Director of Social Entrepreneur Support at UnLtd

Louise is the Director of Social Entrepreneur Support at UnLtd. Since joining UnLtd in 2008, she has held several roles, including over 12 years spent directly supporting social entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their ventures. Her work has always been driven by a deep commitment to making UnLtd support accessible and impactful. Previously, she led the User Journey team, where she focused on improving the accessibility of UnLtd systems, processes, and support. She is passionate about user experience and ensuring that every interaction with UnLtd is transformational for the entrepreneurs we serve. She is genuinely excited to support such inspiring individuals who are creating meaningful change. "I understand that panel sessions can feel a bit daunting, but we’re here to help you communicate your message clearly and confidently. We’re not expecting pitch-perfect presentations—just your passion, ideas, and ambition. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about the change you want to make in the world."

• LinkedIn

Social Entrepreneur

Alice is the CEO and co-founder at SIC (Sick in the City CIC). Alice was born with a variety of respiratory issues and was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She is a disabled and neurodiverse entrepreneur. Prior to founding SIC, Alice spent over a decade in marketing, communications, and research; specialising in equity, diversity, and inclusion particularly women in STEM and widening diversity in leadership roles. SIC is a social enterprise based in Coventry that works to close the disability employment gap in the UK. Founded in 2021, SIC has worked with over 250 businesses and 300 disabled professionals so far.

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Amrit embarked on a lifelong journey of exploring mental health and wellbeing in ways that make it relatable. His social venture, Mettaminds, started its humble beginnings as a vehicle promoting 'loving kindness' (metta meaning 'lovingkindness' in Pali). As a dedicated practitioner of Tai Chi, NLP, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), these practices all paved the way in creating programmes designed to open up the many possibilities and alternatives there are in achieving 'balance' or better mental health. "We are all on our own journey in finding balance, how we find it is very personal and needs to be guided by ourselves, with the support of the selfless".

• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Amy's passion to support communities to develop and thrive began in 2011 when she became the chair of a local Business Association and helped create a strong foundation for the eventual formation of a Business Improvement District. Driven by her own lived experience of teenage homelessness and isolation Amy went on to establish the Glasgow Girls Club based on sister organisation, the Lower Eastside Girls Club when she was introduced while living in NYC in 2013. With six years recent tech industry experience under her belt Amy is now committed to combining her experiences, passion and skills to unlock maximum opportunity for young women who are most at risk and marginalised in our communities.

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Beatrice is the Chair of the Board of Directors and founder of Light in The Dark (LITD CIC). Beatrice has 17 years’ experience as both a migrant and a manager having been through the same trauma for a decade navigating the Asylum process. Being a migrant has enabled her to assist migrants with communication challenges, access to formal education, health care registration, documentation for citizenship and other immigration matters, and is OISC regulated. Beatrice's whole approach to support is shaped by her lived experience, to address the huge stigma faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged migrant communities. As part of her personal development Beatrice has recently completed MCC training on managing and understanding people suffering with PTSD, as a self-esteem builder. She also completed safeguarding children and vulnerable adults training and trauma informed training. She holds a degree in community care, social policies and practice. She is currently the representative for Harpurhey Greater Manchester Tenant Union.

• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Carl is the owner of Living In Fitness, providing award-winning exercise classes for the over 60’s, or anyone who requires a low-impact and 'at their own pace' approach to exercise. Like Pure Gym, they provide affordable, flexible, and 'value-for-money' memberships, opening the benefits of physical activity to thousands of older adults who previously had nowhere to go. They also utilise innovative but simple technology that allows members to easily track and take ownership of their fitness journeys in both an online and community-based environment. They offer live online classes, community classes, on-demand sessions, personal training and more. Their mission is to help members maintain their independence and quality of life by becoming connected with each other, stronger and more energetic.

• LinkedIn

Social Entrepreneur

Carmen has volunteered and worked in the business and social justice sectors for over 25 years and was recently founding Director of a grassroots social enterprise for seven years, working with trafficked and exploited asylum seekers and refugees. She cares deeply about empowering and creating spaces for people who are marginalised. Her work has evolved over the past 12 months and she is now a qualified executive and leadership coach, facilitator, and consultant. Her aim is to actively promote and enable equity and justice in places of leadership, policy, and decision making. She values truth, collaborative practice and continued learning and believes they are important as we seek to bring about structural and social change in various ways. Carmen is really pleased to be supporting UnLtd Award panels.

• LinkedIn

Social Entrepreneur

While Clayton excelled and carved out a decent career for himself, he saw his friends not doing so well and getting into trouble with the law; making it even harder for them to get good jobs. Desperate to do something about the issue, he founded Street2Boardroom. Clayton is able to operate in the business world whilst also connecting with people on the streets. Street2Boardroom was born in 2016, when founder, Clayton Planter recognised that the current system repeatedly rejected certain types of people; preventing them from reaching their full potential, from finding positive role models that they could genuinely relate to and ultimately re-joining society.

