Ellie Burndred
A Staffordshire Moorlands high school student has been selected for the Great Britain Ju Jitsu squad, carrying on an impressive family tradition.
Ellie Burndred, aged 14, from Oakamoor, has had a love of Ju Jitsu and Judo from an early age and regularly helped out at her local club, Tatsu Dojo, where her mum Tara is Head Coach. It’s an environment that is inclusive, supportive and which has created a number of national and world champions. Indeed, Tara has twice been Ju Jitsu World Champion and now helps to run the Cresswell-based club.
Tara has noticed Ellie’s love for the sport blossoming over the years, with the knock-on effect of making Cheadle Academy pupil Ellie more determined than ever to support others who attend.
Ellie not only helps and volunteers at Tatsu Dojo – she also encourages others to follow in her footsteps too.
As her mother said: “It is an inspiration to see her blossoming in her sport. Ellie is now a 2nd Dan Junior Black Belt and junior instructor at the club. She is amazing!”
Ellie trains locally on a daily basis, including extensive gym sessions, and attends national training in Warrington.
Over the last year she was selected for the GB Nationals from which she was invited to attend GB Training and Ellie was then selected for the Great Britain squad.
She recently entered the Welsh Jitsuka Open and came away with two gold medals, cementing her place firmly in the squad and Ellie will be competing in Belgium at the start of 2026 for GB – a chance, if she does well, to then compete on the world stage.
Tara said: “Ellie’s commitment to what she does is total. She is so focused – from training, to nutrition, to learning about the sport.
“She is now at a stage where she is competing on the European stage and hopefully on the global level very soon. She has set up a JustGiving page to help with funding, but she is also on the lookout for potential sponsors to help her to follow her dreams too.”
Ellie Burndred has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
James Horrocks
A University of Staffordshire student is among the winners of a national yacht design competition.
The 2025 Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition brought together eight emerging designers from undergraduate and Master’s programmes to compete for top honours during the Southampton International Boat Show.
Students from University of Staffordshire’s BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design course – Ethan Meekin, Adrian Lopez Herranz, Austin Hibbs and James Horrocks – made up half of the shortlist.
Visitors were able to watch the young designers in action as they tackled a live brief set by industry judges to design a 48–50m family-friendly charter yacht for a couple based in Monaco, adjacent to the Pelagos Sanctuary Marine Protected Area. The designers had to consider environmental restrictions, future-proof sustainable features and the yacht’s full lifecycle.
The judging panel was made up of industry experts, including University of Staffordshire graduate and 2019 competition winner James Shakespeare, who now works at Princess Yachts.
After one-and-a-half days of intense design work, the judges announced this year’s three winners whose concepts stood out for their creativity, technical skill and attention to sustainability.
University of Staffordshire’s James Horrocks (pictured left) narrowly missed first place but came second overall with a futuristic concept and has won a week-long internship with superyacht designer Olesinski.
The 19-year-old from Bolton said: “It’s an amazing feeling to have won second and it really builds your confidence as a designer. I am really excited for my internship, I can’t wait to see and know how the yacht industry works and hopefully learn lots. It’s going to be a really good experience for me and I’m so thankful for the opportunity.
“Meeting lots of professionals in the industry helped me get a good insight into my future career and what pathway I want to take. I would say if anyone ever has a chance like this, take it. It’s an amazing experience and I loved every minute.”
James has just begun his second year of study on the BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design course. His winning design was a 50m called Vita Maris meaning “life of the sea” in Latin. The vessel was sleek and futuristic but with a wholesome family feel in the interior, with open plan living and large family orientated spaces with a cinema room inside.
“I wanted my yacht to live its life at sea, just as marine creatures do,” James said. “So, I designed my yacht to be sunk after its life cycle and then it would act as a bio bank for reefs to grow on and give marine life a new habitat to live in.”
