Nicolas Weir, International and HE Partnerships Director

Describe your role

As Head of International Sales and Delivery, I'm responsible for looking after our international area managers. I also devise our strategy for how we can grow the international arm of the business, and how we can best look after our current network of partner schools to make sure they use our platform effectively.

On top of this, I'm the Area Manager for Switzerland, so am personally responsible for growing our number of partner schools there, and maintaining great relationships with the schools we work with there already!

What’s at the top of your bucket list?

I love snorkelling, snowboarding, fishing and climbing - any 'outdoor' sport really! Last summer I went to the Alps and climbed the Zinalrothorn, from where you get to see lots of other peaks in the Alps. One of them was Dent Blanche, or ‘White Tooth’, which is just over 4,000m high - it’d be great to climb that next summer.

What motivates you at Unifrog?
 
I’d say there are three main things: firstly, I love building great relationships with counselors and teachers at schools around the world; secondly, it’s great to provide students with access to a fabulous tool that I would have found immensely helpful myself when I was a student; finally, I love working with a brilliant team of people and doing my bit to help the company grow!

What’s your favourite memory of being on the road for Unifrog?

Greg and I recently went to a conference in Bangkok and on our way to the venue we were fortunate enough to be able to take a Hello Kitty tuk tuk through the streets. We saw some great views of the city and I won’t forget that journey easily!

Abbie Moir, Video Editor

How has your background in social media and editing helped you in this role?

I've been lucky in the fact that I've had a lot of creative jobs! I've been a social media manager for an artisan bakery. This meant following the bakers around the bakery with a camera and making "Meet the Staff" videos! I've also been an Assistant Editor at VICE News for two years, and this meant working on (name drop alert) EMMY Award-nominated documentaries! Being a social media manager taught me how to get people to smile in front of the camera, and VICE taught me how to edit people in front of the camera!

What does an average day as a video editor look like?

I start off by watching the footage we have and then writing down any REALLY good bits where I can add a snazzy graphic on top, or a cool bit of editing. My brain likes rhythm, so cutting a piece that has a lot of different shots to a beat is my favourite! After lunch, I usually have a call with Thom or Cat who are in my team, to catch up and to look at our work so far (as well as boost each other's egos when it comes to our editing!)

A genie gives you three wishes—what are they?

1. I don't own my house but when I do, I would like an outdoor pizza oven with unlimited pizza making supplies. (Pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Yes please!)

2. This is a very niche one, but I want my handwriting to look as if I'm an Edwardian lady is writing letters to her rich mother. Those cursive o's, the italics – that's the dream!

3. One Direction to come back and for me to get front row seats at their fancy dress comeback tour on Halloween night (you said I could have ANY wish...)

What's the best joke you know?

A cat walks into a library. "I'd like two tins of tuna and a can of coke."

Librarian says, "This is a library."

Cat says (whispering): "I'd like two tins of tuna and a can of coke."

Alex Kelly, Co-Founder

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

I actually love work, so I always spring out of bed! I'm also addicted to coffee, so the thought of making my first cup is another big motivation.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

When we first started Unifrog, Coralie and I did pretty much every task there was going, and there were some that I was terrible at (I'm thinking especially of the quarterly VAT return); my job has got a lot better since we've hired wonderful people who are good at the things I'm bad at.

My role at Unifrog now is just product development - improving and creating the tools on the platform. I find it so satisfying to go from an idea for a new tool or a way to improve an existing part of the platform, to designing something that I think people will find intuitive and useful. I work closely with Coralie, my co-founder, and Stu our lead programmer, who often knock my initial designs into shape with their more practical minds. I think the most challenging thing about my job now is that it's much quicker to come up with new product ideas than it is to deliver them, so I have to manage my own eagerness to add new things to the platform.

What's the one film you think everyone should see?

I think everyone should watch ‘The Game Changers’, a documentary that argues that we eat far too much meat. I'm not saying everything in it is superb science, but all the same, watching it changed my life for the better!

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

My ideal day would start with having had eight hours of excellent sleep, then I'd do a mixture of hanging out with Coralie, making and drinking lots of coffee, doing some sport with friends, eating with friends, and maybe even a party with some dancing. It's hard to do two of these days in a row because the partying normally ruins the eight hours of sleep for the next day. If I can't have a day like this, just give me two hours of surfing in Mexico and I'll be very happy!

Alyssa El-Shamma, New Partnerships Lead

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

Before Unifrog I was a tutor, and my students came from many different schools around the area. I was surprised to notice a lot more excitement and optimism in the students whose schools used Unifrog. I would sometimes catch them chatting about their aspirations and laughing about their ‘personality frogs’. So, I made the (brilliant) decision to join Unifrog so that I can spend my days reaching out to schools across the world, and growing the Unifrog community on a global scale!

How has your background in tutoring helped you in this role?

There are many ways my background in tutoring has helped me in this role. I think most importantly, it gave me perspective. I know how difficult it is to instil confidence in young minds, and I also know how overwhelming the world can seem after school. Unifrog helps both educators and students in countless ways, and this fuels my determination to find new partner schools around the world.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Without a doubt, my meal of choice would have to be Pad Thai. I love that Thai dish so much that I ate it nearly every day for three months without getting tired of it. I have even forced myself to get used to spicy food just so I can handle the red chilli on top - sad I know, but it has to be authentic!