Social Entrepreneur

Dan Whyte BSc MSc is a co-Director of DWRM Consultants, a Community Interest Company specializing in providing a diverse range of degree courses to students in prison. Despite facing the challenges of leaving prison, Dan dedicated himself to establishing DWRM Consultants and leading the development of a peer mentor support programme, offering education and employment coaching for prison leavers. With no prior educational attainment, he achieved undergraduate and postgraduate degrees while in prison and is currently pursuing a PhD in Criminology. Dan's personal journey exemplifies the transformative power of education in breaking the cycle of serious offending and instilling a sense of personal meaning and fulfilment. As a Prison Leaver, he now works passionately to promote higher education as an engine for prisoner rehabilitation and a path to a socially responsible lifestyle.

• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Eve Kekeh is the Founder of Bundlee, the UK’s first rental subscription service for childrenswear. Eve is on a mission to transform the wasteful childrenswear industry and help to create a better future for little ones to grow into. Eve is passionate about the circular economy, reducing waste and extending the lifespan of products. She holds a Masters in Enterprise and has been listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 and Drapers 30 Under 30 and was awarded Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year for London at the Great British Entrepreneurs Awards.

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Juliana is a seasoned change management and quality improvement specialist with over 20 years of experience in Health & Social Care. Her expertise spans various areas, including population health, strategy development, and policy writing. Currently serving as the inaugural Head of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at East London NHS FT Trust, Juliana is dedicated to fostering inclusive healthcare environments. She also contributes to the community as a school governor for the London Borough of Newham’s Pupil Referral Units, supporting young people who cannot attend mainstream education. Additionally, Juliana is the founder and director of Black Leaders CIC, a Community Interest Company committed to enhancing the experiences of racialised patients and staff in healthcare. Recognised as a healthcare pioneer by All Bright and honoured with a community recognition award from the Building Block Initiative in 2021, Juliana is passionate about reducing systemic inequalities.

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Leon, founder and Director of LG Designer Maker CIC (LGDM), operates a bespoke design and furniture studio in the North East of England. With expertise in creative woodworking solutions, he merges design passion with practical training initiatives, drawing on 15 years of industry experience. Growing up as a mixed-race individual he understands marginalisation first hand and his community provision is therefore focused on supporting individuals who are themselves marginalised. Leon hopes to apply his passion for understanding people and helping individuals reach their potential and is thrilled to have the opportunity to apply this to help other change-makers on their journey!

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

With over a decade of experience Lily-Jo is a dynamic mental health Counsellor & Transformational Coach. Trusted by some of the biggest names in business, government, and charitable organisations, Lily-Jo provides wellbeing services including one to one sessions, group workshops, and wellbeing webinars to transform and inspire whole workplace communities. A confident and engaging public speaker, Lily-Jo is regularly called upon by TV and Radio to share her thoughts and clinical expertise. Motivated by a passion for the next generation, Lily-Jo founded non-profit mental health organisation, The Lily Jo Project back in 2016 and has a desire to see children and young people educated on what to do, and where to go, if they find themselves struggling with their mental health. As part of The Lily Jo Project, schools have access to a whole years curriculum on mental health management to use within the classroom, and throughout periods of lockdown at home. As a professional singer Lily-Jo can be found using her music as a platform to engage young people in a conversation about mental health. She can be found across all digital music platforms including Spotify YouTube and Apple Music. Lily-Jo has recently become an ambassador for Place2Be, the charity who founded Children’s Mental Health Week.

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Lisa is the founder and Managing Director of arts education company Changing Relations and has 25 years’ experience in designing engaging learning opportunities for young people and professionals. For the last decade, she has worked to develop impactful resources and courses as part of Changing Relations' mission to challenge thinking around gender stereotypes and relationship behaviours. This has involved writing projects, developing partnerships, winning funding, managing creative practitioners, networking extensively, weathering a challenging economic climate, the COVID pandemic and the subsequent tightening funding landscape in the culture and VCSE sectors, evaluating, reflecting, learning and supporting a range of students and recent graduates navigate the creative sector!

• LinkedIn
• Website

Social Entrepreneur

As well as being a specialist mental health practitioner at Alder Hey children's hospital, Marissa is a published author and the founder of Nourishing Routes; an organisation that supports young people and adults across the UK with eating disorders. She previously secured funding from UnLtd to further develop Nourishing Routes and launch several courses and resources that are tailored to promoting recovery from Anorexia Nervosa and other forms of disordered eating. Alongside these passions, Marissa is a trained yoga teacher and delivers holistic workshops locally. She also has YouTube and social media channels that are dedicated to inspiring people to engage in self-care, promote their wellbeing and achieve their potential.

