Steering a Startup
Ella Merriman and Amelia Powell (both NHEHS 2013) are co-founders of start-up MERRI Intimates. MERRI Intimates design and create sexy, comfy, cotton underwear that help prevent UTIs and thrush. After leaving NHEHS Ella studied for an Art Foundation at Falmouth University before studying Architecture at Newcastle University. She dropped out after two months to focus more specifically on her love of design and making. She received a First Class Honours degree in Furniture and Product Design in 2018 and went on to work at many design studios in the UK and Europe before setting up MERRI Intimates. Amelia went to Durham University after NHEHS to study Biomedical Sciences. After she graduated in 2016 with First Class Honours she joined the Barclays Graduate Scheme. She is now a Relationship Director in Barclays Corporate bank where she has responsibility for a portfolio of Healthcare clients, combining her background in science with interest in business. MERRI Intimates is something that Amelia does alongside her current job. What are your favourite memories of your time at NHEHS? E: I have so many it is hard to choose from! I loved singing in the choir and was part of the Chamber Choir from Year 6 to Year 13. We often got to sing in the chapel at Windsor Castle and that always felt very special. Amelia and I were both altos and would always stand
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NHEHS OGA Newsletter
next to each other in the pews! However, some of my all-time favourite NHEHS memories are from travelling to swimming galas with Mr Bent and the team in the minibus. The best trips were when he would buy us McDonalds on the way home. A: I agree, there are so many. Ella and I were looking back at photos whilst preparing for this interview and it really brought smiles to our faces. I had forgotten how many fancy dress days we had - from Noah’s Arc and 101 Dalmations to Goths and Geeks! Some of my highlights were probably on DofE. It's amazing how quickly you forget how cold and wet we got and just remember all the laughs we had instead! Christmas traditions were also great - the classroom decorating competition, the Boar’s Head Carol and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Did you have a favourite teacher or subject at NHEHS? E: I have always loved Art and History and they were my favourite subjects throughout school. Miss White was my absolute favourite teacher - I just thought she was so cool. I also loved Mrs Maynard who was always so fair and kind. A: Biology, Maths and Drama were always my favourite subjects. We had a great laugh in all these lessons with various teachers. It's weird to look back and think that Maths lessons were fun but they really were. I did Further Maths A level so my last year in school was pretty much spent in the Maths Department but Ms Peric-Matthews, Mrs Critcher, Mr Porter and Mr Quarmby made it all worth it. Drama was a creative outlet! How did you come up with the idea for Merri Intimates? E: It was when I experienced my first UTI, sitting in the