Richard Gilmartin, Co-Course Leader for Automotive & Transport Design, said: “We are so proud of the four students selected as finalists. To apply, they had to submit two design pages for a new yacht. Students from all over the UK and all kinds of courses applied, including transport design, product design, naval architecture and engineering design. So, to make it to the final eight is a huge achievement.
“We are really pleased that James’ effort and attitude was recognised with the second place prize. James had never drawn a superyacht before he applied for this competition, now he can’t stop drawing them!”
James Harrocks has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Rhyllan Taperek
Student Rhyllan Taperek joined Stoke on Trent College in September 2022 to complete a full-time City & Guilds Level 1 Bricklaying course at the age of just 14, following elective home education, with dreams of becoming a site manager for his dad’s business: Kobra Construction.
During his first two years at the college, he has successfully completed both his City & Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 diplomas in bricklaying. After becoming eligible for a recognised apprenticeship, Rhyllan became a bricklaying apprentice for Kobra Construction.
Rhyllan has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards by Stoke-on-Trent College.
A college spokesman said: “From the outset of coming to college, Rhyllan demonstrated a passion and maturity that far exceed his years. On his study days, he is often the first to arrive, assisting technicians with workshop setup and maintaining a safe, organised environment, but it is his aptitude and skill for bricklaying that really set him apart from other students.”
Rhyllan’s tutor, Rob Harrison, put him forward for a Regional Guild of Bricklayers competition. Rob recognised Rhyllan’s natural talent for bricklaying and saw the regional Guild of Bricklayers competition as the perfect opportunity for him to test his skills against other budding bricklayers.
The Guild of Bricklayers competition sees students from Further Education in timed tasks that test their ability to produce high quality brickwork display under timed conditions. Rhyllan won the West Midlands regional heat and placed third nationally.
Following this, Rhyllan has also won the SkillBuild UK regional heat in the bricklaying category at Trafford College and will now represent Stoke-on-Trent College and the entire West Midlands region in the national finals in November at MK College.
As an apprentice for Kobra Construction, Rhyllan is applying the skills learnt in the classroom, on live building projects across Staffordshire. He is an active part of the Kobra team, working on new builds, home extensions and renovations, with a keen focus on efficiency and time management.
Rhyllan actively challenges himself by requesting increasingly complex brickwork projects, including battered walls, corbelling and angled structures, and decorative panels. These tasks have stretched Rhyllan’s own abilities and help him to prepare for his End Point Assessment.
His leadership also extends to environmental responsibility. Rhyllan has spearheaded sustainability efforts at Kobra Construction, advocating for battery-powered tools, sourcing timber from replanting schemes and promoting local materials to reduce emissions. He introduced segregated skips to improve recycling and actively encourages eco-friendly practices, resulting in measurable reductions in waste and carbon output.
The college spokesman added: “Rhyllan is not just laying bricks, he’s laying the foundation for a future defined by excellence, innovation,and integrity.
“His journey is a powerful testament to what passion, discipline and support can achieve. For all these reasons, Rhyllan is a truly deserving candidate for the Future Star award.”
Kristina Swancott
Kristina Swancott has become such a valuable member of the team at Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent that her colleagues say she is make an impact on the wider work of the charity as well as within the finance team where her role is based.
The 21-year-old joined the team at CASNS two years ago and balances her professional responsibilities with activities that contribute to staff morale and wellbeing.
Kristina has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards by Emily Humphries, Business Development Manager at CASNS.
Emily said: “Kristina is an outstanding young professional who has shown remarkable growth and commitment over the past two years.
“At just 21, she has successfully completed her AAT Level 2 at Newcastle College and is about to embark on her AAT Level 3, demonstrating her determination to continually learn and develop her skills.
“Since joining CASNS Kristina has quickly become an invaluable member of the finance team. Her contributions have been instrumental in supporting the charity’s successes, ensuring our services are financially secure so that we can continue to support the most vulnerable people in our community.
“What makes Kristina truly exceptional is that she doesn’t just limit herself to her role alone. She actively gets involved in wider organisational initiatives, always contributing toward us achieving our mission and vision.