What's your karaoke song?

If anyone with super cool music taste is reading this, then my karaoke song is definitely ‘House of the Rising Sun’ or something like that (but truthfully, I’d never say no to ABBA or High School Musical).

Andy McMullan, Employer Partnerships Manager

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

This might sound a little clichéd, but I really believe in Unifrog's mission. Having worked in HE for the best part of nine years, I've seen first-hand the advantages more privileged students have when they arrive at university, with a strong professional network through family and friends, and the benefit of some form of careers guidance early on. Those who haven't had the same level of support are playing catch up from day one. I wanted to join Unifrog to be a part of changing that narrative and supporting students earlier in life.

From a personal perspective, I wish I'd had access to something like Unifrog when I was at school. There was no career guidance or talk of other options, such as apprenticeships. I was someone who went to university because I didn't know what else to do and my school only supported this destination - although I think things worked out well in the end.

How has your background in relationship management and higher education helped you in this role?

My professional background has given me the knowledge and experience to work with employers from a variety of different sectors, and the skills to help them engage effectively with their target audience.

Prior to joining Unifrog I'd worked in the careers offices at The London School of Economics and the University of Essex, as well as in the Faculty of Business & Law at Anglia Ruskin University. During my time in HE, I have predominantly worked in an Employer Engagement capacity. I've been building relationships and partnerships with graduate employers to promote their opportunities; helping them develop and deliver skills and insights seminars; and supporting their strategic objectives regarding equality, diversity and inclusion. I have worked with many different organisations, from large multinationals to local SMEs, and I have learnt to develop solutions to their recruitment challenges. This experience I can now apply to Unifrog's employer partners, but with a focus on school/college students.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

My survival skills are fairly non-existent, therefore I think my items would all be about trying to enjoy my time on the island. With that in mind, I would like to take some sort of board, maybe a paddle board or surfboard, because even if I can't escape the island I can at least enjoy being in the water. I'd bring snorkelling gear so I can see all the amazing sea life, and maybe get lucky catching some fish. Lastly I think I'd bring some rum, to enjoy while watching the sunset on the water, and so I can pretend I'm a pirate cast ashore by his mutinous crew. 

What's your coffee order?

If I can start the day with a flat white, I'm smiling. But I'm not really too precious about what type of coffee I drink, as long as it's strong.

Annabel McDonald, Teaching Resources Creator and Careers Guidance Specialist

How has your background in careers guidance helped you in this role?

Before joining Unifrog, I completed an MA in Career Guidance and worked at an independent London school, where I delivered careers education and supported university applications, including Oxbridge and the USA; we also used Unifrog! I also have experience in UK universities and international education. All these experiences have given me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by career development practitioners and educators.

As a Level 7 RCDP with the CDI, I stay up-to-date with sector developments and apply my knowledge of careers theory and best practices, gained through my MA, QCD and CPD, to my work at Unifrog, such as leading the design of our careers education spiral curriculum.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

I was diagnosed with a disability called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a type of dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic system). The simplest way to explain it is that blood doesn't always get to my heart and brain like it should. As a result, it can cause a whole host of 'fun' symptoms like fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, and very low blood pressure.

I can work around POTS 90% of the time because I work from home part-time and can be flexible with my hours. However, it becomes challenging when it comes to team days because POTS symptoms can fluctuate and be unpredictable; I often can't travel independently for long distances. I'm lucky that 90% of the time, I don’t find POTS is an issue in the workplace, and my team are fantastic at being super inclusive and considerate.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would love to meet the composer, lyricist, and actor Lin-Manual Miranda. I'm a huge fan of his work, specifically In The Heights and Hamilton (but who doesn't love Moana and Encanto too)! I love playing the piano, singing, and musical theatre so I'd want to pick his brains for his musical and writing process, how he coped with people telling him that Hamilton would never be a hit, and his favourite song from Hamilton. I'd also want to know what projects he has coming up next!
 
What advice would you give to your younger self?

As a qualified Level 7 careers adviser, I'd go back to my younger self and give myself more informed careers advice. I was told that I was too academic to take certain subjects, and ended up going down a route for A level that didn't align with my genuine interests. I took a gap year to reassess what I wanted to do and ended up really enjoying my time at the university.

I'd go back and reassure myself that you don't need to know exactly what you're going to do at age 14, 15, or 16, and whatever choices you make do not mean they're the only career decisions you're going to make for the rest of your life. You can have many careers in your life, and you should reframe thinking about careers as a 'journey' where you'll pivot and reassess as you react to how life evolves for you. This couldn't be more true after I had to reassess my ways of working after being diagnosed with POTS.
 

Ashley Walshe, HE Partnerships Manager

What does a day in the life of an HE Partnerships Manager look like?

My days are spent reaching out to new universities both in the UK and across the world, showing them our incredible platform; working on performance reports for our partner universities and identifying key ways our insights can inform their strategy; and planning opportunities - like webinars - for our universities to meaningfully engage with our Unifrog community. 

What do you like the most about your role?

I really enjoy getting to know what a university’s priorities are and figuring out how we can support them in achieving these goals. I also love that I get to interact with a diverse range of people, from Paris to Plymouth or Sheffield to Stirling. 

What was your favourite subject at school and why?

