Staff Profile

Summary

I am a Senior Innovation Associate with the University's SPF-funded Arrow Programme and work to match the innovation needs of North East small businesses (SMEs) with academic, research and Facilities expertise in Newcastle University. I'm affiliated with our Business School and work closely with our tremendous range of expertise here.

Arrow breaks away from the traditional ‘brokerage’ model where businesses are matched with academic staff. Instead, Arrow employs a dedicated team of Innovation Associates. We work directly with SMEs. We take the lead on project delivery and bring in academic expertise and insight as required during the project.

Projects so far

Arrow projects I've delivered so far include:

• Supporting a local music venue seeking to digitally stream their gigs as a new revenue source
• Assisting a leading training company in the UK sport and physical activity sector to make the most of eLearning
• Advising a successful local consultancy on best practice re remote working and corporate culture
• Synthesising academic and business practice to support a Durham-based SME do more as an 'innovation intermediary'
• Conduct a marketing and fundraising review for a local charity seeking new donors

Please see this LinkedIn post for a video describing our programme and which features a client I've assisted describe Arrow. More about our success stories here.

Arrow eligibility and sign-up

If you're interested in how Arrow, please check out our page on whether you might qualify and apply here. Thank you!

Career to date

I’ve worked recently as a business coach and mentor; delivering workshops; and as a consultant. Originally trained in Microsoft IT infrastructure, I became a management of change consultant, and since 2010 have specialised in supporting founders and innovators to start up and scale sustainably.

I’ve researched and (co)authored reports for:

• North East County Council on the impact of Industry 4 on their manufacturing base;
• Dynamo North East, quantifying the size, scope, and capability of the enterprise IT sector here; and a
• European market entry strategy for a Taiwanese aluminium smelter.

In 2014-16 I was instrumental in establishing and successfully growing Dynamo North East into a major North East technology support organisation.

From 2019-22 I worked at the North East LEP on a programme called High Potential Startups. I also worked with Growth Hub colleagues to support businesses right through the pandemic.

Track record

I’ve (co)delivered ~150 startup workshops and worked with ~500 founders. 2 of my original coachees went on to found a money transfer service which has raised $126m over 15 rounds. One female founder told me in 2022 that our 90 minute coaching videocall was “one of the best hour and a halves I’ve had in business”.

Businesses I have supported include:

• Green construction sector: $2.57m raise
• Procurement portal: £1m raise
• Video and social media production: 14 staff

Outcomes for High Potential Startups companies (as per June 2022) include 99 jobs, 58 businesses generating £2.7m.

Qualifications

I have a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bristol, and an MBA from Bayes Business School, City University of London.