“She embodies our values of integrity, commitment and teamwork, bringing positivity and dedication to everything she does. She is a representative on the staff forum for the support services team, ensuring that colleagues’ voices are heard and their needs are fed back to the management team.
“Furthermore she is leading the organisation of our staff Christmas Party, demonstrating her ability to balance professional responsibilities with activities that contribute to staff morale and wellbeing.
“Kristina’s progression in such a short space of time highlights her potential to achieve great things in the future. She is not only excelling in her professional development but also contributing to the wider impact of the charity.
“Her drive, talent, and willingness to go above and beyond make her a role model for other young people starting out in their careers.
“For these reasons, I am proud to nominate Kristina for the Future Star Award. She has already achieved so much and has the potential to accomplish even more in the years to come.”
Alfie Simcox
Alfie Simcox has raised more than £40,000 for charity by creating and selling calendars including £2,000 for the UHNM Charity to say thank-you for his grandad’s treatment.
The 12-year-old, from Crewe, spent months photographing trucks and lorries at truck stops and motorway bridges to create a calendar celebrating the trucking community.
He chose UHNM Charity after his grandad, Graham, received care from the cancer centre for multiple myeloma. Graham received a stem cell transplant and now continues maintenance treatment following a successful transplant.
Alfie’s Mum, Steph, said: “Alfie first started the charity calendars in 2021 and each year he chooses a charity to donate the sales to.
“This year Alfie wanted to raise money for UHNM Charity as the care his Grandad received from the cancer centre has been amazing.
“We can’t say thank you enough for them looking after him and raising the money is our way of saying thank you again.”
Each month of the calendar features an image of a different truck.
Adelle Moran, UHNM Haematology Transplant Nurse Practitioner, said: “Alfie is incredible and so is the work he has done, not just for us but for various charities through many challenges. He is a credit to himself and his family.
“We are extremely grateful for the support and dedication he has shown to us and this money will improve the unit to provide gold-standard care for our patients.”
Alfie has raised more than £40,000 for multiple charities since he first started selling the calendars and hopes to continue his success to help even more people.
He said: “My dad is a truck driver and I’m passionate about them too so I wanted to do something that could help people, which is how the calendar idea happened.
“I am happy with how the sales have gone and it means UHNM charity will be able to use the money to support patients at the cancer centre.”
Alfie has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
James and Holly Keeling
Ten-year-old twins James and Holly Keeling have raised more than £1,000 for charity in memory of their sister Evie.
James, Holly and Evie were born prematurely at 23 weeks and cared for on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. Sadly, Evie passed away shortly after birth.
The duo, known as ‘Jolly’, wanted to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on their milestone tenth birthday and decided to challenge each other to give up chocolate for one week and to complete 10,000 extra steps each day.
Their Mum, Laura, said: “Evie will always be a big part of our family, and it’s important for us to keep her memory alive. Each year we get our family and friends together to celebrate her birthday and this year felt fitting to mark the triplets turning double digits, so we wanted to do something special to mark Evie’s tenth birthday.
“There are not enough ways to say thank you to express our gratitude to the incredible consultants, doctors, nurses and healthcare staff who cared for Evie, James and Holly. They really are superheroes in disguise.
“I’m so proud of James and Holly for achieving such a brilliant amount of money in Evie’s memory. UHNM charity will always be close to our hearts.”
James and Holly said: “We really enjoyed raising money in memory of our sister Evie. It was exciting waking up each morning to see how many donations we had.
“It was a tough challenge to give up chocolate in the school holidays, but it felt special handing over the cheque to the nurses who cared for us.
“We hope the money helps other families with poorly babies in the hospital. Thank you to everybody who donated.”
The family returned to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to present their cheque to the Neonatal team.
Laura Farnell, NICU Senior Sister, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to James and Holly for this amazing donation.
“The money that has been donated will help the unit and families so much. It was so lovely to see the family again, and it was such a wonderful thing for them to do, to support the charity.”