Definitely drama: I’ve always been a bit of a performer and love theatre, literature, and the creative arts. When I was younger, I would always choreograph and perform my own dance shows for my family at Christmas. 

What would your perfect weekend look like?

Pre-pandemic it would involve going out for a few drinks or a gig on Friday night, then making the most of Saturday by getting out of the city for a bike ride or a hike. I like to have a pretty lazy Sunday - maybe meet some friends for a dog walk before rounding off the weekend with a lovely Sunday roast.

Cassie Ruddock, Data Maintenance Lead

Describe your role

My job is to make sure that all the information we have for our students is up to date, relevant, accurate, and as interesting as possible. On a day-to-day basis I perform regular checks on the live information that changes regularly, like work experience opportunities, and our immense Read Watch Listen catalogue. I’ve also been looking at South Korean and Croatian university courses - I get to travel the world from the comfort of my desk! I love working in a methodical, structured way, so this job suits me down to the ground.

How has your background in education helped you in this role?

Before I came to Unifrog, I worked at a sixth form college and university in the learning support team. Working directly with students was lovely and gave me a useful insight into what teenagers and young people deal with when they make decisions about their futures - it can be so difficult having so many options and not knowing where to go or what would fit. It’s helped me understand what will be most useful for students, and shown me how the tools we have are so useful. The Personality profile, for example, that breaks down elements of careers and pathways to help students make decisions, is so brilliant!

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pizza! I just don’t get bored of it: the rich, sweet tomato sauce, the melty cheese, some spicy jalapenos, mushrooms, bell peppers, and an indulgent stuffed crust. Mmmmmm.

What book do you always recommend to other people?

I always recommend the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, and the Tiffany Aching story arc in particular. He writes really well-rounded characters, especially women - they’re angry and complex and speak to each other about things other than men! He has a way of making the characters feel real despite the dragons and magic.

Where is the best place you've ever travelled to? Why is it the best?

Scotland. I come from East Anglia which is beautiful, but very flat! Scotland has the most dramatic, beautiful scenery; it’s like the Lake District doubled in height! The West Coast is my favourite - I got married in Fort William so I’m biased! - but it has white sand beaches and gets so warm in the summer. I would definitely recommend taking the steam train from Fort William to the coast - the scenery is beautiful, you can order a cream tea, and you go over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

I've actually moved to Scotland and now I'm 10 mins away from the nearest loch meaning I can go on beautiful hikes and cycle rides whenever I want.

Catherine Twomey, Junior Product Manager

What does an average day as Junior Product Manager look like?

My role is to support the team in adding the most possible value to the platform through the projects we’re working on. So day to day, that can mean scaffolding out projects, hashing out the details, or mocking up designs of what they’ll look like, designing them in a way in which they’ll have the most impact. It’s super varied as I’m working across so many different parts of a project. I can be writing emails, creating documents and plans, jumping on calls, analysing feedback… I love the variety. 

How has your background in ed tech helped you in this role?

I’ve worked at both a company making education resources for university students, and one supporting primary school students to access tutoring. Your primary role as a product manager is to understand your users, so from these experiences, I feel like I can understand the problems students might face from an ed tech perspective across those different age groups. This role sits nicely in the middle, working on projects for students aged 11-18.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I have a feeling I’d love Canada, but I’ve never been! So I’d probably live on the west coast of the US. Sunshine does wonders for my mood and I don't speak any languages other than English unfortunately, so I think I’d settle in nicely there. Plus it has such good access to national parks, great restaurants, and big open spaces. 

Who was your childhood hero?

I was very sporty as a kid. Once, I was off school sick for two weeks, and that time off coincided with the Sydney Olympics, so I got obsessed with athletics. Back in school, we were asked to paint our hero at the time, so I painted (UK runner) Paula Radcliffe. I also remember (Australian runner) Cathy Freeman wearing an all-in-one hooded suit and I thought that was the coolest thing.

Charis Maguire, Information Officer

Describe your role at Unifrog

My main responsibilities are making sure all the information we have on the tools is the most relevant and up to date. On a day-to-day basis this could be doing regular checks across the different tools and adding information when new data is released. I mainly work on the international university tools, so it’s interesting to get an insight into different universities around the world. 

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

The most challenging part of my job is keeping up to date with all the new data releases that need to be put on the platform. There can be many data points for each tool, and we need to make sure we show students and teachers the most recent and interesting information so they are able to benefit from it.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

I would bring a surfboard, so I can improve my skills and I feel it’s a practical thing to have on an island. I'd bring a speaker so I can play some throwbacks when morale is low.. and suncream, which is self-explanatory. 

Would you rather be able to teleport or time travel? Why?

It would have to be to teleport. I love to travel, so to be able to be anywhere in the world in an instant would be a dream and make visiting friends so much easier. 

I would be curious to time travel. I studied climate change so it would be interesting to see how things play out in the future.  

Charlotte Hu, Marketing Lead

What does an average day in your role look like?

I'm quite new to Unifrog and am already enjoying how varied my role can be. On a typical day, I could be writing engaging emails to teachers and counselors, developing marketing materials to support outreach, looking after the community on our social media channels, or helping out at one of our brilliant events.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

The psychometric testing tools are so clever. I had a go at putting in my own interests, personality traits, and skills to see if I've chosen the right career path. Luckily I have, but having this resource when I was a student could have saved me many years of figuring it out!

What things do you spend money on unreasonably, but very satisfyingly?

