What’s one of the best roles you’ve ever had, and why?
Being Managing Director of Startingpoint is the best role I’ve ever had, it brings me genuine joy and satisfaction to see the positive effect it has on young people, especially those who may not be traditionally academic. As I am seeing the narrative move towards a more skills based economy it further solidifies my feeling that we are fighting the good fight.
What’s one decision you’ve made that helped you align your work with your values?
Not only having the idea for Startingpoint, but drive and insistence and creating a product true to that initial vision.
What is the biggest thing you have done to create or improve social impact?
Supported and ran the largest Kickstart Scheme in the country, ensuring all young people involved finished with long term stable employment. Was Chairman of Aim HIgher for 2yrs who supported 100’s of families to better educational and social outcomes.
Can you share some key milestones or proudest moments in your career?
The Key Milestone will be HETA coming back to us after a trial and 98% of their roles being fulfilled using Startingpoint, it provided clear proof of concept, and from a pride perspective, the feedback we receive from so many organisations. There was a point during development where I genuinely wondered if I was going crazy and maybe the CV wasn’t an issue. But I don’t often have thoughts like that any more, nobody rejects the concept of Startingpoint
What’s one project or piece of work that taught you a big lesson about impact, and what did you take from it?
Being Chairmen of Aim Higher in general taught me that inclusion requires real advocacy, supporting people to have a voice, and understanding that peoples challenges are very varied and very real
What’s a piece of strategic advice you’ve found yourself giving more than once?
Know your market, know your Audience, but also know those things change
What’s one learning from delivering work at scale you think others should know?
Stay true to the initial vision, trust good people to deliver good results
Who or what inspires your approach to creating impact through your work?
It sounds very cliched and obvious, but my children, both have additional needs and challenges but display so much talent, potential and valuable skills I’d love to see a world where they where judged on that rather than on two sides of A4 paper (like on a CV).
What is the thing that brings you the most #WorkJoy?
Seeing Social Mobility & Inclusion, it’s the Northern in me.
What is your favourite quote that you would like us to include?
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” Quote Falsely Attributed to Edmund Burke