James and Holly Keeling have been nominated in the Future Star category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Olivia and Archie Hopper
A brother and sister have raised more than £800 for charity by taking on the Mow Cop Killer Mile, one of Staffordshire’s steepest and most iconic challenges.
Seven-year-old Olivia and ten-year-old Archie Hopper ran the race to raise funds for the Children’s Assessment Unit to say thank you for the emergency care Olivia received from UHNM when she was unwell.
Olivia, from Kidsgrove, was taken ill in September 2024 with an unknown infection which later turned into sepsis. As a result of the quick action and care Olivia received, she recovered very quickly.
Their mum, Jessica, said: “In those four days, Olivia was treated with so much care and compassion and staff made her as comfortable as could be for a young child during a worrying time. This is why, as a family, we wanted to give back.”
Dr Anna Pigott, UHNM Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist, said: “I was absolutely bowled over when I heard what an amazing thing Olivia and her brother Archie had done in raising money for the Children’s Hospital.
“I am really impressed, and we are extremely grateful. The money raised will go towards making other children’s stays in hospital easier and will make a big difference.
“Thank you so much Olivia and Archie for giving back to UHNM Charity.”
Olivia and Archie have been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Kayleigh Simm
Kayleigh Simm is the only female in her apprentice cohort at Newcastle-based KMF – but that does not stop her drive and passion for engineering shining through.
Her employers say she has made “absolutely outstanding progress” in the 18 months she has been with them.
From a young age, Kayleigh had a keen interest in engineering from watching TV programmes with her dad and in her own words: “I’ve always wanted to learn how to make the products that I was seeing on the television.”
Before joining KMF in August 2022 the 19-year-old did a Level 3 BTEC in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) which fuelled her passion for engineering. Whilst there she won The NSCG Principal’s Vocational Award in 2022, a sign of her talent, attitude and desire to reach her full potential.
Jenny Johnston, People and Culture Manager at KMF, said: “She is an extremely driven and talented young person who has made an outstanding impression within the company.
“A sign of the esteem that Kayleigh is held in can be seen by how many school and college careers fairs that she has led with the KMF team (15 in total so far), plus acted as an outstanding apprentice advocate on our Apprenticeship Open Day to over 140 visitors.
“As well as being extremely bright (she won the Academic Achievement Award at our last KMF Apprentice Awards), Kayleigh has the personal skills and qualities that really do show both herself and the company in a great light to others.
“An example of her willingness to develop herself and help others is that Kayleigh never says no to CSR and charity work on behalf of the company and is always the first to volunteer.
“More recently, Kayleigh has received her diploma results and has achieved distinctions across all units, an achievement not yet seen by any apprentice at KMF. Since opening the KMF training facility we have trained more than 200 engineering apprentices.
“Kayleigh has plenty of other experience helping us with our community work, as she is an integral part of a team that led STEM activities in a number of local schools throughout the school holidays. This STEM team were absolutely superb in everything that they did, especially when you consider that they had to go into a wide range of educational establishments – and we know from experience that schoolchildren are often the harshest critics of all! It was a steep but enjoyable learning curve for our apprentices, but Kayleigh was brilliant and the verbal feedback that she had was outstanding.
“Kayleigh has a fantastic work ethic, a mature attitude towards all that she does, and we feel that she will have an exceptional career. She is looking to undertake a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and then potentially teaching after that.
“She develops positive, productive working relationships with others, boasts superb organisational skills and revels in situations where she can support her peers.”
Kayleigh Simm has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Aurelia Brzezowska
“I never owned a computer until I came to University of Staffordshire.”
And yet, three years later, 21 year-old Aurelia Brzezowska has just been named STEAM Personality of the Year at the Inspirational Youth Awards and is seen as one of the leading young technology changemakers in the UK.
A Computer Science undergraduate student at University of Staffordshire, Aurelia is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion and opportunities through her passion for the subject.
Aurelia moved to the UK from Poland when she was six years old. She was stimulated from a young age by, in her own words, “breaking things and putting them back together”.