Does my dog count? I don't want to add up how much I've spent on gourmet treats, grooming, and dog-friendly holidays over the last five years. This may or may not include a fancy walnut dog bed that he still refuses to sleep in.

Describe your dream burger, pizza, or taco!

I made a Korean-inspired cheeseburger recently that I was quite proud of. Two beef patties (marinated in soy sauce, ginger, and gochugaru) with melted cheese, gherkins, and rocket in a brioche bun, served with kimchi coleslaw, fries, and a maple-gochujang dip.

Chris Edwards, Head of UK Partnerships

What does a good day as an Area Manager look like?

As an Area Manager, every single day is different. I can be speaking at a conference in front of hundreds of people one day, and meeting with a local council the next. Hearing feedback from staff and students about how Unifrog has helped them to plan their futures is incredibly rewarding and is always part of a great day at work.

How do you make sure you keep in touch with the rest of the team when you’re working remotely?

Working remotely can definitely be a challenge, but staying in constant touch with colleagues over the phone really helps. I usually use the long car journeys to speak with people on handsfree and I also have about a million work WhatsApp groups, so I never feel too far away.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside work?

I love being active and struggle to sit still for more than ten minutes. I have a particular fascination with martial arts and I am currently doing kickboxing/Muay Thai training five times a week! I also enjoy taking my dog out for long muddy walks and if I'm lucky, I love a good snowboarding holiday too.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

New Zealand. I went traveling around both islands before going to university, and it was the most incredible place. The scenery is unlike anything anywhere else in the world and there is so much to do. You can even ski and surf on the same day, which is right up my street!

Claire Masterson, Course Writer

Describe your role

I'm lucky to be part of the content team and have taken on an exciting new role as a course writer. Courses are still a fairly new feature of the Unifrog platform and so hopefully my role will enable this feature to expand and grow! If courses are sponsored, then I'll communicate with the client and establish what they're hoping to achieve through the course. I'll then use the information they send through to us, as well as some of my own research, to start putting together an engaging course for students.

What's your favourite Unifrog quiz and why?

I enjoyed doing the Interests profile and found the result pretty spot on! I came out as mostly 'conventional' making me a good organiser and someone who enjoys working within a clear structure. This is definitely true - I find great satisfaction in organising things, whether it's a party, a weekend away, or a fun day out for my children. This was closely followed by 'artistic' which definitely appeals to my creative side. As a former teacher, my favourite part of the job was creating engaging lessons and thinking up new and exciting ways to get students learning. That's why my new role as a course writer is so exciting!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop worrying so much! I'm a big worrier and worry incessantly about everyone and everything. I would tell my younger self that worrying isn't going to change anything and to just enjoy life as it's happening.

Build the best ice cream sundae!

From the bottom up:

• crushed praline
• a scoop of hazelnut gelato
• a squeeze of salted caramel sauce
• a scoop of pistachio gelato
• a drizzle of rhubarb coulis
• a scoop of coconut gelato
• a sprinkle of caramelised nuts

Connie Wong, Work Experience Lead

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I’ve always wanted to work for an organisation that makes a social impact.

In the past, I have volunteered for the Manchester Science festival, where I helped explain the science behind some of the exhibits; and mentored disadvantaged primary school students. These experiences made me realise that I am particularly interested in the education and development of young people, and so I wanted to develop a career in that sector. This led me to discover Unifrog.

Having read up on how the Unifrog platform works, I found it to be a really great idea and I actually became a bit jealous of the students that have access to the platform. I wished that I, too, had had more support from teachers when I was making those big decisions in life. So, I think it’s really rewarding to be able to be part of all this and help get teachers engaged in these processes.

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

For me, it’s staying optimistic and spending a minute lying in bed trying to imagine how I will be having a wonderful day ahead. In that wonderful day, I will be having a great day at work where I will be able to help make a big difference in young people’s lives, and solve queries from teachers so that they are able to help their students as much as they can.

What about you surprises people when you tell them?

As I’m very petite and dislike getting into arguments, people are surprised when I tell them I am a black belt in Taekwondo.

Build the best ice cream sundae!

I love the smell of coffee, and so my ice cream sundae would definitely include two scoops of coffee ice cream, and probably two scoops of vanilla ice cream to mix it up a bit. It would then be topped with some Irish whipped cream and some caramel sauce. To finish off, I would add some almond flakes and chocolate curls to make it look even more delicious!

Dan Seamarks, Video Producer/Director

What's the most exciting thing about being a video producer and director?

The most exciting thing about my role is filming such a diverse range of people and locations. One week I could be at the Royal Opera House and the next, on a Navy aircraft carrier! I love hearing people’s stories and what it takes to do their roles. 

What gets you out of bed in the morning to get started on work?

After a few snoozes of my alarm and a big cup of coffee, I’ll get cracking on organising shoots, editing footage, or travelling to shoots. I feel very lucky to say that I never have that Monday morning feeling, as I love my job and the variety it brings, therefore I always wake up looking forward to the day ahead! 

Which actor would you get to play you in the movie of your life and why?

I’m a big fan of nostalgic, old-school films so it would have to be Robert De Niro or Marlon Brando. However, it's safe to say my life in film would be nothing like the films they’ve been in!

What’s your karaoke song?

