Making business more diverse.

I started Visionpath in 2009 straight after I left school, when I experienced first-hand how challenging it is for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to make their way into the workplace. Realising this meant businesses were also missing out on the opportunity to reach a whole demographic of school-leavers with incredible potential, I decided to do something about it.

At Visionpath, we’re improving both the chances of disadvantaged young people and future-facing businesses – it’s a win-win situation. I lead on strategy, business development and programme-design, working closely with our clients to devise the most effective way to inspire, engage and hire socially diverse talent.

I’ve been advising Visionpath from day one and have worked with Patrick since 2008.

As a chartered accountant (previously a partner in a top-five firm), I see my role as primarily advisory – not just in financial terms, but also in helping to develop the business. In addition to ensuring that the company has regular and accurate financial information, I also work closely with Patrick on general business strategy to help Visionpath grow and succeed.

One of my guiding beliefs is that with everything you do, say, or write, you should view it as if you were the recipient. Also: always exceed expectations. Both are cornerstones of how I work.

I joined Visionpath in February 2019 and I now oversee all our programmes across talent and learning. I work closely with the whole team, along with all our clients, to ensure we’re designing and delivering programmes that meet businesses’ needs, while creating incredible opportunities for young people from socially diverse backgrounds.

Before joining Visionpath, my background was in sports coaching – I’ve always been passionate about giving people the opportunities they need to really maximise their potential and succeed. 

I oversee all our programmes across the learning and talent teams. Working with all our clients, I ensure the team create and deliver programmes that meet businesses’ needs, while developing incredible opportunities for young people from socially diverse backgrounds.

Having spent most of my career in education as a pastoral leader and managing programmes, I’ve witnessed how young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are often overlooked and undervalued in society – I want to change that. I’m motivated by being part of a team that values a young person’s success and maximises their access to career potential, which is at the core of why Visionpath exists.

I joined Visionpath after spending seven years coaching and developing salespeople. I was looking for a new challenge – something that makes a difference at root level. Being from a minority background, diversity and inclusion are close to my heart; I hate the idea of being labelled or limited in my opportunities because of my background, grades, or race. So when I got the opportunity to join the team, it was impossible to say no.

I spend a third of my time engaging students in schools through workshops and introducing them to the vast array of internship and apprenticeship opportunities available. It’s surprising how few know about options outside of a traditional degree, so I’m grateful I can inform them about pathways I was never made aware of at their age.

I also design, organise and deliver the different phases of our talent programme – from candidate development and mentoring, to onboarding designed to help new starters transition successfully from full-time education to the world of work. I take a lot of pride in the mentoring, coaching and upskilling aspects of the programme – watching young people grow over a few weeks or months and become assets to their teams is extremely rewarding.

My final focus is client relations. Our talent programmes are tailored for each client, so building rapport and relationships not only helps us better understand their needs, it also makes running the programmes a joy.

I support Visionpath’s clients to deliver impactful early career programmes that help socially diverse young people learn what it’s really like to work within their organisation and industry. Through insight experiences and mentoring, we inspire them to think more broadly about their future and consider whether they can see themselves as part of that team. Working with the Visionpath team, I design and facilitate these experiences and onboarding processes – helping school-leavers showcase their potential and successfully transition to the world of work.

Having worked within early careers recruitment, I've seen firsthand how difficult it can be for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access highly paid professions. And that's why I joined Visionpath – because everyone should have the same opportunity to shape their future.

I help young people find career paths that truly suit them. I work with students from all walks of life to make sure they get the support, advice, and confidence they need to succeed – especially those who might not have access to it otherwise. 

When I left school, I lacked the career advice and support I truly needed, so now I’m passionate about making sure others don’t have the same experience. I love helping people grow, find their purpose, and believe in themselves. Your background shouldn’t decide your future.

The biggest part of my role at Visionpath is coordinating a new programme introducing young people to the specialty insurance industry. I work with schools, students and employers to bring the programme to life.

In my previous role with a large employer I managed the apprenticeships process – which involved liaising with apprentices, managers and training providers, co-ordinating paperwork and providing pastoral support for apprentices – so I’ve experienced the process from both sides.

I believe every young person should have access to opportunities that enable them to thrive – no matter what their background, everyone deserves a chance to reach their full potential. Being a part of an amazing team that helps to make that happen is highly motivating and rewarding.

I support the day-to-day coordination of our employability and learning programmes, working with schools, employer partners and volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly. I help organise insight sessions, mentoring schemes and workshops, making sure everyone involved – from students to volunteers – has what they need to take part. I also assist with logistics, keep our programme plans up to date, and support with event delivery where needed.

What I love most about my role is knowing that the work we do can genuinely change someone’s path. A lot of the young people we work with haven’t had access to these kinds of opportunities before – so being part of a team that helps open those doors is really special. I remember how overwhelming things felt when I was finishing school, so being able to support others as they take those first steps towards their future is something I’m really proud of.

I support my colleagues on all our programmes, while undergoing my Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. After completing my A-levels I was eager to begin working whilst continuing to learn and grow, which is why an apprenticeship is exactly what I wanted.

I’m passionate about what Visionpath aims to do as a business and think it’s vital these opportunities are provided to people who may not otherwise have them. It’s important to give everyone equal opportunities when starting their careers, no matter their background.

I help the talent team manage all aspects of early careers for students from low socio-economic backgrounds who may not have access to the same opportunities as others. I knew I wanted to work in recruitment after studying business throughout school and college. I enjoy helping young people find their path in life and seeing them succeed against the odds.