A Visit to Abbey Gate College
Recently, Mike and I had the chance to return to the school where I completed my A Levels, not to talk about Hustle as a success story, but to have an open conversation with students about business, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building something from the ground up.
Hustle did not start there, but the environment played a meaningful role in shaping the mindset that later went on to build it.
The Power of a Supportive Environment
Schools do not create businesses. They create people.
What stood out most during the visit was just how important encouragement, belief, and support can be at an early stage. Having teachers and mentors who are willing to listen, challenge, and back students makes a genuine difference, especially when ideas feel uncertain or unconventional.
That kind of support does not always show up immediately, but it compounds over time. It builds confidence, resilience, and the willingness to try — all things that matter long before any product, brand, or business exists.
Honest Conversations Really Matter
The aim of the session was not to present a polished version of entrepreneurship.
Instead, the focus was on honesty.
We spoke about uncertainty, setbacks, and learning through experience. About the fact that most progress is unglamorous and built through consistency rather than big moments. And about how there is not a single right path, just a willingness to start and keep moving.
These conversations matter because they remove pressure and replace it with perspective.
Community Shapes Direction
Seeing the curiosity and engagement from the students was genuinely encouraging. Thoughtful questions, open minds, and a clear interest in understanding how ideas turn into action.
It reinforced something we believe strongly at Hustle: progress rarely happens in isolation. Community, shared belief, and the right environment quietly shape direction long before outcomes become visible.
Not everyone will leave school knowing exactly what they want to pursue, and that is completely fine. What matters is being in a place that supports ambition, effort, and self-belief.
Giving Back Where Possible
Returning to the school was not about closing a loop or marking an achievement. It was simply about giving back where possible and contributing to the same environment that now supports others.
If even a small number of students left the session feeling more confident to explore an idea, ask questions, or back themselves a little more, then the visit was worthwhile.
That is how momentum is built. Collectively, quietly, and over time.
Thank You
A big thank you to Helen Kitchin for arranging the visit, and to Jack Green and Molly for sharing their perspectives and experiences. It was a genuinely positive day and one we are grateful to have been part of.
Progress is not always about moving forward at speed.
Sometimes it is about strengthening the spaces that help people take their first steps.
