Stephen is a Co-Founder & Director at Changing Education Limited. He works with a talented development team to create work-related learning and careers software. He graduated with honours from Chester University with a dual degree in Adult Nursing & Specialist Practitioner Community Public Health Nursing (School Health). Stephen supports child and adolescent health care by acting as an editor for the British Journal of School Health, stays active with his young Family and dogs and enjoys craft beers with a board game.

As a co-founder in 2008, Matthew has overseen the growth of The Changing Education brand, which has led to over 500,000+ active student users accessing Work Related Learning. Matthew has a sales and marketing background, completing a BA (Hons) degree in 2003 and developed a keen interest in vocational Education and the barriers students face when competing for employment. In his spare time, Matthew has a hectic family life looking after his young children but still finds the time for an odd round of golf.

After qualifying as a Sports and Business Psychologist in 2013, Luke’s entrepreneurial endeavours led him to setting up and working within a range of executive and NED roles within Ed-service, Healthtech and Edtech startups, scaling businesses through a business strategy, product development, operational planning and fundraising, to valuations at over £20m. Luke provides a wealth of experience in business turnaround, mergers and acquisitions, business diversification and scalable business modelling.

I am head of Customer Success here at The Changing Education Group. I find great fulfilment in providing the very best customer service to every one of our clients. I have over 16 years of working as an Account Director and Company Director with diverse business acumen. I was Company director for the previous ten years for a mascot production business, and my highlight includes working on many high-profile movies with Sony Pictures & Netflix. I want to improve young people’s lives by finding them the best Work Experience placements and growing long-lasting working relationships with all our Schools & Colleges. In my spare time, I love to Walk, Exercise, Play Tennis, Read & Travel. Seeing new places around the world is my biggest passion outside of Work.

As our Chief Technology Officer, Manoj brings with him a wealth of business and technology expertise.  He has worked in many different industries and has a passion for digital transformation and delivering solutions.  He also thrives on being able to learn and utilise emerging technologies, which is what he will be doing at Changing Education Group.

He enjoys his spare time by spending it with his family, walking his dogs, watching movies, researching new technologies and playing video games.

I qualified as a Careers Adviser in 2005 and, over 12 years, held various careers advice-related roles, including apprentice recruitment for a large automotive company and providing adult guidance with the National Careers Service.

In 2017 I started working with The Changing Education Group and returned to where I feel most motivated and inspired; delivering Careers Advice and Guidance to school and college students aged 11 – 18.

I currently support and manage the team of Careers Advisers at The Changing Education Group and work closely with schools in the Greater Manchester area, supporting their Careers Programmes with personal guidance sessions for students at key decision points.

I am passionate about working with students at risk of disengagement to raise their aspirations and increase their motivation to learn. Outside Work, I enjoy walking in the Peak District with friends and Family, watching cricket and reading music biographies.

Cat is a Corporate Partnership Manager at Changing Education Group. Cat works with employers to support their early careers strategy and social value goals. Cat is experienced working with employers to provide solutions to attract early and diverse talent, having worked with employers in a range of industries from healthcare to finance to engineering. Cat has a passion for social mobility and supporting the next generation to navigate their future careers.

Cat enjoys travelling and has recently hiked through the Annapurna mountains in the Himalayas and crossed through Italy, France and Switzerland on the Mont Blanc Circuit. Cat also enjoys keeping fit and regularly cycles in the Kent countryside, runs and swims (and sometimes does the odd Triathlon)!

Hello. My name’s Scott. I lived in Southampton and joined Changing Education in February 2023 as a Sales Executive. Since leaving Oxford Brookes University in 2014 with a 2:1 in Business and Management, I have held roles in business development and account management in the EdTech industry. I started at School Business Services and was with them for eight years before moving to Applicant. What I love most about the role is the variety of people/schools I speak to daily and the knowledge I gain from these conversations.

In my personal life, I am a BIG Arsenal fan and will pretty much watch any sport that’s going on. I keep fit by going to the gym and running for the Southampton Athletic club six days a week. Usually, I’ll run around 70 miles a week. When the weather is nice, I play golf when I can, albeit very poorly! At home, I have two cats, one black and one ginger, continually causing mischief.

I started my education journey ten years ago in primary Education with my own dodgeball coaching company Little Dodgers – Yes, I did follow Patches O’Houlihan’s five d’s of dodgeball!

Since then, I have enjoyed working with some of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking EdTech organisations.

My education journey has now led me to proudly sit as an advisory board member for the East Midlands’ most extensive youth venture programme, Elevate.

My passion for supporting the next generation of young learners complements Changing Education’s direction and core values. So I’m very excited to work with such a student-centric organisation.

Hi my name is Thaslima Sharmin, I am a Sales Development Representative at The Changing Education Group.

I would describe myself as someone who is an optimistic sales representative with years of experience within the different fields of sales. Outside of work I’m a huge foodie who loves to explore new things, love going on long walks and have a huge addiction with travelling.

Stepping into the Changing Education Group has really helped me have a deeper understanding of the profound mission we share. The mission of supporting schools and students, I can’t wait to embark on this journey.

My name is Danni Hodgkinson, and I am an Employer Engagement Officer for Changing Education. I joined Changing Education during the pandemic, having spent my previous years of employment within the jewellery industry.

