Today, we welcomed back two former pupils as they unveiled a prestigious purple plaque at King’s to celebrate their Innovate UK Women In Innovation Award.

Sarah Knight and Jennifer Meakin (nee Stubbings) both OKS 91-96, along with their co-founder, Katharine Carpenter, were honoured with the award, celebrating women leading the charge in groundbreaking industries, for their work in setting up The Allergy Team, a company working to transform understanding about allergies in schools. It co-created the Schools Allergy Code – a government backed framework outlining what good allergy management looks like – and runs the Schools Allergy Register, a list of schools who adhere to best practice.

Alongside receiving a £75,000 grant, personalised business coaching, and access to networking, role modelling and training opportunities, the purple plaque is Innovate UK’s way of addressing the current lack of representation of women who are commemorated by blue plaques across the UK. Currently, just 15% of blue plaques in London celebrate the achievements of women, with a similar story throughout the rest of the UK. This highlights a national issue of the underrepresentation 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.