What is Uniqueness?
Uniqueness is a registered charity, No. 1106755
The charity was established to:
Discover the uniqueness in Stevenage and Hertfordshire students from Year Nine to Eleven and young offenders aged between 18-24, with a Thomas International personal profile. By using this simple 8-minute one sheet questionnaire, Uniqueness highlights their personal strengths, attributes, and identifies vocations in life in which they are likely to succeed.
Our sponsors, who are local employers, get the very real benefit of being able to identify new talent, contact, interview, and possibly recruit students whose profiles match their current vacancies using the Thomas International personal profile.
Through a one hour motivational and inspirational presentation at Stevenage and Hertfordshire secondary schools, Uniqueness shares examples of ordinary success, achieved by former Stevenage and Hertfordshire school students.
We provide a 10-minute success formula and a dream realisation coaching demonstration with one student from the audience. During the presentation we will prove that anyone can plan and commit themselves to being successful regardless of academic ability, gender, or race.
Our founder
Cambridge based Rob Stewart founded the volunteer only charity Uniqueness 23 years ago in 2003. Rob has personally spoken to over 6,000 students and works on a one-to-one basis with, young, prolific and persistent offenders. He is passionate about identifying the working strength of all the students within the local state schools particularly in his town of origin, Stevenage.
Uniqueness has worked closely with the Princes Trust, YMCA and the Hertfordshire Police and sponsored Tony Franklin's not for profit organisation, Time2Change who specifically work with prolific & persistent offenders.
As an entrepreneur, in 1989 Rob aged 23, founded Stevenage Packaging, a global packaging solutions provider serving customers worldwide. Under his leadership, they have won a number of regional awards: New Business Enterprise Award, Against All Odds Award, Employee of the Year Award, with Rob awarded Business Person of the Year Award.
Stevenage Packaging Ltd are founder members of The Stevenage Community Trust, a charity working in the local community established 36 years ago in 1990 to raise funds and promote charitable giving in order to enhance the quality of life of people living in the area. Rob has been an advocate and volunteer throughout the life of the Trust, a trustee for over 22 years and is the current President succeeding Barry Norman CBE and Ken Follett CBE, and was their third Chairman from 2013-2023 preceded by Ken Follett CBE and the late Lord David Cobbold.
In 2010 he acquired Happy Mechanics Limited - a specialist accountancy practice and in its first year under his leadership the company has achieved 2,250% growth, making it one of the fastest growing companies in the UK.
Previously under the brand of "The Differentiator.com", Rob has coached and mentored a number of SMEs in True Customer Love, Differentiating Through Culture, Family Business Success and His Inspirational Business Life Story.
In 2018 he was recognised for his work in the community and awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship award from The Rotary Club - for 'Service above Self'. Only 150 are awarded each year by the Board of Rotary International. Recipients worldwide include President Jimmy Carter and Boris Yeltsin.
I just wanted to thank you personally for giving up your valuable time at the Roadshow last Friday & for the very entertaining & motivating "Rob Stewart Story". The feedback has been fantastic.
Barclays Bank PLC
I am writing to thank you for presenting the major awards. The bucket story was inspirational.
The Princes Trust
Rob is a true local entrepreneur, who inspires others through speaking about his experiences and dreams. He is passionate about what he does and shares the belief that the entrepreneurial spirit cuts across all cultures and faiths.
Business Link Hertfordshire
Rob Stewart, our keynote was inspirational, grasping the intricacies of a complex industry like optics and developing the sort of insight he did takes a special kind of skill. Doing that and holding an audience is pure genius. If you ever get the chance to hear Rob, take it.
The Independent Opticians Annual Convention
I was in Stevenage today and so I have picked up the hamper, I will drop it off to mum tomorrow as it very heavy indeed! I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity. Our little one arrived today in his new buggy and mum was proud and pleased! She will be over the moon with the enormous hamper. Thank you again for your support.
Mrs Helen Ackerman - Headteacher Ludwick Nursery School
Our Trustees:
Rob Stewart
Founder
Uniqueness founder, Cambridge based Rob Stewart, in 1989 aged 23 founded the award winning specialist global polythene supplier, Stevenage Packaging Ltd. Thirty seven years on, the company has demonstrated 36 years consecutive net profit and sales growth, whilst never making a redundancy & employing three family generations. Rob and his company have won a number of regional awards: New Business Enterprise Award, Against All Odds Award, Employee of the Year Award and Rob has won Business Person of the Year Award.
Rob founded the volunteer only charity Uniqueness 23 years ago in 2003 and has personally spoken to over 6,000 students and works on a one-to-one basis with, young, prolific & persistent offenders. Uniqueness sponsor Tony Franklin's not for profit organisation, Time2Change who specifically work with prolific & persistent offenders.
Uniqueness works closely with the Princes Trust, YMCA and the Hertfordshire Police.
Hilary Stewart
Vice-Chair
Jan Vallis
Secretary
Thomas International
The Prince's Trust
Stevenage Packaging Limited
Herts Chamber Commerce
Foreman Laws
Barclays Bank
Hertfordshire Police
RHG Insurance Brokers
The Consulting Consortium
Sponsors
We would like to say a sincere THANK YOU to the sponsors who have provided financial support or enormous time and goodwill of talented individuals within their organisations.
Ways to support us
There are several ways to get involved with the work of Uniqueness. Options include a one-off donation or regular monthly giving, enabling us to make a difference in thousands of young people's lives.