Name any ABBA song…

Dave Nicholson, Account Manager

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

As one of a relatively small number of students at my secondary school who went onto university, I've always felt very aware that the platform needs levelling in terms of students being able to access resources to inspire their decisions for their future. When I became aware of Unifrog and what it offered, I felt slightly jealous I didn't have access to it myself at school age! I was very excited at the prospect of working with schools to offer the platform to their students and supporting them in doing that.

Describe your role at Unifrog

In general terms, I am responsible for trying to make sure that all our Partner Schools in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire (and slightly further afield!) can get the most out of Unifrog.

This means speaking to schools new to the system and helping them use the system to make their lives easier than before they started using Unifrog, and also working with longer term partners to ensure that they are maximising what Unifrog can offer them. This could be new features, an area of the platform they would like to use to support their Careers aims going forwards or simply refreshing them on something they might have already seen.

If you could be any superhero, who would you be?

I think I'd be Spiderman. Sometimes people get down on lil' Spidey because he can't do much apart from shoot webs and react quickly, but I'm a goalkeeper in football. so those reactions would definitely lead to me playing in goal for England. I think the web thing would be very useful for when I'm feeling lazy and want to grab something across the room. Being someone like Superman would be far too much pressure as well.

What's your favourite thing to do outside work?

I'm a big sports fan but I wouldn't honestly say I enjoy following York City FC these days. I love playing cricket on a warm summer day and having a few drinks afterwards. I am also a fan of quizzes - I do a lot of pub quizzes and am part of a quiz league - so I'm reasonably likely to be able to pluck some obscure knowledge out at any given moment. A weak claim to fame is that a clip of me went slightly viral when I appeared on Pointless on the BBC, and not for embarrassing reasons, fortunately.

Ellis Joseph, International Partnerships Lead (Asia)

What's the most surprising thing you've learnt working at Unifrog?

Something that really surprised me how diverse my colleagues' work backgrounds are. People on our team have previously worked as teachers, content creators, and prison wardens! It's opened my eyes to the vast range of skills and experiences that can contribute to creating a positive impact, and I find it really inspiring.

Your team is based around the world – how do you make sure you keep in touch?

We’re flexible! Being spread across the world definitely comes with its challenges, but that’s nothing a little bit of technology can’t help with! We schedule most team meetings during overlapping working hours, and also understand that we sometimes need to adjust hours to accommodate for different time zones. It's a collaborative effort, and it works!

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Finding my calling definitely took some exploration. As a child, my dream job went from Red Power Ranger to police officer, and then I had a doctor phase! Looking back, it seems the common theme was a desire to help others in some way. It's interesting how that's translated perfectly into my role at Unifrog, where I get to support the Unifrog mission of levelling the playing field for international students.

What does your ideal weekend look like?

My ideal weekend is a balance of activity and relaxation. Saturday would be a full-on adventure day. I might search for a challenging hike, or squeeze in a refreshing run to clear my head. Lazy Sundays are for relaxing and catching up with family.

Emily Kay, HE Partnerships Manager

How has your background helped you in this role?

Previous to this role, I worked in the central team of Ark Schools supporting students across the network to secure, select, and succeed in their next steps. Having spent years trying to pull together all the data, we decided to use Unifrog across the network which was truly game changing! After that, I was an Operations Lead at Beam, an organisation supporting people experiencing homelessness to find work or a new home. Beam's service is really bespoke based on the needs of each area. A combination of my experience in education plus tailored partnership work has put me in a great position to support our university partners.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

I love the 'Recording what you've done' tools in Unifrog. In previous roles, I've had the opportunity to facilitate some absolutely amazing trips and guest speakers but often found students struggling to remember the details of these when they created applications. I have an absolutely terrible memory myself so I find this highly relatable! These tools helps log everything in one place.

What always surprises people when you tell them?

I took dance lessons between the ages of 6 and 16 years old and took part in several shows at Sheffield's Crucible theatre. My costume highlights included a fish in our under the sea show and a radish in Mr McGregor's garden for the Beatrix Potter show. I've since lost all my dance talent but I'm trying to work on my flexibility again.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don't cut a full fringe. It won't work.

Gemma Neale, Head of UK Sales

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I’ve known about Unifrog for a number of years and I’m really passionate about the mission to level the playing field for all young people. I’ve previously mentored some students who have used the platform to help them to make decisions for their future and it widened so many opportunities for them. It is also really exciting to be part of something that is constantly changing and adapting based on the needs of the schools we work with.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

This is very hard to choose! I love all the resources available on the Know-How library. Whether you want to learn about the costs involved for studying abroad, how to support your local community, or understanding how protests work… there’s all the information you could possibly need! I also would have loved to have access to the Special Opportunities tool when I was at school; it’s so useful to see all of the summer schools, scholarships, and internships in one place.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would you choose and why?

It would be great to meet Jodie Comer. It’s amazing how she can master speaking in so many different accents. I’ve recently watched the National Theatre Live performance of ‘Prima Facie’; I was absolutely gripped all the way through.  

What's your favourite pizza? 

My all-time favourite would have to be the ‘Manca’ pizza (mozzarella, poached pears, honey, and gorgonzola) from my local pizza restaurant in Norfolk. But otherwise, anything with pineapple!

Greg Brown, HE Partnerships Manager

What does a good work day look like to you?

