Where Passion Meets Potential
At FIRST we empower students, founders and professionals to reach their potential and beyond
You are First
We are an accredited learning and development agency specialising in progression skills and leadership experiences for cross sector clients including educational institutions, combined authorities, community organisations and private business.
Our work with Young People
Working throughout the UK and beyond, we support young people to develop confidence and essential skills so they can find a job, start a business or initiate a civil project.
Our work with Businesses & Employees
From meaningful CSR opportunities to support early stage founders to leadership and confidence training for junior staff. We get your business and staff team connected.
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.
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
Caroline Theobald CBE
Caroline has spent her career connecting North East business people and is passionate about creating commercial and life opportunities. She was awarded a CBE for services to business and entrepreneurship in 2016 and is a lifetime holder of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. As cofounder of FIRST her work focuses on strategy, leading the advisory board and inspiring and supporting the MD.
Charlotte Windebank
As FIRST’s Managing Director, Charlotte is responsible for development, vision and quality. She supports the operations team 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 Gallilee
Sam has 20 years experience working across the education and youth sector for school trusts, local councils and national charities. Sam’s passion and experience ensures all of FIRST’s projects create meaningful outcomes whilst supporting the team to ensure they have the resources they need to deliver their projects to the highest quality standards.
Louise Debnam
Louise's expertise stems from global event management, marketing and relationship building from a research and development perspective. Louise ensures that our activities are enriched with analytical data that gives our partners, meaningful return on investment and our learners, meaningful outcomes for their careers or enterprise journey.
Simon Noble
Simon works with 18-29 year olds in North Tyneside to develop enterprise skills and confidence through workshops, mentoring and 121 support. He loves creating unique and engaging learning resources and has a passion for public speaking.
Toni Stone
Toni leads on all of FIRST’s engagement, recruiting and supporting young people, early stage founders and professionals through our activities. Toni ensures early stage founders develop their skills, confidence and networking abilities and build relationships with our network of referral partners to see how FIRST can add value and deliver impact.
Carl Scarisbrick
Carl works across our projects to build our digital community of learners and leaders. He ensures that market data drives our communications and keeps our designs and messaging on brand. Carl is a people person and loves team banter :)
Sam Clegg
Samuel Clegg is an advocate for entrepreneurship, business and innovation, and is highly passionate about supporting and helping others in their business journeys. He is a business owner, advisor, academic, and published researcher with over 10 years’ experience within the SME and Startup profession. Sam works as a tutor for our enterprise courses and brings energy, passion and first hand knowledge of what it's like to run a business.
Ellie Short
Ellie works on assessment, pastoral care and coordinates all of FIRST's educational contracts to ensure learners develop essential skills and gain valuable experiences when working with us. She is passionate about inclusive education and loves a challenge!
Lucy Batley
As an established and successful business owner, Lucy is an expert in communications and brand strategy. She ensures that FIRST keeps on message and with her wealth of experience within the private sector, utilises her connections, insights and creativity to help shape FIRST's strategy.
Duncan McNulty
Duncan has 10 years of financial service history across education, public and private sector. He is an advocate for skills and supports FIRST to remain focussed on KPIs and objectives and how this translates to securing business finance and sustainability for the future.
Simon Hanson
Simon is a policy and lobbying expert with a passion and mission to make the regional economy inclusive. As a public sector expert he ensures FIRST is making connections and building a case of support within local authorities to help more residents access support from FIRST.
Alison Shaw
As an educational leader, Alison is an expert in social impact and skills. She is passionate about creating opportunities for young people's progression and making changes within education so it's accessible to all communities.
Upcoming Events
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Startup Awards North East
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