Hulme Grammar School’s newly appointed head students recently met with tech firm Purple in the school’s newly refurbished Purple computer labs, located within the Brenda Mills Institute of Innovation and Technology (BMIIT) to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the modern workplace.
Head Girl Betsy and Head Boy Abdul interviewed Jenny Wren, Senior Vice President of Talent and Culture at Purple, during her visit to the facility. The refurbished computer labs were made possible through generous funding donated by Purple, strengthening the partnership between the school and the tech company.
The discussion focused on the practical applications of AI in business, bridging the digital skills gap, and how schools can best prepare students to be work-ready.
During the interview, Jenny highlighted how AI acts as an “extra brain” that frees up time, boosts efficiency, and fosters creativity across teams—even for non-technical roles.
“What it’s enabled is somebody like me, who is non-technical, to build my own system to support me in the role that I’m doing,” explained Jenny. “AI gives you the opportunity to work quicker and smarter… it’s about using it to help you do things, not necessarily just to give you the answer.”
The conversation also tackled the crucial role education plays in normalizing AI usage early on. From assisting with homework to preparing for job interviews, embedding tech literacy into the curriculum is essential for building a workforce prepared for tomorrow’s challenges.
Jenny commended Hulme Grammar School’s proactive approach to bringing emerging technology into classroom discussions:
“AI isn’t going away, it’s only going to keep getting better. It is fantastic that we are talking about it in schools and bridging that skills gap… Hulme should be very proud that it’s on the curriculum.”
Thanks to partnerships with industry leaders like Purple, Hulme Grammar School remains dedicated to providing pupils with state-of-the-art facilities and real-world exposure, ensuring they leave with both academic achievements and practical, future-ready skills.