In this instalment, we meet five pioneers forging distinctive paths—from battlefield scholarship to inclusive apparel—each prioritising sustainability and authenticity. Alex Churchill brings history to life through The Great War Group. Bruce King supports SME success through Out’a The Box Marketing Ltd. Paige Fashoni challenges period care norms with Fluxies’ comfy eco-solutions. Jak Beula strengthens cultural understanding through Nubian Jak Community Trust. And James Gaubert moves fashion into cyberspace with Republiqe’s virtual garments. Together, they’re not simply following trends but creating effects that will last for years.

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Great War Group
Alex Churchill

Trust underpins every thriving venture, and Alex Churchill’s Great War Group shows how collective passion moves an organisation forward: “The objects of the Great War Group is to advance the education of the public in the subject of The First World War by providing conferences, seminars, and educational material to help education and learning in the subject of The Great War,” Alex explains.

Alex Churchill's Background
Raised in London, Alex followed an unconventional route into scholarship—leaving school at sixteen, self-studying for A-levels while holding a full-time job, and eventually turning to history full-time in 2016. She even credits the pandemic with speeding up her professional development.

More about the Great War Group
The Great War Group organises conferences, seminars, and detailed educational resources to broaden understanding of the Great War. As Alex notes, “It has a much wider demographic appeal than similar organisations and we aim to be encouraging to those setting out on a road of finding their talents in writing or presenting on Great War topics,” making inclusivity a key value.

Key Challenges
The organisation’s most difficult moment came when a co-founder didn’t follow through on important responsibilities, leading to a serious financial issue. “That trustee was asked to step down from all roles and a more rigorous check on outgoings was put in place,” Alex says.

Successful Highlights
Alex finds her biggest reward in the clear impact the group has had: “Having just produced our 17th quarterly magazine of over 100 pages and noting that over those editions, dozens of members have written for an audience for the first time in their lives and then also presented live or online for the first time at our Annual Conference or in our talks,” she says, highlighting the wider effect.

Out’a The Box Marketing Ltd
‍Bruce King

In a field where trust is just as important as the service offered, Bruce King’s Out’a The Box Marketing Ltd shows that passion can bring strong outcomes: “I help SMEs achieve their personal and business goals,” Bruce explains.

Bruce King's Background
Operating from London while serving global clients, Bruce holds a PhD in nutrition, is a licensed acupuncturist, and has studied personal growth with some of the world’s top coaches.

More about Out’a The Box Marketing Ltd
The firm provides a carefully developed, structured method for helping SMEs move toward success. As Bruce puts it, “I have a systematic approach which I have improved to near perfection over the last few years and works with every business owner who puts what I teach them and help them with into action,” demonstrating broad usefulness.

Key Challenges
Bringing in a regular stream of clients was the toughest challenge, yet Bruce notes, “I do what I teach and that works for me too,” showing that consistency is key.

Successful Highlights
Among his key achievements is always reaching the targets he sets: “I won't work on establishing them until the Christmas holidays,” he says, showing a mix of planning and flexibility.

Fluxies
‍Paige Fashoni

Paige Fashoni’s Fluxies shows how trust and intention can support a growing business: “We provide sustainable, comfortable, and reliable alternatives to traditional menstrual products,” Paige explains.

Paige Fashoni's Background
A Londoner through and through, Paige launched Fluxies to empower menstruating individuals with both comfort and confidence, drawing on her love for solving problems and tackling challenges head-on.

More about Fluxies
The company creates eco-conscious, thoughtfully made menstrual products. In Paige’s words, “We focus on delivering a truly thoughtful and inclusive experience,” showing its strong values around access and care.

Key Challenges
Handling rapid market growth was the central test. Paige says, “We've stayed true to the core values of Fluxies: creating high-quality, thoughtfully designed products that genuinely work for people of all body shapes and sizes,” and this focus has helped them stay on track.

Successful Highlights
Paige especially values the feedback from customers: “Hearing from customers who feel more confident and comfortable during their periods because of our products is incredibly rewarding,” she says.

Nubian Jak Community Trust
Jak Beula

Jak Beula’s Nubian Jak Community Trust shows how passion can support cultural learning and shared understanding: “We do a number of activities involving publishing, exhibitions, and highlighting humanity's rich cultural and diverse heritage,” Jak explains.

Jak Beula's Background
A London native and son of the Windrush Generation, Jak began in music—singing and playing keyboard in bands—before turning his creative energy toward heritage and education.

More about Nubian Jak Community Trust
The Trust leads efforts in publishing, exhibitions, and public recognition. As Jak puts it, “We are the only UK organisation involved with work in the public realm which highlights the contributions of historical figures from an African and minority ethnic background who have made an outstanding contribution to the UK and beyond,” filling a vital gap.

Key Challenges
The biggest issue has been keeping funding steady. Jak explains, “We have overcome that by entering into partnership with different companies both from the public and private sector,” showing teamwork at work.

Successful Highlights
Among his most meaningful achievements is the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Brixton: “It was endorsed by the late Queen Elizabeth II, and has been described by the Evening Standard as the most visual symbol of diversity in Britain,” he says.

Republiqe
James Gaubert

James Gaubert’s Republiqe reflects fashion’s future by blending digital design with sustainability: “We set up Republiqe as a virtual fashion house selling virtual clothing,” James explains.

James Gaubert's Background
Born and raised in South London, James trained as a designer and stylist, spending much of his career in high-end fashion before creating his virtual label.

More about Republiqe
The company offers an all-digital wardrobe. As James explains, “We wanted to create a fully sustainable alternative to physical clothing, recognising that today's Gen-Z consumer lives their life online,” connecting with new digital habits.

Key Challenges
The biggest hurdle was helping people understand a new market. “We’ve been able to educate a market which has been a huge challenge,” James says, but staying committed worked in the end.

Successful Highlights
A key win was hosting a virtual runway show at Paris Fashion Week. “It was a huge achievement and something that I was really proud to have been part of,” he says.

Final Remarks
Each of these founders has combined meaningful purpose with action, meeting challenges with humility and drive.
From Alex Churchill’s hands-on history work to Bruce King’s straightforward support for SMEs, their experiences show what real commitment looks like.
Paige Fashoni proves sustainable period care can be both practical and luxurious, while Jak Beula is reshaping the public record with every new plaque and exhibit. James Gaubert reminds us that fashion doesn’t need to be physical to influence how we see ourselves.
As Jak Beula wisely says, “You can’t do it alone, and you can’t let setbacks stop you.”
Together, these stories remind us that lasting success isn’t only about profits—it’s about building something with enough value to stand the test of time.

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