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 support candidates throughout their journey through our programmes and on to their chosen apprenticeship. I work with young people in education because I want to support them to reach their true potential.

When I was in school, I didn’t get the support needed and was negatively labelled. I vowed I wouldn’t let that happen to other young people. That’s why I do the work I do: I know how it feels to lack direction and support, and I understand the benefits of having someone to motivate you.

I organise Visionpath programmes from start to finish. That means contacting schools to get students involved, liaising with companies to get employees involved, keeping participants informed, answering questions, and generally making sure the rest of the Visionpath team are in the loop.

I started working for Visionpath back in 2017, after completing a postgraduate diploma in teaching in further education and moving to the UK from Ireland. Having previously worked with disadvantaged adults returning to education and disadvantaged teenagers at the end of their secondary school journey, I realised facilitating learning and personal development is my passion. I’m grateful every day to have a career that makes me feel valued and fulfilled.

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 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 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’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 assist on the day-to-day running of our talent and learning programmes, while also studying for my Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship. I liaise with students, coordinate school insight sessions, and get resources ready for events.

I really enjoy knowing that the work we do has such a big impact on other people, giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have access to. Having just left school and being an apprentice myself, I know how daunting it can feel – so helping others unlock the skills and knowledge they need to start their future really motivates me.