AI-POWERED STARTUP PROGRAMME FOR 16-18 YEAR OLDS 

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In 2023, a year that screamed innovation and adaptability, IOEE rolled out something quite extraordinary—a new programme called Enterprise Spark, in a pilot run with Charterhouse School. This isn’t just any programme; it’s a game-changer in teaching entrepreneurship, business, and tech.  The spark for Enterprise Spark (see what we did there?) came from digging into […]

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Checking in with Enterprise Made Simple

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For this article we spoke with Phil Teasdale, Chief Executive at IOEE Academy, Enterprise Made Simple and heard more about their exciting work and plans for the future. Phil started off by telling us about Enterprise Made Simple (EMS) and their mission. As a fifteen-year-old business, focusing on business support and training, Enterprise Made Simple […]

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Meet a mentee: Souls Compass

In this article we speak to Cheryl-Lya Broadfoot, one of our current mentees on the programme. Cheryl-Lya runs a coaching, planning and consultancy business called Souls Compass. We spoke to Cheryl-Lya about the impact a mentor has and the visible effects a mentor can bring to your business. Cheryl-Lya was paired with Meha Shukla, a […]

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Being Your Own Boss

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This month we caught up with one of our long standing and much loved Academies Being your own Boss. Being your own Boss have been part of the IOEE and SFEDI centre network for many years and throughout this time have gone from strength to strength supporting many thousands local budding entrepreneurs. We spoke to […]

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Lloyds Bank Mentoring Case Study – Amy and Komal

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Amy, can you tell us about your business and why you wanted to be part of the Enterprise Mentoring Programme? I run a sustainable textile business inspired by the way that embroidery techniques are used to revitalise worn fabrics that would most likely end up in landfill. In addition, I run textile-based workshops which allow […]

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Woof’s Treats Are Barking Up The Right Tree With Mentoring

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The IOEE Lloyds Banking Group Covid-19 Response Mentoring programme was created to support small and micro-businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis which has impacted many businesses across all sectors within the UK. In this article we speak to Lloyds Banking Group mentor, Suraj Sridhar and Suraj’s mentee Michelle Bateman who founded Woof’s Treats back in […]

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The Pawfect Mentoring Relationship

We are diving into the mentoring relationship between Anastasia Georgiou of Lloyds Bank and mentee Louise Nelson. Mentee Louise runs Yorkshire Paws a professional dog sitting, walking and transportation service based in Leeds, UK. Anastasia has over 24 years experience in the wealth management & financial services domain working at renowned banks as well as […]

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Stephen & Caren: The Mentoring Journey

We’ve taken a look at the mentoring relationship between Stephen who is team leader of the risk coaching & team training team at Barclays and Caren who was was looking for mentor support for her business through our Mentoring Programme. In April 2018 Stephen Wright from Barclays Bank was put in touch with Paul Harper […]

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Mentoring Case Study: Andy & Hayley

Hayley Anderson-Richardson is the owner and Managing Director of Families In Sync; an original and inspiring independent company that offers a full range of support services across all elements of family life. At the end of 2016 Hayley was matched up with mentor Andrew Barrett, an Independent Assurance Lead at Lloyds Banking Group. This month […]

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Mentoring Case Study: Anastasia and John

John Tasker is the Strategy Director of Massive; an events agency that specialises in helping brands and charities to attract, engage and inspire people through mass participation. Last Autumn, John was matched up with a mentor, Anastasia Georgiou, a Manager with Lloyds Banking Group. In a only six months, Massive has sky-rocketed to a point […]

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Spotlight On… Gary Rockcliffe

Gary Rockcliffe has always had the desire and hunger that an entrepreneur needs to power them to success. He’s had a rich and varied work life, setting up various business ideas and projects over the years, but one bad decision resulted in Gary having to serve a 16.5 month-long prison sentence, being released in 2017. […]

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Life is Sweet in the Lake District: Local Chocolate Shop Conquers the Luxury Market

The IOEE last met Richard and Angela Barker, founders of Grasmere Chocolate Cottage, back in 2015, when they’d only just reached the end of their first year of trading, supported through the IOEE’s mentoring programme. Fast forward to today and the business has skyrocketed; still staying true to its idyllic rural charm whilst also becoming suppliers […]

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Fashion with a Conscience: How Facing Fears and Flying Solo Were the Fabric of Success

