Trellech Primary School hosted an event to celebrate Fanzi Down, winner of the prestigious Women in Innovation Award. A purple plaque in her honour was unveiled on the school site.

Fanzi won a Women in Innovation Award with her business DPS Designs, one of the UK’s leading design, moulding and toolmaking businesses. The company specialises in two different sectors, design and mould making for the chocolate manufacturing industry, and a toolmaker for the aerospace industry.Fanzi is one of a network of 64 Women in Innovation Award winners who are developing pioneering innovations to tackle pressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges; from delivering precision medicine to underrepresented populations, to offering eco-friendly materials for the aerospace industry and creating cutting-edge digital educational tools.Fanzi Down said: "I’m so excited to be recognised in this way. Trellech Primary School is such a big part in setting my kids on their journey and I want to help the next generation realise their ambitions. It’s critical that young people have strong role models to follow and I’m humbled to be recognised in this way - I hope it helps other young women with dreams of starting their own business to have the confidence to give it a shot."Karen Christofi, Headteacher/Pennaeth at Trellech Primary School said: "We want our pupils to realise their potential. As they say, you can’t be what you can’t see - this plaque is a reminder to everyone here of what they can achieve if they set their mind to it. We’re delighted to recognise Fanzi’s achievements and are excited to follow what comes next."The purple plaque is Innovate UK’s twist on the blue plaques seen in the UK. Purple plaques are being displayed at schools across the country to recognise the achievements of some of the female innovators who have won its prestigious Women in Innovation Award. The Award also sees recipients receive a cash injection of £50,000 and bespoke mentoring to scale up and bring to market their pioneering business ideas.Currently, just 14 per cent of blue plaques in the UK celebrate the achievements of women. This highlights a national issue of the under-representation of women in the media, the workplace and in the education system, resulting in a lack of relatable role models for children and young people.