Entrepreneurs in Residence
The Careers Service currently has three Entrepreneurs in Residence - Angie McLean, Professor Max Robinson and Jane Nolan MBE. Part of their role is to work with Newcastle University students and graduates who are intending to start or develop their own business enterprise.
Our Entrepreneurs in Residence have a wealth of diverse experience and a passion for developing individuals and ideas. Through their experiences and knowledge, you can gain real insight and learn from people who have been there and done it!
If you would like further information on the scheme or would like to speak with one of the Entrepreneurs in Residence, please contact Claire Adamson.
Meet our Entrepreneurs
Angie McLean 
Angie has started five businesses in the past 25 years – both in manufacturing and the service sector. Angie started one of her businesses, Baggers - children's rainwear in a bag - with nothing more than ten pounds, a sewing machine and the kitchen table and ended up with a £2.5 million turnover in two years.
Angie is a serial entrepreneur and has won many awards for her business achievements: Barclays Small Business of the Year in 1990; an entrepreneurial award with She Magazine and the Woman’s Entrepreneurial Award with Cosmopolitan Magazine. Angie has just recently won the title of Inspirational Role Model at the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2009.
For the past six years, Angie - through her company, Fast Forward Now - has worked with the higher education sector as a consultant and lecturer teaching strategic marketing, international marketing, entrepreneurship and small business management. She works with students, graduates and anyone who wants to start a business and feels strongly that the right advice can really make a difference to someone starting out in the business world.
Angie’s entrepreneurial talents have inspired her daughter, a recent North East graduate, to also take the plunge into self employment with her business, Garbeau.
We asked Angie...
- Where did you find your business idea(s)?
My ideas come from my experience such as work, family, lifestyle - my ideas have always been where I have known and understood the market. - What research did you do and advice did you seek before setting up?
I would always recommend carrying out competitor and market research. With me, the product/service design was easy, as I knew the market was there, but you need to know about the competition so you can make your idea different to theirs. There is no point in having a 'me too' business. - What do you wish you had known when starting out?
I wish I had had a better understanding of business finance. It’s hard, but to be successful you need to have a good understanding of what can go wrong financially and know how to avoid the pitfalls. - What do you enjoy most (and least) about being your own boss?
I like being creative and not being told what to do by others. I suppose the biggest downside is that it’s difficult to switch off. - What has been your biggest challenge?
I think running a business and having a family - both are very demanding on your time. - What has been your biggest success/achievement?
Developing an international brand. - What is the biggest lesson you've learnt?
How to stay in control of your business and manage growth. - Any words of wisdom for students aspiring to start a business/or in the process of starting one?
Go with your gut feeling and believe you can do it.
Professor Max Robinson
Max is a highly respected academic, pioneer, inventor and visionary in the field of 3D X-ray imaging. He has been involved in the management of the interface between academic research and commercialisation of its findings for over 25 years.
Some of Max’s early research around 3D imagery led to major contracts with both the Metropolitan Police and Ministry of Defence. The Met Police approached Max to fit out their fleet of bomb disposal vehicles with his 3D television cameras.
In 2003, Max formed a spin out venture from the University of Durham’s Physics Department – Kromek, formerly Durham Scientific Crystals, to commercialise technology which had been developed in the Physics Department over a period of 20 years. Kromek is pioneering digital colour imaging for x-rays and has brought ground-breaking innovation to materials technology and advanced 3D imaging. This includes significant applications in medical imaging, security screening, industrial inspection and space exploration, allowing for very precise identification of materials.
The company now has over 30 employees, nine of whom have PhDs. It holds multiple contracts and has raised in excess of £8million to develop its current product range.
Kromek has just won Best Security SME at the international final of the Global Security Challenge. Kromek beat three teams from the US, one from Spain and another from Australia. The prize was $400,000 from the US Department for Defence. Max commented that they are all ‘gobsmacked’!
The company also won top awards in both the 'Security' and 'Transport' categories and highly commended in the 'Emerging Technologies' category at the Institution of Engineering and Technology's IET Innovation Awards 2008.
We asked Max...
- Any words of wisdom for students aspiring to start a business/or in the process of starting one?
Do your homework very thoroughly in particular with regards to markets and competitors. You must believe passionately in what you are doing, otherwise why should anyone else?
Jane Nolan MBE
Jane Nolan MBE is a business coach and management consultant.
For 35 years, she was owner-manager of an extremely successful, award winning company based in North Northumberland. She was awarded the MBE for services to UK exports in the New Year’s Honours List in December 2000. In 2006, she won the UKTI Individual Achievement in Export award and was the 2006 NE Woman Rural Entrepreneur of the Year. Her company, Shark Group, a niche design and manufacturing company, sold its innovative products in 29 countries and won many accolades - from best small company in the North East, to national and international awards for design and innovation, in addition to awards for export achievement and staff training and development.
At the end of May 2009, Jane left the Shark Group, having sold the company in 2007, and set up a consultancy business, Venture Coaching and Consulting Ltd, working with businesses and the Third Sector. She has an MBA from the Open University and is an Enterprise Ambassador for the North East.
Jane has also played a proactive role in the community as a volunteer for 25 years, including working as a board member for a number of regeneration and business support organisations, including One North East, and chairing Northumberland Strategic Partnership. She has worked with educators and young people for many years as part of enterprise education initiatives such as Young Foresight and has worked on industry, sector skills and university advisory panels. Jane is also a trustee of Hospicecare North Northumberland and of Alnwick and District Citizens Advice Bureau.