we loved 🩵
She's beloved by her mentees for her relatable and easy-to-understand mentoring sessions and we're very lucky to have her in our community!
Interested in becoming one of our small business mentors and making a real difference to the lives of founders around the world? 🌍 Find out more about our community and get involved here 👇