Social Entrepreneur

Mazhar has a background in finance having worked for the BBC in London, HBOS and both Jewsons and Magnet. In the last ten years he has developed a number of social enterprises working primarily with older people around issues dealing with isolation, loneliness and dementia. He is a Trustee at the Thornton and Allerton community association who run the South Square Arts Centre. He is also part of a team who have recently raised £650,000 in order to purchase and renovate the birthplace of the Brontë sisters in Thornton, Bradford. This project will bring the Brontë birthplace into public ownership for the first time in its two hundred year history, They plan to open a cafe which will become a hub of arts and creativity for visitors from the community and beyond. And those who love the Brontë sisters will have the unique opportunity to actually stay in one of the sisters bedrooms and literally walk in the footsteps of greatness.

Social Entrepreneur

Monica is a dedicated mother of four who has seamlessly balanced the roles of nurturing her family and pursuing her passion for education and therapy. With a background as a teacher spanning from the 1990s until 2017, Monica's journey took a significant turn when she founded her own venture, Therapy North Staffordshire. Her journey into therapy began in 2003, when Monica embarked on a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy course, marking the start of a remarkable journey of professional development. Fuelled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a genuine desire to make a positive impact, she pursued various qualifications, including Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Psychotherapy, Dramatherapy, Lego Therapy, Nature Therapy, and Bibliotherapy. Through Therapy North Staffordshire, Monica's reach extends far beyond the confines of traditional therapy rooms. She remains deeply involved in the educational landscape, working in schools to support students' mental well-being. Additionally, her commitment to community, corporate, and closed-community settings, underscores her dedication to inclusivity and accessibility in mental health care. Monica's journey exemplifies resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others on their paths to healing and growth. As both a devoted mother and a beacon of hope in her community, she continues to inspire those around her with her boundless energy and unwavering dedication to making the world a better place, one therapy session at a time.

Social Entrepreneur

Nathan is an award winning social entrepreneur and youth and community specialist consultant. He is a dynamic leader with a proven track record as a social entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. Co-Founder & Trustee of charity First Class Foundation, Nathan has years of experience in effectively engaging and building lasting relationships with traditionally hard-to-reach communities. His global vision and values-based methodology ensures that both clients and service users achieve the results they require, whilst also tackling inequality and disadvantage in Global Majority communities. Nathan's entrepreneurial leadership and strategic thinking have seen him succeed as a consultant, using his excellent communication skills, tried-and-tested methods, and lived experiences to share his vision with stakeholders and teams to get the best results. This approach has led to real impact and produced fantastic results across a range of industries, including criminal justice, health, education, and the arts. Dedicated to leaving the world in a better place than he found it, Nathan's work as a legacy consultant is close to his heart. Through this channel of his work, Nathan helps companies evaluate their stakeholder engagement strategies, and creates a safe space for employers and employees across the globe to have conversations about race, anti-racism and equality. At the centre of Nathan's work are his values: faith, love, family time, and laughter. He makes sure these values guide everything he does. At his core, Nathan is motivated by his love for his wife, Sabrina, and children, and his desire to leave a first-class legacy for generations to come to have access to better opportunities in life.

• LinkedIn

Social Entrepreneur

Robbie is a social entrepreneur and founder of the social enterprise Lingo Flamingo which is based in Glasgow. Lingo Flamingo uses language learning as a method to increase both the well-being and cognitive functions of older adults; as there is some very interesting research which shows that learning language can reduce the effects of brain ageing and helps to build up resilience for the brain. Over the last 15 years he has worked in different capacities within the third sector and in 2022 completed a PhD which focused on exploring the impact created by social enterprises who work with older adults. He is passionate about social change, especially the way in which older adults and people living with dementia are both perceived and treated in society. He is an easy-going guy who loves to support people with their social entrepreneurial journey.

• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Saadia is the founder of Saadiaspeaks, with a passion for youth empowerment, she uses the power of her voice to inspire and initiate change, delivering masterclasses and events on topics such as confidence building, vision and goal setting, networking and, building a growth mindset.

Social Entrepreneur

Sabeha founded Juta Shoes, an award winning social enterprise. She empowered and trained local women to raise their confidence and aspirations, recognising their deep reservoir of untapped skill and creativity, while understanding their barriers. Juta offered viable and realistic opportunity to become employed, earn a good wage and work flexibly. Sabeha has extensive experience of engaging communities perceived as hard-to-reach or engage, leading many community initiatives, including co-creating projects with the communities she works with. She has given presentations on meaningful engagement, inclusion, and impact. She works tirelessly to raise the profile of underrepresented communities. Sabeha led a busy women's service at St Hilda's East, where Juta Shoes was founded. Since rediscovering cycling, she now works as Project Manager for Cycle Sisters and Behaviour Change Officer at Sustrans. She is currently Advisor for Oitij-jo, Trustee of Pioneering Women and finally, she is a mum of three lovely boys. (Photo credit: Sarah Ainsley)