The great thing about working at Unifrog is that every day is different and we are constantly innovating! As a University Partnerships Manager I’m often travelling, so when not on the road at conferences or fairs I really enjoy working from home in the peace and quiet. Plus, I always get to choose the 'office' music!

A good day will involve meeting with Unifrog partners, which requires me to be flexible with timing – I could be speaking with people in India in the morning, Europe at lunchtime and the USA in the evening!

What’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to you whilst travelling for work?

A couple of years ago I was in Singapore visiting some Unifrog schools and I decided to take a trip to the ‘Treetop Walk’ in MacRitchie Park. I knew there were lots of macaque monkeys around but I didn’t bet on just how aggressive they could be. As I was crossing the bridge I saw them sizing me up but decided to take a selfie on the bridge anyway. Just as I was looking at the screen, I could see a big macaque monkey charging at me from behind! It jumped on to my shoulders, reached into my bag and tried to grab my stuff. Thankfully I’d seen it coming so turned around quickly and fought him off. He was obviously after the Unifrog booklets in my bag…even the monkeys are keen!

Where are you living at the moment?

A few years ago I moved to Copenhagen from London. I love living here and because Copenhagen is a lot smaller (and quieter) than London, it means you’re never too far from the beach or forests as well as the city centre. The best thing is the freedom to cycle around the city. Danes are obsessed with cycling, and there is even a word - ‘Copenhagenize’ - which describes making a city better for getting around by bike. The food is also amazing and although I’m not that into seafood (which is a big deal here) there are plenty of delicious pastry shops and ice cream stands to keep me happy. If you need an excuse to visit, just google ‘Nyhavn Sunset’.

You grew up in Northern Ireland - what are your favourite things about it?

Northern Ireland has a unique charm to it which is hard to find anywhere else. It’s a small place with a real sense of community. If you meet another person from Northern Ireland elsewhere in the world, then you’ve an instant friend. Despite its small size, it has amazing scenery, from rugged rocky coastlines to sprawling mountains and lakes. The slower pace of life makes it a lovely place to relax when I’m home visiting family and the food always goes down well - an Ulster fry with potato and soda farls, Fifteens and Yellowman honeycomb! 

Helen Clifford, Partner Success Lead

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I had just finished a PhD and wanted to stay in the education sector, but move more towards outreach and access. I had only just started the job search but when the role with Unifrog came up I was really keen to apply, and it worked out really well! Unifrog’s social mission is really important to me, and I love feeling that I’m a little cog in an organisation that’s making a difference to people every day.

What does an average day as a Partner Success Lead look like?

Busy! We get lots of emails and calls to answer helping our partners to get the most out of Unifrog, as well as solving any tricky technical issues for them.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I can never say no to noodles, so I'd probably choose pad thai! 

What’s your karaoke song?

I’m not a big karaoke person (don’t tell anyone), but I have learned from past experience that Uptown Girl is never a good choice because the chorus always goes on for far longer than you expect and requires some serious breath control!

Jack Mead, Video Producer and Director

What does an average day as a video producer and director look like?

I'm quite new to the role, but I'll be going out on shoots quite often to university as well as partners located across the UK and beyond, directing our stars to give their best and most natural selves during the shoots, and capturing some (hopefully!) beautiful B-roll whilst we're at it. When not on shoots, we're in pre-production mode – onboarding new clients as well as organising and selecting the best footage before our amazing editors do their work.

How has your background in producing and directing helped you in this role?

Having been self employed, running my own small production company and simultaneously freelance filmmaker for other companies, I've had the opportunity (and necessity!) to do a bit of everything, from creative production to editing and even marketing and social media. So I think that's given me a lot of confidence to continue trying new things and always aiming to be creative and adaptive. Meeting new people and listening to their stories is the best bit of the job, so I can't wait to get out there on my first shoot very soon!

What's your favourite song and why?

Oh my, that's a difficult one! Sorry, too hard, but a shortlist? A Beatles song ('Get Back'? ‘In My Life’?), a motown song ('Try a Little Tenderness'? ‘Natural Woman’?) and a hip hop tune ('Juicy'? ‘Dead Presidents’?). Apologies, but a shortlist was still really hard!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don't be too afraid to try things, go and see the world, and try to learn from other people more experienced and (probably) wiser than you!

Jacob Lovick, Area Manager

What does a day in the life of a Unifrog Area Manager look like?

The day breaks. I open one eye, then the other, grinning and chuckling in anticipation of another day of evening out the playing field for school students. I crack my fingers over a warm cup of Earl Grey and delve into the treasure trove of a fresh inbox, hands warmly embracing the keyboard and brain whirring into action. I field enquiries about adding tools to schools’ accounts, demonstrating the platform to those few, those unhappy few, who aren’t yet Unifrog subscribers in North London, East London, Essex, Suffolk, and some parts of South-West London (not including Kingston-upon-Thames). I’ll have strategy calls that change lives, days, moments, with intricately curated advice and feedback. Perhaps I’ll swing by the office, for unlimited free tea and unlimited croissants on Mondays and Thursdays. Then, I tread satisfied, once again, to bed. Satisfied in the knowledge of an Area that has been well and truly Managed.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

Concise answers. Though it is perhaps possible to be too enthusiastic about the services and benefits that Unifrog can offer a partner school, I often struggle to keep my answers tight and focused to the specifics of the question that’s been asked. I find myself stood at the top of a mountain of metaphors with a dizzy head and wondering how I’d got there. But I hope that, like a Sherpa, my love for the tools that we offer, the range of things available and my willingness to help, will overcome this mountain, and get teachers to where they want to be.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you when you’ve been visiting a school?

