I have over a decade worth of experience working in the private sector with particular emphasis on managing retail operations for a big blue chip retailer. I have also setup my own businesses and successfully sold them on before I got involved with the Grid. Having caught the entrepreneurial bug whilst running my own businesses I felt I wanted to do something more than just make money, and try and make a difference and make a positive contribution to the disadvantaged people in deprived/regeneration areas. I am passionate about enterprise and enjoy engaging with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and am currently engaged in creating an entrepreneurial buzz in Bradford helping entrepreneurs from various backgrounds to achieve their maximum potential.

I started off as a young volunteer at the Bradford Youth Bank and I have now developed this into an independent organisation called Bradford Youth Grants. We still run the Youth Bank but we also provide other services to help similar projects get off the ground. We have developed an accredited training course in Grantmaking which we deliver to youth boards across the country to help them set up and run youth-led grantmaking projects. Our training module covers issues such as promotion, decision-making criteria, interview techniques, how to assess applications etc. We also run a mapping exercise which helps people look at their community, what activities and assets they already have, what is missing and what they could make better. Over the last two years in Bradford we have awarded over £100,000 in grants to young people-led projects. There have been some fantastic projects such as a national breakdancing event where groups came from around the country to compete in Bradford. It brought together a really diverse mixture of people. Another project involved supporting people with mental health issues to cultivate an allotment so that they were able to sell their own produce in community centres.

I have been the CEO of bmedi@ for over 4 years now. bmedi@ is a network of over 600 “new media” businesses. Prior to being at bmedi@ I was General Manager of Remarc Professional Recruitment (setting this up from scratch) and prior to this I worked for Bradford & Bingley Plc for 21 years. My last role there being Group I.T. Training Manager responsible for the I.T. training of 8500 staff. In my spare time I like to play golf and am currently Captain of my local club. I also like watching football and spending time with my two young sons.

Hi! I’m one of the Connectors and Hosts for Bradford GRID. I love doing what I do! I finally found something that really makes me tick! We are all passionate here at the GRID and we hope the ‘GRID fever’ rubs off onto everyone we get in contact with!