I am an enthusiastic and optimistic sales professional with over a decade of experience. I am driven by increasing sales and exceeding set targets. I bring dedication and positive results to the companies I’ve worked for. I am passionate about supporting others, developing new skills, and increasing sales.

In addition to sales and design, I am highly fluent in using social media to build and develop companies. I love creating strategies to reach better and connect with new audiences.

When I am not supporting students with their work placements, I have two young children who take up most of my time. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, and when I get the opportunity, I love to travel.

As a Customer Success Executive, my main focus is maintaining excellent relationships with our new and existing clients. The key responsibilities include finding opportunities for students to enhance their skills, giving them a stepping ladder to their careers, and ensuring all the employer’s health and safety checks are in place. Knowing I have contributed to helping students find successful placements to shape their future gives me great satisfaction and motivates me.
I have a finance background and extensive experience working in the education sector. Due to this, I understand the struggles and pressures children of today have when trying to figure out their career path, and I am so pleased to be able to help through my role at Changing Education. During my time off, I find it highly therapeutic to paint/sketch or practice henna art. I am also a big foodie and love baking for my friends and Family; always happy to be on the receiving end too.

Cynthia is from Seattle, US, and is a European Italian dual citizen. With a background in sales promotion, public relations, and content, she completed an M.A. in Marketing Communications from the University of Westminster Business School, London, and then a diploma in Lifestyle Journalism at the London College of Fashion (UAL). In 2009-10 she attended a Level 7 Career Guidance MA at Canterbury Christchurch University. She trained in 1-1 careers guidance interviews and group work delivery under PhDs and ex-National Careers Service faculty. She got experience in West Kent schools and a placement in ‘Connexions’. From 2011-2013 she worked in Careers at an American curriculum Islamic school in the Arab Emirates, assisting international university applications. In 2020-2021, I was back in the U.K. with experience at a SEMH boarding school Sixth Form helping students with SEND, trauma, or mental health challenges to complete vocational qualifications. She started remote CEIAG for seven schools with Changing Education, joining in December 2021. In 2022, she began studies at the University of Derby and the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCGeS) in the M.A. Careers Education and Coaching programme.

I have worked with Young people in several roles over the last 20 years. High points have included time as a Hospital Youth worker, supporting Young People onwards and in Accidents and Emergencies, which at times could be pretty demanding but rewarding. I was also responsible for developing community-based outreach centres, where Careers, Advice and Guidance Workers would work with young people at the grass-roots level.

One aspect of being part of the Changing Education Family is that I enjoy the variety of ways I can support young people, either through weekly appointments in school or virtually, so that distance is no barrier. I have learnt to be more in tune with social media, so I can regularly share my thoughts and ideas on Linkedin.

Outside of Work, I enjoy watching most sports, and as I originally come from Derbyshire, I love being in the countryside and have supported Derby County F.C. for years, and one of my all-time favourite films is “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

After leaving College, I worked in Engineering for several years before deciding on a complete change of direction and leaving employment to study for a Degree at Nottingham Trent University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Careers Guidance. Since then, I have delivered careers guidance and assisted with the delivery of work experience and the design of careers programmes in schools, 6th forms and Colleges across England before returning home to Cheshire, where I currently deliver guidance in Cheshire and North Staffordshire. Whilst working, I gained the Post Graduate Diploma in career education.

When I began delivering guidance, I was passionate about helping young people see the importance of engaging in the decision and planning process. How they can achieve what they want, this passion has only grown over time. I’m increasingly convinced of the part that a well-organised work experience programme can play in raising a young person’s aspirations and helping with motivation.

Away from Work, I enjoy my Family, Dancing, attending the Gym, Pilates and baking Cakes for friends and Family.

Hi, I’m Rachel. I’ve worked as a Careers Adviser for over 15 years, 8 of those years have been working for Changing Education. My experience has included working with young people and adults in various settings. I am passionate about helping people, whatever their situation, raise their aspirations and strive to reach their full potential.
In my spare time, I’m a busy mum of 3 young children, or you might find me on the netball court or in the yoga studio letting off some steam!

Amos is passionate about helping students as he believes Careers Guidance is vital in supporting young people to achieve their aspirations. Amos aims to equip young people with the right skills, experience and opportunities to prosper and fulfil their potential. Amos’ role at the Changing Education Group is as a Careers Adviser and host of the Changing Education Group podcast and YouTube channel.

I’m a full-stack software developer, so I do everything from planning to deployment. I’ve previously worked directly in Education for a decade, in the private sector, and even a brief stint in ocean research. I was a keen hiker, traveller and runner, but now I have a one-year-old, so I’d rather be in bed.

I’m Mike, Father to a four-year-old boy and a full-stack software developer based in Essex.

I spend my free time doing Home DIY and having fun with my Family.

In my previous role, I was responsible for building and maintaining order management software for one of the leading NHS medical suppliers. Said software helped them increase their turnover by several million pounds per annum without needing to employ additional staff, but most importantly, the staff loved using it! I hope to bring the skills and expertise learnt in my previous role to Changing Education and with the development team to make some changes to the existing software, starting with how teachers use connect.

My name is Matt, and I am a full-stack developer; I enjoy web development and watching (used to play) sports, including rugby and football. Over my past few positions, I gained experience within Laravel and PHP to bring to Changing Education and the development team. Furthermore, I enjoy days out to gigs and theme parks, including Alton Towers & Blackpool.