Empowering Enterprise Skills and Entrepreneurship
FIRST equips underrepresented communities with the skills and courage to thrive in their business ecosystem.
You are First
We are an accredited learning and development agency specialising in empowering enterprise skills for students, graduates, jobseekers, early stage founders and entry level staff.
Upcoming Events
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Escape the Rat Race
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Continuous Professional Development Course (CPD)
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Impact Creators - Passport To Enterprise And Employment
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Begin your startup story New course dates released!
Escape the Rat Race and become your own boss.
Explore all available courses to start your entrepreneurial journey.
STARTUP AWARDS NORTH EAST
Whether you're ready to SkillUP, StartUP or ScaleUP, the Awards will soon be open for entries
Our work with Students & Graduates
Working throughout the UK and beyond, we support students and graduates to develop confidence and essential skills so they can find a job, start a business or initiate a civil project.
Our work with Jobseekers
We're working with Jobcentre plus, housing associations, large community organisations and employment agencies to empower residents to develop enterprise skills and access meaningful education, decent work or resilient self employment.
Our work with Early stage founders
Self belief, commercial awareness and connections to customers, mentors and peers - we're working hard to improve startup business rates and essential skills for ambitious founders.
Our work with Employers
From meaningful CSR opportunities to supporting your leadership and confidence training for junior staff. We get your business and staff team connected.
Celebrating North East Talent
Alongside our partners, Startup Awards North East shines a spotlight, celebrates and connects ambitious, early stage founders to life changing opportunities and experiences.
Meet the Team
Charlotte Windebank
As FIRST’s Managing Director, Charlotte is responsible for development, vision and quality. She supports the operations and communication managers and ensures all company outputs are aligned to objectives, values, and mission. Alongside her role as director, Charlotte is an advocate for social and structural change within entrepreneurship and is regularly invited to speak about research, innovations and positive actions towards increased inclusivity and empowerment for early stage founders, young people and junior staff.
Sam Clark
Meet Sam Clark, our new Engagement Coordinator at FIRST. Sam is passionate about building connections and creating inclusive opportunities for learners to thrive. We're excited to have Sam on board
Jack Havver
Jack works across our projects to support FIRST's community of learners, making sure they are comfortable and can fully participate in our courses workshops and events. Jack loves helping people and watching their courage and skills grow as a result of developing enterprise skills.
Cheryl Barkas
Cheryl works with all learners to share information about our courses, events and opportunities. She is brilliant at supporting learners with their options and loves to see the people he has worked with go onto achieve great things.
Julianne Percival
We're thrilled to introduce Julianne Percival, our new Learning Skills Facilitator! Julianne brings over 20 years of experience in education, teaching, and enterprise skill development. Her expertise will be invaluable as she works closely with our learners on the exciting programmes FIRST has in store.
Molly McGoldrick
Molly, our Communications Officer at FIRST, is here to make your learning journey smoother and more exciting. She creates engaging content, shares success stories, and keeps everyone informed about our innovative programmes. By connecting our community and promoting our courses, Molly helps you feel motivated and empowered. With her support, you'll gain the confidence and skills to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams, further your education, or find meaningful work. Join us at FIRST, where Molly helps turn your potential into progress.
Rachel Smith
We are delighted to welcome Rachel as our new Data Apprentice at FIRST. Rachel brings a fresh perspective and enthusiasm that we are confident will be a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to supporting her in developing her skills and contributing to our mission of empowering learners across the North East. Welcome aboard, Rachel!
Kimberley Cummings
Kimberley Cummings is an Engagement Specialist dedicated to fostering strong relationships and community involvement. She excels at connecting and empowering entrepreneurs, creating inclusive and impactful programmes. Kimberley's passion and expertise make her an invaluable asset to founders looking to grow their businesses and build meaningful connections.
Seamus Laffan
Seamus Laffan is FIRST's Financial Controller, bringing precision and expertise to our financial operations. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, Seamus ensures our financial health and sustainability, supporting our mission to empower entrepreneurs and learners. His dedication and skill make him an integral part of our team.
Richard Chater
Richard Chater is a Learning and Skills Facilitator at FIRST. Passionate about education and empowerment, Richard excels at delivering engaging and effective learning experiences. His dedication to helping learners develop valuable skills makes him a key contributor to our mission.
Joanna Sam
Meet Joanna, our new Recruitment Coordinator at FIRST! With a passion for empowering individuals and a keen eye for talent, Joanna is dedicated to connecting learners with opportunities that align with their goals. Her role focuses on recruiting participants for our diverse courses and ensuring that everyone who joins FIRST feels supported from day one.
Cristina Booth
Crissi joins FIRST as the Skills and Events Officer, bringing expertise in event coordination and learner support. She’s dedicated to creating engaging, inclusive experiences that empower learners to grow and succeed.
