A year 12 student studying at Sir Thomas Rich's School in Gloucester is gearing up to celebrate the first anniversary of his micro business, Gymdolfin.

The brand sells ethically sourced gym and leisurewear and was inspired by watching Blue Planet 2 a year ago.

Tom Evans, 17, said: "Gymdolfin supports efforts to get to net zero, not only by minimising our sportswear's carbon footprint through using local suppliers and recyclable materials, but also by helping conserve the ocean around us.

"The world's oceans are estimated to absorb around a third of the carbon emitted by humans. However, the ocean can only continue to reduce the carbon in our atmosphere if it remains unpolluted and the life within it is protected.

"By raising money for ocean conservation charities like the WWFUK, Gymdolfin is helping fund efforts to protect marine habitats and help further our progress towards becoming net zero."

Tom was deeply inspired by Blue Planet 2, narrated by veteran broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough, which served as a call to action to defend our natural habitats.

He said: "In the series, Sir David highlighted the responsibility we have to look after the marine habitats around us and the life within them. I then thought about how I could combine my passion for exercise with a way to help conserve our oceans. Over the next two months, Gymdolfin was born."

Tom continued: "Gymdolfin's taught me a lot personally. I've quickly realised how important customer satisfaction is and how vital it is to meet demand all of the time. The most important thing I've learnt is how valuable foresight is. You've always got to be planning ahead and working now to make things easier in the future.

"Risk taking is also a necessary part of business. If you're unwilling to take risks, you are limiting how far you can grow."

Also celebrating its first anniversary, GFirst LEP's Careers Hub, funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company works alongside the careers leader at Sir Thomas Rich's School, and careers leaders in over 50 county secondary schools and colleges. Its core mission is to support the development of quality careers education programmes in Gloucestershire secondary schools and colleges.

Rob Jenkins, Careers Hub manager, said: "The Hub, whilst supporting schools and colleges to deliver high quality careers education across the county, is all about supporting individual young people to maximise their opportunities and to realise their career ambitions.

"Tom is a shining example of the raw entrepreneurial talent which can be found in the county, and the ambition of the Hub is to support schools and colleges to engage with businesses to nurture and develop that talent. It is gratifying to see that Tom also has been able to fuse his entrepreneurial flair in a way that supports sustainability and addresses contemporary issues, such as the drive to a net zero economy."

To find out more about the Careers Hub and to offer your support to careers education initiatives in the county visit https://www.gloscareershub.com/