• LinkedIn

Social Entrepreneur

With over three decades of dedicated service in the youth and community field, Saboor brings a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering individuals and communities alike. Currently employed at Bradford Youth Service, he has had the privilege of witnessing countless individuals grow and flourish overcoming huge barriers in their lives. Beyond the confines of my professional life, he finds solace and joy in the simple pleasures of home. Nestled with his young family, he immerses himself in the tranquillity of their garden oasis where they grow their own produce surrounded with a delightful company of our parrots. For moments of respite and rejuvenation, you'll often find Saboor by the riverside or out at sea, indulging in the timeless pursuit of fishing. There, amidst the gentle lull of the water and the vast expanse of the horizon, he finds peace and solitude and a time for reflection.

Social Entrepreneur

Shamala is an award winning entrepreneur; passionate about community, health and wellbeing. She is a qualified children’s social worker, personal trainer, nutritionist, wellbeing author and the funder of Impact 4Life Wellbeing; which is a Birmingham based Community Interest Company. Her work takes me across the length and breadth of the country providing wellbeing intervention and support, engaging with wide a range of community and corporate clients. Impact 4Life is a multi award winning fitness and lifestyle organisation. They offer inclusive and accessible wellbeing activities and programmes for women, men, families and children of all ages and abilities. With an emphasis on cultural sensitivity, diversity and having an acute awareness of the barriers faced by vulnerable people and marginalised groups, Impact 4Life strives to reduce health inequalities.

• Website

Social Entrepreneur

Shgufta is a Scientist and Marketeer by study, and professionally a communications specialist with experience in multimedia marketing mix developed in the cycling, automotive and retail sector. Our family business helped gain exposure to business from an early age, nurturing the budding entrepreneur within. As founder of Women on Wheels, Shgufta lead her team to normalise women on bikes. Her passion for cycling started when she had a life changing moment project managing a climate change project for Al-Meezan about a decade ago. She then worked at Bike for Good leading on women's cycling projects, inspiring women to take up cycling, understanding their unique barriers and helping them overcome them. She is also the Glasgow Bicycle Mayor and part of a network of Bicycle Mayors who are about urban change, supporting and connecting local grassroots initiatives around the world, while lobbying for more cycling in the transport conversation at a global level.

• LinkedIn

Social Entrepreneur

Steff is 33 years old and currently rooted in Wales. He loves anything about nature and the outdoors. His social enterprise career began at age 21, when he started to recycle the thousands of wellies abandoned at Glastonbury Festival each year. He made and sold products out of the broken wellies and paired the good ones up and sent them to Romania to be used by people living and working on landfills, who needed suitable footwear. Over five years, we redistributed and recycled 20,000 boots. This lead him to work with a charity to set up small social enterprises in Kenya and Uganda. Following on from that he set up a sustainable restaurant, a community farm and more recently he has been appointed the Social Enterprise Development Officer for a charity in Pembrokeshire. He is passionate about bringing big thinkers together and supporting them on their journeys; creating fantastic projects, helping humanity and developing their social enterprise skills.

Social Entrepreneur

Yasmin is a Project Manager delivering workshop facilitation, creative production and arts-based education in Manchester. In 2022 Yasmin founded Circle Of CIC, a non-profit organisation designing projects to encourage inclusive practice, social cohesion and community development. As a trustee for Step Up MCR, a place-based giving organisation, Yasmin works with other professionals across the arts, social justice and environmental sectors to support the development of new and current projects and initiatives. As Vice Chair of the governing body in a local primary school Yasmin works alongside other governors to monitor the school’s performance, the progress of pupils and to hold the school accountable for meeting targets and delivering high-quality education. This voluntary work offers valuable insight into the views, challenges and needs of local stakeholders. Yasmin has also worked closely with Refuge since 2022 as a panel member with involvement in media campaigns, as well as feeding back on policy and procedure, and multi-organisational approaches to VAWG work.

• LinkedIn

Director of Social Entrepreneur Support at UnLtd

Louise is the Director of Social Entrepreneur Support at UnLtd. Since joining UnLtd in 2008, she has held several roles, including over 12 years spent directly supporting social entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their ventures. Her work has always been driven by a deep commitment to making UnLtd support accessible and impactful. Previously, she led the User Journey team, where she focused on improving the accessibility of UnLtd systems, processes, and support. She is passionate about user experience and ensuring that every interaction with UnLtd is transformational for the entrepreneurs we serve. She is genuinely excited to support such inspiring individuals who are creating meaningful change. "I understand that panel sessions can feel a bit daunting, but we’re here to help you communicate your message clearly and confidently. We’re not expecting pitch-perfect presentations—just your passion, ideas, and ambition. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about the change you want to make in the world."

• LinkedIn