The Team
Heather Wilkinson, Managing Director
Heather has fused and integrated her key skills and knowledge to generate this innovative social business, a true reflection of her passion for young entrepreneurship and social responsibility.
She has had extensive experience working in the economic development sector since 2000, specialising in the area of business support, social enterprise, community regeneration and corporate social responsibility. During her career she has worked for the private, third and public sector through her toles at Business in the Community, Hertfordshire TEC, Corporation of London, and Economic Development Consultancies EDAW and GHK.
In June 2005 she left her full-time consultancy position to set up Striding Out, and she continues to provide national and local level consultancy specialising in entrepreneurship and social enterprise. She is also a qualified business coach and NLP practitioner.
Since starting Striding Out she has won the David Nicholas Business Start Up Award from Kingston University, and the Edge Upstart Social Enterprise Mentor of the Year Award for 2006. Her work is recognised and endorsed by leading social entreprenuers. "Heather is an outstanding social entrepreneur and businesswoman. Passionate. Sharp. Highly professional. We need more like her!" Liam Black, Director of Fifteen
Heather comes from a family of entrepreneurs, and she started her first business at the age of 24, 'Just Blush'. As a trained makeup artist, she provides services for weddings, events, fashion shows and parties.
Heather is responsible for the Development of Striding Out and its Business Services. She has also trained as a Coach in Personal and Business Development.
Email Heather at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jamie de Sousa, Project Manager
Jamie has 15 years commercial experience in sales and marketing. He is Project Manager here at Striding Out where he is responsiblefor the delivery of the various projects and the management of the project teams.
He is a community governor of a local primary school and is a volunteer for the Krizevac Project especially with Beehive (the centre of Social Enterprises), helping in a business development capacity.
Fiona Biggins, Recruitment Manager
Fiona is responsible for recruitment of coaches and team members for Striding Out.
She is a qualified coactive Career Coach and Youth Coach with 10 years commercial experience gained in the recruitment field.
She has a strong track record in all aspects of the recruitment cycle including: business development, direct candidate sourcing, stakeholder management, supplier management and assessment centre design & management.
Email Fiona - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Quinn Simpson, Competitions Manager
Quinn Simpson is responsible for Striding Out's two competitions - The Future 100 and World Skills UK Entrepreneurship Competition.
She is responsible for marketing and engagement of participants and the co-ordination and delivery of coaching and support to the winners.
The Future 100 Awards runs from Oct to Nov each year.
The World Skills UK Entrepreneurship competition runs from Jan to Jun each year.
Charley Davies, Youth Offending Officer
Charley is Project Coordinator for the Youth Offending programmes at Striding Out. She is also working on the Catch 22, Mentor Me Mentor You and Future Jobs Fund projects.
Charley has a BA Hons in Criminology from Southampton Solent University, and has worked for the Metropolitan Police as a Youth Inclusion Worker and an Early Intervention Officer volunteer with Chance UK.
She is now focusing her passion of youth offending work by contributing to projects which place them into education and training. She is also trying to place young offenders into work via the Future Jobs Fund scheme.
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