About us
Who we are
FIRST is a learning and development agency, empowering enterprise skills and entrepreneurship in collaboration with government, employers, education and community organisations. Our accredited courses, workshops, consultancy and events inspire courage, self-belief and motivation, giving learners equitable opportunities to progress into meaningful education, decent work or resilient self-employment.
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.
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
I'm a Fashion Design and Marketing graduate with a passion for social media and storytelling. As Communications Officer at FIRST, I manage our digital platforms, plan campaigns, and showcase the impact of our work. I love connecting with people and sharing the achievements of our learners. If you’re interested in PR, advertising, or collaborative projects, feel free to get in touch! Molly@youarefirst.co.uk
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.
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
With a blend of master’s degrees in HR, Marketing, and Computer Science, I bring a diverse perspective to talent acquisition, employer branding, and digital engagement. As Senior Engagement Officer at You Are FIRST, I streamline the hiring process through strategic sourcing, candidate engagement, onboarding support, and data management. Beyond recruitment, I lead presentations, workshops, and public speaking engagements to inspire and connect with our community. If you're looking for support, want to pursue a certification, need guidance on starting your business, or are seeking to collaborate for events or workshops, feel free to get in touch! / joanna@youarefirst.co.uk
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.
Joanna Thompson
Welcome Joanna! We’re delighted to officially welcome Joanna, our Senior Engagement Officer, to the FIRST team! Joanna has settled in brilliantly and is already making an impact in the Durham and Sunderland areas - She has quickly become a valued member of the team, and we’re thrilled to have her on board.
Bethany Thompson
I bring a diverse background in both teaching and recruitment to my role as Engagement Officer at FIRST. Alongside my professional experience, I have a strong passion for events, which led me to launch and run my own events business in my spare time. In my current role, I focus on spreading the word about our courses, telling people about the values and visions of FIRST as well as engaging with both partners and learners at various events. Additionally, I can support those curious about enterprise by guiding them to the support and resources they need. I'm eager to leverage my experience and enthusiasm to make meaningful connections and help drive success for FIRST. Feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to learn more about the exciting opportunities we have available at FIRST! / beth@youarefirst.co.uk
Don MacMilla
As Financial Controller at FIRST, Don ensures financial stability and efficiency. His expertise in budgeting and planning helps maximise resources to support learners and entrepreneurs.
What we stand for
Our Vision:
An inclusive economy where everyone can access opportunities and contribute to a thriving society.
Our Mission:
To empower enterprise skills and entrepreneurship in under-resourced and underrepresented communities, promoting individual stability, social progress, and inclusive economic growth.
Our 'Big Hairy Audacious Goal'
By 2029, we want everyone within post 16 education and beyond to have access to FIRST’s enterprise skill and entrepreneurship education.
Want to join us?
Our values
From your first phone call to an end of project review, we believe in prioritising the following values for our stakeholders:
- Empowering others to achieve their dreams
- Expertise within enterprise skills
- Learning through fun
- Trusting relationships with stakeholders
Our services
We are passionate experts in empowering enterprise skills & entrepreneurship that drive meaningful change for individuals and economies. Here's how we can support you:
- Delivering accredited Enterprise Skill Qualifications at Levels 1, 2, and 3 to build practical knowledge and courage.
- Offering dynamic workshops, engaging events, and inspiring awards to make enterprise education accessible and impactful.
- Providing cutting-edge insights with our Enterprise Entrepreneurship Return on Investment Calculator (EERIC), helping you measure and maximise the value of your project.
- Delivering tailored Enterprise Skill Consultancy to design and implement solutions that meet your unique goals.
Partner with us to create opportunities, inspire growth, and achieve lasting results.
Our process
FIRST has helped thousands of people get the connections, skills and confidence they need to progress into jobs, self employment or further education.
Our work is developed using state of the art learning software and theory as well as skill frameworks such as EntreComp backed up by years of academic research and practitioner data.
By basing our work on solid foundations this ensures we are providing meaningful activities that create legacy, opportunities and impact long after learners and partners have worked with us. To find our more about EntreComp click here.
Our Public Sector Partners
FIRST are proud to work with local authorities to provide learning and development opportunities for residents in the North East.
We provide courses and opportunities under both the Adult Education Budget and Multiply funding and work with North East Combined Authority, Gateshead Council, South Tyneside Works and Sunderland City Council.
Scroll down to see some of our live projects and if you'd to speak to the team, send us a message by clicking the button below.
