Students & Graduates
From Key Stage 3 to PHD
Schools, colleges, universities and community organisations, if you're looking for one off startup workshops through to subject specific enterprise weeks then get in touch.
The focus is empowering confidence, creativity and inspiring students & graduates to consider self employment as a viable, future career path.
Our team are young, fun and ensure activities are matched to your learning outcomes.
Themes and topics covered
When it comes to enterprise skills we focus on the personal development of your students and graduates, using Entrecomp as our framework for learning.
Topics include:
- Building your professional network
- Pitching and public speaking
- Your personal brand
- Market research and testing ideas
Activities can be delivered as one off workshops or a full week of ideas generation, pitching and industry expert feedback.
Universities we've worked with
Wanting more university backed startup spin outs? We'll work on empowering the inner entrepreneur and leave the ideas to you and your students/graduates.
From tenders to frameworks, we can do one off sector specific enterprise weeks through to enterprise weekends and summer schools for widening participation students.
Colleges we've worked with
From bespoke enterprise programmes with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to stretch and challenge weeks. We can work with your gaming students to develop confidence and your hair & beauty students to consider self employment after they finish their course.
Schools we've worked with
We've worked with individual schools, inviting in young entrepreneurs through to interschool enterprise competitions complete with assemblies, learning resources and live finals in front of your local business community.
Additional services
Hosting your own enterprise celebration? We can provide you with events and activity consultation, marketing support and a fun and passionate compere to ensure you are getting the most out of your efforts, with the business community engaged and in attendance.
Who you'll be working with
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.
Masud Raja
Masud's role is to share our enterprise and entrepreneurial opportunities with stakeholders including learners, partners and clients. As an innovating 'intrepreneur' Masud works with the learning/development and communications team to empower communities to develop confidence, leadership and progression skills.
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.
Oliver Leach
Olly works with all learners to share information about our courses, events and opportunities. He 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.
Caira Unsworth
We’re excited to welcome Ceira as our new Recruitment Officer at FIRST! She’ll be helping us connect with new learners from diverse backgrounds, supporting them in developing enterprise skills and accessing opportunities through our programmes.