In 2023 Aurelia received a RAEng scholarship to attend university, where she is now seen as an inspirational figure within that community and beyond.
She has held a number of roles and responsibilities during her time at University of Staffordshire including STEM Ambassador, Youth Advisory Panellist for the UK Cyber Security Council, Manager of the Staffs Computing Society and Co-Founder of the Staffs Women in STEM Society.
In 2024 Aurelia founded Byte Queens – a UK-based network for women in technology which is changing the conversation on representation in STEM by empowering women from disadvantaged backgrounds to excel in computing and by offering opportunities to support development.
Aurelia says she is driven by a desire to give back. This stems from her own childhood and educational journey and her work not only positively affects university students but the wider Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire community.
Aurelia said: “I came from a single-parent immigrant household, and I could barely read when I was younger.
“I was the only girl who took Computer Science at A Level in my college and I have always wanted to be a role model.
“I have a real focus on supporting those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and encouraging more girls to pursue STEM subjects.
“My community helped me to get to where I am now and so I want to give back to the community whenever I can.
“I am passionate about helping others to access educational opportunities.
“My recent STEAM award truly means the world to me. But this is just the beginning. I’m more motivated than ever to have an impact on as many people as possible.”
Aurelia Brzezowska has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Brooklynne Chadwick
Apprentice accountant Brooklynne Chadwick began working with one of her employer’s largest clients, including preparing the payroll for a business with 100 employees, after just a few weeks in the role.
The 17-year-old has been praised for her ‘exceptional dedication, skill and professionalism throughout her apprenticeship’.
Brooklynne is studying for a Level 3 AAT Apprenticeship at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group alongside working at JMT Accountancy in Fenton.
Tomasz Putynkowski, Director of JMT, said: “Brooklynne has shown remarkable aptitude in her role, quickly mastering complex accounting tasks and consistently delivering high-quality work.
“Her attention to detail and commitment to accuracy have significantly contributed to the efficiency and effectiveness of our team. She has taken on responsibilities beyond her initial scope, showcasing her ability to learn and adapt swiftly.
“Brooklynne is a team player who fosters a positive and collaborative work environment. She is always willing to assist her colleagues, share her knowledge and contribute to team projects. Her excellent communication skills and approachable demeanour make her a respected and valued member of our team. Brooklynne handles client enquiries with professionalism and ensures that their needs are met promptly and effectively.”
Brooklynne has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Millie Quick
T-Level Business Management and Administration student Millie Quick has become a mentor for other students working alongside her in placements at Newcastle-under-Lyme based Recruitment Robin.
The 18-year-old is in the second year of a T-Level in business management and administration which she combines with working one day per week as a recruitment admin assistant.
Her role at the company has changed to include mentoring first year T-Level and BTEC students and helping to teach them skills including goal setting and creating cash flow forecasts.
Selina Rudzik, Director of Recruitment Robin, said: “Millie’s journey has seen her evolve from a reserved student into a proactive and highly
valued team member. She has taken every opportunity to develop new skills, build her confidence and contribute meaningfully to the business.
“As part of her professional growth, Millie was introduced to the local business community through networking events, an experience that initially saw her as a quiet observer. However, through her dedication and perseverance she has flourished into a confident and articulate spokesperson, not only for Recruitment Robin but for the T-Level programme itself.
“Millie’s ability to take initiative, think innovatively and contribute fresh ideas has made a positive and lasting impact on both Recruitment Robin and the wider T-Level programme.
“She embodies the spirit of continuous learning and development, demonstrating how education and work experience can shape a young professional into a confident, capable and inspirational leader of the future.
“One of Millie’s most outstanding achievements has been her transition into an ambassadorial role, where she now delivers professional presentations to educate and engage local employers about the benefits of T-Level placements.
“Through her innovative approach and ability to connect with business leaders, she has helped increase awareness and participation in the programme, showcasing how T-Level students can bring real value to businesses.”
Millie Quick has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.