The teacher that greeted me at the school reception with the phrase ‘Robert! Great to have you back!’ I had never been to this school before, and my name is not Robert. He took me around the school, introducing me as ‘Robert!’ to absolutely everyone, far more than was necessary. He even once or twice stared at my name badge, which clearly read ‘Jacob’, before proceeding to call me ‘Robert!’ twice or even three times in the following sentence. I then stood up in front of his colleagues, having been introduced as ‘Robert!’ by the same man, and began with the phrase ‘hello everyone, I’m Jacob’. Ashen-faced, the teacher stood and left the room. I didn’t see him again.

What about you always surprises people when you tell them?

I also do a lot of writing and comedy outside of my work for Unifrog. People tend to find this extremely surprising.

Jane Twine, Events Lead

What does an average day as Events Lead look like?

An average day as Events Lead typically involves working across a range of teams within the organisation to make sure we're on track with the planning process of our events. This includes running planning meetings, thinking about what in-person events would be most useful for our audience, choosing topics to cover, researching venues, contacting speakers, creating schedules, communicating with our attendees and much more – all with the overall aim to ensure our events are as useful and ‘plain sailing’ as possible! 

What motivates you to work at Unifrog?

I feel strongly about the importance of levelling the playing field for young people and the positive impact this has on society as a whole. At Unifrog, we deliver a range of different events to create opportunities for teachers, advisors, employers, and HE providers to get together in person and explore how they can best support young people to achieve their next steps. I find it incredibly rewarding to play a part in helping young people make informed decisions about their future at what can be a particularly daunting time in life! It's also a real pleasure to work alongside colleagues and partners who are dedicated to making a positive difference and constantly striving for better. The team at Unifrog is an inspiration! 

What's the one film you think everyone should see?

I recently rewatched ‘Donnie Darko’ which is an absolute classic. A mind-bending rollercoaster of a film that everyone should watch.

Describe your dream burger, pizza, or taco!

I used to be convinced that the more pizza toppings the better, but I've since learned the beauty of simplicity when it is done right. The stuff of my dreams would be the humble margherita with a sourdough base, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, and topped with some rocket and shredded parmesan. If I can smother it in garlic and chilli oil and pair it with a lime margarita then that really is the dream!

Jess Wells, Head of HE Partnerships

What do you like most about about your role?

This is going to sound super clichéd, but the best thing is definitely meeting new people! As a HE Partnerships Manager, I work with universities across the globe and there is genuinely nothing better than getting to know them, and finding out exactly how Unifrog can support them in achieving their objectives.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

My favourite is definitely the Special Opportunities tool! I imagine everyone always says this, but I wish I had access to all of that information in one place when I was at school. I think collating important info around widening participation schemes and scholarships is super useful for any student considering university. 

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

I'd definitely want my favourite lip balm; I imagine my lips would get pretty dry in the heat and I'm literally never without it. My dog Muna would also have to be there because she's great company and is pretty well-versed in keeping creepy-crawlies away. And maybe my dry robe so I can enjoy some comfort after a swim in the surrounding ocean.

Build the best ice cream sundae!

I'm a sucker for rum and raisin, so that'd have to be the base. Then a layer of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough, and topped off with a dollop of raspberry ripple. Maybe with a sprinkle of peanut M&Ms and Milky Way Magic Stars. I'm not sure if that sounds amazing or totally hideous actually.

Josie Allison, Area Manager (Middle East and Africa)

What motivates you to work at Unifrog?

I was really lucky to have such a great time as a student when I was at university. I made friends for life and loved how much there was to do in London, so I am really motivated to help students around the world find the right university choice for them. Also, the absolutely incredible International Team at Unifrog; working with such lovely people motivates me every day!

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

I love the Subjects library. There are so many incredible subjects to study and even now sometimes I just like to go through them all and imagine what I might do if I went to university again. Having studied anthropology, which is not a very well-known subject at school, I think it is so important for students to be able to broaden their horizons through Unifrog! 

What’s your favourite sandwich?

My favourite guilty pleasure sandwich is the chicken Caesar baguette from Pret. I would genuinely have it every day if I could, and when I travel around to visit schools, it is always my train journey treat.

What's the best joke you know?

What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese! 

Julia Valdemarca, Partner Success Lead

Describe your role at Unifrog

Responding to lots of emails! Partner Success Leads also answer phone calls and respond to queries that way too. In addition, we help with onboarding partners onto the platform, so that involves looking at how the teacher side of Unifrog works and some cool aspects of the platform so they can get the most out of it. We get to work with lots of the different Unifrog teams too, which is really great!

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to/start work?

More than one alarm! Then the promise of a good coffee and doing a bit of reading before I get my morning going.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

Sunscreen, for sure. Then I'd bring one of my favourite books that I can reread over and over again. And lastly, something to make the ocean water drinkable!

Describe your dream burger, pizza, or taco!