Nic Corrigan, pictured above, is a talented knitwear designer who founded her own company in 2014. After feeling conflicted about elements of her previous career in the fashion industry, Nic wanted to pursue something more fulfilling and ethically and environmentally conscious, creating Whitehall Studio in West Yorkshire. The IOEE paired Nic up with mentor Lisa […]

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British Marine Apprenticemakers Workshops Help Businesses Navigate Their Way to Success

The IOEE continues to develop skills within the apprenticeship sector through its Apprenticemakers project. Apprenticemakers provides a range of support to businesses involved in apprenticeships, including mentor training for individuals who are supporting apprentices. Apprenticemakers has worked with a variety of organisations to build and strengthen apprenticeship programmes, and this month we caught up with […]

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Spotlight On… Paul Uppal

Paul Uppal has many years’ experience of running his own business, as well as being a Member of Parliament, and in 2017 the Government announced that he was to be appointed the first Small Business Commissioner (SBC). This month we spoke to Paul to find out how his new role unites his business and political […]

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Spotlight On… Enterprising Learner Matthew Bell

Matthew Bell is studying for a Foundation Degree in Business and Management at New College Durham, whilst also working full-time in the Co-op Food National Transport Department. With the Foundation Degree’s Innovation, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship modules being accredited by the IOEE, this month we caught up with Matthew to find out how he balances working […]

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Innovative Start-Up Business Illuminates the North East with its Creative Neon Designs

Emma Krause is the founder of Light Up North; a cool, creative and innovative company that designs and makes stylish neon lighting art using EL wire. Through the IOEE’s Mentoring Programme, Emma was paired up with Denise Kay, an Associate Director at Barclays Bank. We caught up with Emma and Denise to find out more […]

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Wandering Brian Earns its Superhero Status as a Unique Dyslexia-Friendly Comic for Young Adults

Mathew Burbidge is the creator of Wandering Brian; a comic book designed to offer dyslexic readers material to help improve their reading skills, without being patronising – a problem Mathew encountered as a dyslexic person himself. Mathew was paired up with mentor Keith Willett, a Relationship Director in Manufacturing for Lloyds Banking Group (LBG). This […]

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Spotlight On… Enterprising Learner, Lauren Proctor

Lauren Proctor, 20, is in the second year of her Foundation Degree in Business and Management at New College Durham, an IOEE Enterprise Academy, where she is also working full-time in the Apprenticeship department. With the Foundation Degree’s Innovation, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship modules being accredited by the IOEE, this month we chatted to Lauren to […]

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Donna Marie Jewellery – turning a creative hobby into a successful business

On a trip to Canada in 2013, Donna Marie discovered a passion for lampwork, and spent the rest of her holiday going to workshops and perfecting her craft. Inspired by the experience, Donna returned home and set up Donna Marie Jewellery, turning what began as a creative hobby into a successful business. In 2016 the […]

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Going Solo: Bringing brave words and wild imagination to life with House of Solo’s lifestyle magazine

Abeiku Arthur is a budding entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of House of Solo; a slick and glossy lifestyle magazine that he created to give a platform to emerging artists in creative industries. In March of this year, the IOEE matched Arthur with a mentor, Anastasia Georgiou, a Manager with Lloyds Banking Group. This month […]

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Engineering its way to success – how mentoring helped shape M5tec

Carl Jones is an engineer and one of the founders and Directors of M5tec; a leading provider of engineering technical services to high assurance industries, such as marine mining, subsea and offshore, nuclear, oil and gas. In 2016, Carl was paired up with a mentor, Gary Newton, a Bank Manager for Lloyds Banking Group, through […]

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Supporting the Business Support Professional – Boost Business Lancashire

Setting the scene Over the last five years, there have been a number of changes to business and enterprise support services at a local, regional and national level. Organisations and programmes of support have come and gone, new organisations have been introduced into the landscape, large corporates are becoming increasingly involved in the delivery of […]

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Spotlight On… Adam Collar

Adam Collar is an Accounts Technician for Karrek Accountants, which is based in Cornwall. Through his accountancy work, Adam met Jackie Jenks of IOEE Academy Leapfrog Mountain, when she came onto his books as a new client, but learning about her business inspired him to get further into learning again. We chatted to Adam about their working […]

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