A North East designer working in the studio at Gateshead-based Vertu Motors plc has been given the task of designing a new 50p coin to celebrate five decades of youth charity The King’s Trust – and met King Charles III to present her winning design on his birthday.
Jess Gregorio, senior creative designer at Vertu and a graphic design graduate from Northumbria University, beat stiff competition to create the commemorative coin, which was unveiled by The Royal Mint alongside four other coin designs.
Jess previously met The King at Cyfarthfa Castle in Wales to present the coin, standing alongside Ms Anne Jessopp CBE, chief executive of The Royal Mint, and Mr Jonathan Townsend, CEO of The King’s Trust.
The special coin marks a major milestone for The King’s Trust, which has supported over a million young people to develop their confidence and skills for work since its founding in 1976.
The design places young people at its heart, reflecting the heritage of The King’s Trust and the opportunities it provides today. It features a flowing stream symbolising the charity’s Royal Navy origins, a sun for optimism, and clouds representing dreams and ambitions.
Figures on the coin illustrate key programmes, from a cyclist referencing the first bicycle repair scheme, to a kayaker for outdoor teamwork challenges, a nurse for health and social care initiatives, and a laptop user for digital skills development.
Gregorio said: “When I first entered the competition, I never imagined I’d be standing at Cyfarthfa Castle, meeting His Majesty and showing him my design. It’s been an incredible journey – seeing something I created become part of history is beyond words. The King was genuinely interested in the design, and that made the moment even more special.
“I wanted the design to feel hopeful and dynamic, because that’s what The King’s Trust represents. The sun is about optimism, the stream is about continuity and progress, and the figures show the breadth of opportunities – from outdoor challenges to digital skills. Every element tells a story of growth and possibility.”
Gregorio’s creative success is not her only achievement. Alongside her role at Vertu, she runs a side business with her sister selling freshly filled cannoli through their venture ‘Take the Cannoli’, which she developed through The King’s Trust Enterprise Course.
She added: “The Enterprise Course gave us the confidence and tools to create a strong foundation to launch our business. It’s amazing to think that the same organisation that helped me as an entrepreneur is now celebrating its anniversary with a coin I designed.”
