We were delighted to catch up with two Old Princethorpians with a mutual passion for community and sustainability, who have joined forces to run a company spreading positivity across the UK!
Harvey Broadbent (Class of 2008) and Ben Oliver (Class of 2016) have both been on a bit of a journey since leaving Princethorpe College. Harvey went on to study Industrial and Product Design at Bournemouth University, where he learnt the ins and outs of turning a concept into creation and his passion for product development was born. After graduating in 2012, Harvey launched his first creative venture in his spare time, balancing the demands of other roles to successfully set up his own ethical and sustainable clothing brand, Positive Outlook Clothing. Using his love of art and design, along with a non-negotiable stance on quality and sustainability, Harvey began to leave his mark in Coventry, Birmingham and most recently, Leamington Spa. As the founder of the Positive Outlook Clothing brand, Harvey has set out to grow a clothing company specializing in premium everyday wear, made from sustainably sourced materials that have been ethically produced with minimal impact on the environment.
www.positiveoutlookclothing.com
Early in 2021, Ben first met the brand in their pop-up retail shop in the Royal Priors Shopping Center, Leamington Spa, he was an intrigued customer who resonated with the company’s wholesome and progressive approach. He had graduated from Cardiff University in 2020 with a BSc in Psychology with Professional Placement, and had begun turning his interest towards the psychology of consumers and employees within a Psychometrics & Consulting firm in London. However, it was following the COVID-19 pandemic, that Ben’s and Harvey’s paths collided properly and he found himself working alongside his fellow-alumni as the Operations Manager for Positive Outlook.
The company has recently returned to Leamington Spa once again with their biggest pop-up shop to date, and the OPs are now at an exciting stage with their company - growing their team, widening their product range and launching several community outreach programmes for their brand. The most recent being ‘The Give Back Pod’; a podcast aimed at supporting and endorsing youth organisations up and down the country, discussing the stigmas and stereotypes their young members face and chatting 1-2-1 with the inspiring young people these organisations work with. With Ben’s knowledge of psychology, coupled with Harvey’s passion for connecting people, they’ve started talking to and sharing the stories of local charities doing amazing things to support young people. With the first few episodes already launched, it's safe to say it's definitely worth a listen.
https://thegivebackpod.buzzsprout.com/
Comments Harvey Boradbent, “Sometimes trying to do the right thing can be easier said than done. Who can I help? How do I help? Is what I'm doing really helping? That's how we felt when we started looking for ways to give back as a company. This podcast is our way of helping people bridge the gap between wanting to help and actually know how to.”
As if by chance, their first episode was with another Old Princethorpian, Clementine Milnes, who is the co-founder of a mixed-abilities dance school, Born To Perform, in Northamptonshire. Along with new pop-up shops, product ranges and the online growth of their clothing brand, the team have ambitious goals for their podcast channel this year.
Ben Oliver, added, “It has always been clear to us that we are more than just a clothing company. We all share a purpose that’s much bigger than selling products; it's about leaving our mark on the industry and making a genuine difference to people’s lives across society.”
So if you are a founder or employee of a charity or youth organisation, or think you could support the company in any way, then Ben and Harvey invite you to get in touch.
If you fancy catching up with Harvey and Ben then the Positive Outlook team will be in their Royal Priors pop-up shop in Leamington Spa for one more month, so do pop in and say hello.
When Harvey left Princethorpe all those years ago, he couldn't have predicted the journey that was to lie ahead. Now, with Ben alongside him, this brand is on course for big things and Princethorpe College will be rooting for them every step of the way!
You can find Positive Outlook here:
Shop address: 15-16, Upper Mall, Royal Priors, Leamington Spa, CV32 4XT
Website - https://positiveoutlookclothing.com/ / https://thegivebackpod.buzzsprout.com
Email: hello@positiveoutlookclothing.co.uk
Instagram - @positiveoutlookclothing / @thegivebackpod
Facebook - @positiveoutlookclothing / @thegivebackpod