Business Skills for Everyone
Inclusive business courses, awards, events and workshops, unlocking potential and opportunity.
Business courses
Ready to Start Your Business Journey?
Explore our courses designed to build courage, develop enterprise skills, and support your next steps into self development, further education or work.
You are First
FIRST is an accredited learning and development agency specialising in empowering enterprise skills for students, graduates, jobseekers, early stage founders and entry level staff.
who we work with
Explore the network of partners and communities who help us empower learners into meaningful next steps.
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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.
The Team
Meet the Team
Charlotte Windebank
"I founded FIRST to create opportunities for people who may not otherwise have access to enterprise education and support. My own journey into entrepreneurship began after facing redundancy and uncertainty in my career, which gave me first-hand experience of how difficult it can be to access the right opportunities at the right time. As CEO, I lead the vision, development, and quality of our work, ensuring everything we deliver aligns with our mission to empower people through enterprise skills and inclusive learning. I work closely with the team to grow our programmes, build partnerships, and champion positive change within entrepreneurship so that more people, regardless of their background, can develop the courage, skills, and connections to move forward."
Sam Clark
"I coordinate engagement for our learners to help them access wider business support, coordinate post-16 activity with schools and colleges alongside our Learning & Skills Team, and coordinate events like the annual Startup Awards North East. My role ensures the entrepreneurs we support are at the heart of everything we do, by connecting them with the right partners to take their next steps, whatever that looks like for them."
Jack Havver
"As Learning and Support Coordinator at FIRST, I work closely with our learners to make sure they feel supported throughout their journey. I provide one-to-one help where it’s needed, making sure everyone feels comfortable, confident, and able to take part in our courses, workshops, and events. I really enjoy supporting people as they develop new skills and seeing their confidence grow as they move forward with their ideas and ambitions."
Julianne Percival
"I’m the Curriculum Lead at FIRST, where I design, develop and deliver our accredited courses and workshops. I work with community partners to build connections and deliver empowering learning experiences that support learner progression. As the Designated Safeguarding Lead, I help learners feel safe, build courage and stay encouraged throughout their journey. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to learn more about what we do at FIRST"
Molly McGoldrick
"I’m the Communications Officer at FIRST, where I design social content, manage our platforms, and plan and deliver campaigns. I write case studies, articles and our newsletter, sharing the impact of our work through clear, creative storytelling. I’m passionate about building meaningful engagement, connecting with people, and celebrating the achievements of our learners across the community."
Rachel Smith
"I’m the Data Analyst Assistant at FIRST, where I collate the data from the business. I search out the trends and patterns beneath all the numbers to be able to find the golden nuggets of insights underneath; what works, what doesn’t, and what can be targeted to improve the journey undertaken by our learners!"
Kimberley Cummings
"As Operations Manager at FIRST, I’m passionate about building strong relationships with the communities, partners, and entrepreneurs we work with. My role focuses on ensuring our programmes run smoothly while creating opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow. I enjoy bringing people together and supporting aspiring founders to build confidence, develop their ideas, and form meaningful connections. Seeing entrepreneurs support one another and take positive steps forward in their journeys is what makes this work so rewarding."
Richard Chater
"As Quality Lead at FIRST and a tutor on our programmes, I’m passionate about creating learning experiences that are engaging, supportive, and impactful. I work to ensure the quality of our courses while also delivering sessions that help learners build confidence and develop practical enterprise skills. Seeing people grow in belief and ability throughout their learning journey is incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to support learners as they take positive steps towards employment, further education, or starting a business."
Joanna Sam
"With a blend of master’s degrees in HR, Marketing, and Computer Science, I bring a well-rounded and practical perspective to community engagement and business support. In my role at FIRST, I connect individuals with the right courses, resources, and opportunities to support their personal and professional growth, working through business support programmes and partnerships with a wide range of organisations. I provide guidance and referrals, represent the organisation at events, and deliver workshops and public speaking engagements that educate, inspire, and empower our community. If you’re seeking support, want to pursue a certification, need guidance on starting your business, or are interested in collaborating on events or workshops, feel free to get in touch."
Joanna Thompson
"As Engagement Team Lead, I build meaningful partnerships with communities, organisations, and individuals to create opportunities for learning and growth. My role is about turning relationships into impact, supporting people to develop courage, resilience, and practical enterprise skills that enable them to succeed. I’m always seeking new connections with people and communities, using business and enterprise skills as tools to empower others and strengthen local economies."
Bethany Thompson
"Hi, I’m Bethany, an Engagement Officer at FIRST. I’m all about connection, creativity, and community. My role is rooted in bringing people together, sparking conversations, and helping our learners feel confident and celebrated for who they are. I believe that growth starts with feeling understood, so I love creating moments, big or small, that make others feel seen, valued, and inspired to keep moving forward. Every story shared, every achievement recognised, and every smile along the way reminds me why I love what I do. You can find me on LinkedIn, where I post updates about the different events I am attending so you can come along and chat with me about how FIRST can help."
Don MacMillan
"As Financial Director at FIRST, I provide financial leadership and oversight to ensure the organisation remains strong, sustainable, and well-governed. My role focuses on budgeting, financial planning, and maintaining robust systems and reporting that support clear decision-making at both Board and leadership level. By ensuring our finances are well managed and aligned with our strategy, I help protect FIRST’s financial resilience and support the continued growth of the programmes that benefit our learners and entrepreneurs."
Billie Jenkins
"As the Research and Development Lead, I support FIRST to pursue new opportunities to empower enterprise skills and entrepreneurship through funding, partnerships and advocacy. For 10 years I have worked with organisations and projects that create social value by supporting individuals and communities to thrive. I’m always seeking to connect to people with an ambition to change lives through building skills, nurturing networks and supporting self-employment."
