Zünd and Inspire 2 Ignite host an unforgettable day of creativity and collaboration

Held at Zund UK’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Letchworth Garden City, this remarkable event brought a day of creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit. Alex Hughes, Founder and Chair of Inspire 2 Ignite, emphasised the value of the entrepreneurial mindset: "The entrepreneurial way of learning is to have an idea, try, fail, learn, and try again." This mindset was vividly demonstrated by the participants, who embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and ingenuity.

The workshop saw young people from the Inspire 2 Ignite community engaging in a variety of activities designed to spark creativity and foster practical skills. Split into teams, participants worked on the design and packaging for the Curious Conversation Blocks in a format reminiscent of ‘The Apprentice.’ This innovative product, developed by Inspire 2 Ignite, aims to foster communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and self-discovery among young people.

Daniel Jones, BA(Hons), PGDip, a local marketing expert, led an interactive marketing workshop, while branding and signage experts from Moss UK facilitated a brainstorming session. Participants had the unique opportunity to learn about Zünd’s history and operations, network with Zünd apprentices, and present their packaging designs.

Zünd, renowned for its innovative digital cutting systems used widely in the packaging industry, dedicated their team and resources to provide a professional setting and invaluable insights for the young entrepreneurs. This event is a testament to Zünd’s commitment to excellence and community engagement. John Kerr, Sales and Marketing Director at Zund UK said “This event was a bit unusual for us, but it was an incredibly rewarding experience. From brainstorming sessions to final product presentations, every moment was filled with inspiration and creativity. We are so proud of each participant for their hard work and dedication. A huge thank you to everyone involved for making this event a success.”

Moss UK, specialists in branding and signage, brought their creative expertise to the table, guiding the young participants through the design process. Their involvement was crucial in helping the teams brainstorm and develop effective packaging solutions. The event was also supported by swissQprint from a printing aspect and Antalis who kindly donated sheets of packaging materials for this event.

Sam Squire, CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite, expressed his gratitude, saying, "We are incredibly thankful to Zünd and Moss UK for their dedication and support. Their commitment to fostering young talent and providing their time and expertise has been truly inspiring." The impact of the event was evident in the enthusiastic feedback from participants and industry professionals alike. Dan Jones expressed his admiration: "What an incredible day at the Curious Entrepreneurs workshop! It was an honour to collaborate with such talented individuals and witness the journey from concept to prototype in such a short time." Bailey Readings, Inspire 2 Ignite Alumni, Entrepreneur and AI Expert, shared his excitement: "Loved it, such a great day." Lee Garnett, Continuous Improvement Manager at Moss UK, praised the event: "What a day, collaboration at its finest." Other attendees echoed these sentiments, celebrating the day's achievements and the inspiring environment.

Curious Conversation Blocks are not just a game; they are a tool to bridge generational gaps and spark meaningful dialogue. Developed after engaging with over 15,000 young people and asking more than 100,000 questions, these blocks are infused with the insights gained from these interactions. Players roll the "Dice of Life" to select a block colour, and then pull a card from the matching category to spark a conversation. Each block colour represents a different category of conversation, making it an interactive and educational experience for families, educators, and youth groups. Players build a tower of colour-coded blocks, each colour representing a different category of conversation which promote self-awareness questions, enhance communication, and activate leadership skills. To further support underserved young people in local communities, for every two sets of Curious Conversation Blocks purchased, Inspire 2 Ignite will gift one set to a local youth hostel, educational provision, or youth club of the buyer’s choice. This initiative ensures that every young person has access to this innovative tool for personal and social development.

The success of this event highlights the power of collaboration and innovative thinking in shaping the future of young people. Inspire 2 Ignite and its partners remain committed to fostering environments where young minds can thrive, learn, and make meaningful contributions to society.

Alex Hughes, Founder and Chair of Inspire 2 Ignite, emphasised the value of the entrepreneurial mindset: "The entrepreneurial way of learning is to have an idea, try, fail, learn, and try again." This mindset was vividly demonstrated by the participants, who embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and ingenuity.

A notable comment from Zund's Sales and Marketing Director highlighted the unique approach taken by the young entrepreneurs: "I am so used to seeing people spend 90% of a day planning and only allowing 10% for execution. What I found most impressive was the reverse approach here." Another senior manager echoed this sentiment, remarking, "You said if we had another week on this, imagine the product. I think you only need another 2 hours, and you are almost market-ready."

The workshop saw young people from the Inspire 2 Ignite community engaging in a variety of activities designed to spark creativity and foster practical skills. They were split into teams and participated in a format reminiscent of 'The Apprentice,' working on the design and packaging for the Curious Conversation Blocks. This innovative product, developed by Inspire 2 Ignite, aims to foster communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and self-discovery among young people.

Daniel Jones, BA(hons), PGdip, a local Marketing Expert, led an interactive marketing workshop, while branding and signage experts from our partners at Moss UK facilitated a brainstorming session. Participants had the unique opportunity to learn about Zund's history and operations, network with Zund apprentices, and present their packaging designs.

Zund UK, renowned for its innovative digital cutting systems, dedicated their team and resources to provide a professional setting and invaluable insights for the young entrepreneurs. This event is a testament to Zund's commitment to excellence and community engagement.

Moss UK, specialists in branding and signage, brought their creative expertise to the table, guiding the young participants through the design process. Their involvement was crucial in helping the teams brainstorm and develop effective packaging solutions.

The impact of the event was evident in the enthusiastic feedback from participants and industry professionals alike. Dan Jones expressed his admiration: "What an incredible day at the Curious Entrepreneurs workshop! It was an honour to collaborate with such talented individuals and witness the journey from concept to prototype in such a short time."

Bailey Readings, Inspire 2 Ignite Alumni, Entrepreneur and AI Expert, shared his excitement: "Loved it, such a great day." Lee Garnett, Continuous Improvement Manager at Moss UK, praised the event: "What a day, collaboration at its finest." Other attendees echoed these sentiments, celebrating the day's achievements and the inspiring environment.

Curious Conversation Blocks are not just a game; they are a tool to bridge generational gaps and spark meaningful dialogue. Developed after engaging with over 15,000 young people and asking more than 100,000 questions, these blocks are infused with the insights gained from these interactions. Players roll the "Dice of Life" to select a block colour, and then pull a card from the matching category to spark a conversation. Each block colour represents a different category of conversation, making it an interactive and educational experience for families, educators, and youth groups. Players build a tower of colour-coded blocks, each colour representing a different category of conversation which promote self-awareness questions, enhance communication, and activate leadership skills.

To further support underserved young people in local communities, for every two sets of Curious Conversation Blocks purchased, Inspire 2 Ignite will gift one set to a local youth hostel, educational provision, or youth club of the buyer’s choice. This initiative ensures that every young person has access to this innovative tool for personal and social development.

The success of this event highlights the power of collaboration and innovative thinking in shaping the future of young people. Inspire 2 Ignite and its partners remain committed to fostering environments where young minds can thrive, learn, and make meaningful contributions to society.

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