I love a good home-made pizza – fresh ingredients are key. Start off with some dough from an authentic Italian shop and roll it out. Then I go for a red tomato sauce as the base, some olives, mozzarella, a bit of feta cheese, mushrooms, some pesto, and maybe prosciutto if I don't want a vegetarian pizza. Put it in the oven (or cook it on the barbecue if you're like my family!) and when it's ready, add fresh basil on top. Perfect!

Kate Garlick, Head of Content

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

It’s actually pretty easy to get out of bed each morning because I genuinely love what I do! My role is full of variety, and I’m lucky to work with some truly incredible colleagues. Work vibes are very positive and supportive and there’s always a lot of energy - we never stand still, we’re always evolving, we’re always looking for ways to be better at what we do. The content we create directly supports students, teachers and counselors and it’s really motivating to be part of something that makes such a positive difference to others. Seeing or hearing positive feedback directly from the people who use the platform is a great feeling!

How do you make sure you keep in touch with the rest of the team working remotely?

We keep in touch using a mixture of video calls, Slack messages, and emails. Everyone has a weekly 1:1 meeting with their line manager, and there are also regular team meetings, cross-team meetings, working groups, and some online work socials. Throughout the year there are regular whole company team days and smaller individual team away days where we meet up in person. These usually include a team meal and often a social activity too: some of my favourites have been a cooking class, an escape room, and a painting party! 

After years of teaching in busy secondary schools, I thought that working remotely might feel a little strange or isolating, but it’s amazing how easy it is to communicate, settle in, and feel part of the team. It helps that everyone who works here is genuinely friendly!

What would your superpower be?

Because I’ve got friends and family in different parts of the country and the world, I feel like teleportation is the obvious choice. However, there would always be the worry that I’d be kidnapped and experimented on, or forced to use my powers for nefarious purposes. (I’m an over-thinker). 

A less stressful option would be a superpower inspired by the babel fish from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: the power to understand and speak any language in the universe. Being able to strike up a conversation with anyone in the world in their native language would be amazing.

What’s your pizza order?

I’m obsessed with vegetables – especially sun-dried tomatoes and chargrilled artichoke – but my enthusiasm for veg can get out of hand. A few years ago, I got very giddy at a pizza place that allowed unlimited toppings and asked for every vegetable on the menu; the resultant pizza was so watery I could have eaten it with a spoon!

Kathryn Mee, People Assistant

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

I’m sorry to say that I have not been blessed with the privilege of being a morning person. My day begins with an angry orchestra of alarms to haul me out of bed. A good podcast on the train helps me defrost a little while I look forward to the big bowl of chocolate Weetabix waiting for me at the office…

Besides my haphazard morning routine, my role and amazing team definitely motivate me to start work. Unifrog attracts really great people who are so positive and a pleasure to work with. As People Assistant, I’m in constant contact with my colleagues, so this makes my job genuinely so enjoyable!

What does an average day as People Assistant look like?

I’m the first point of contact for the team if they have questions about company benefits or policies. My responsibilities include making travel arrangements, solving IT issues, and stocking up on office supplies. I also help with wider people operations tasks such as recruitment, onboarding, and improving HR processes.

What about you always surprises them when you tell them?

The main thing that springs to mind is that I did dance classes for over ten years. This is because I now have absolutely no dancing ability to show for this!

Other than that, maybe that I lived in Canada for a year, or that I once (optionally!) camped for a whole month.

Describe your dream burger, pizza, or taco!

I’m a big fan of a fish taco. Crispy battered fish, bit of salsa, guac, lime, sour cream – the whole shebang.

Khadija Jackson, Account Manager

What do you like most about your role?

I'm really passionate about social mobility through schooling and education. For seven years I was a maths teacher and year leader which allowed me to see firsthand the challenges faced by students when thinking of their lives beyond Year 11. I also experienced the challenges that can be faced by teachers in terms of time and resources to help students discover the educational/career pathways available to them. 

Being an account manager for Unifrog is so exciting as I'm able to show tools and resources that will help eliminate a lot of these issues. Students, regardless of their background, have fair access to understanding the pathways available to them and how they can get there. Staff also have access to resources that are easy to use, save time, and are impactful – an absolute dream for teachers! Knowing that I am a part of making this change is what I love about the role. 

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

The most challenging thing is choosing only a few parts of the platform to demonstrate during training sessions! The platform has such a wide range of tools that are so useful and, as a former teacher, I want to talk about every single one as I know how much of a difference they can make in the classroom.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I'd definitely live in Canada! I had the opportunity to complete part of my degree in Toronto and I instantly fell in love. I love the friendliness, the Sakura in High Park, and, controversially, the knee-height snow in the winter. Also: Tim Hortons - need I say more?

What gives you energy?

Engaging with art gives me energy! I especially love the theatre and I go whenever I get the chance. After seeing a play or musical (even if I've seen it three times before!), I feel completely buzzed with positive energy.

Lauren Uddin-Moss, Teaching Resources Creator

What do you like most about your role?

What DON’T I love about my role would be the easier question! It’s so hard to choose! I think I’d have to say the element of creativity: being able to take a topic that might be a little dry in places, have some fun with it, and create content that’s engaging as well as informative for students… that’s what makes me tick! But I also absolutely love the feedback process; when we create any content it goes through several stages of collaborative feedback, and it’s just wonderful to see other people’s ideas help make something great even more FABULOUS!

How do you make sure you keep in touch with the rest of the team when working remotely?

As an ex-teacher, this is the first remote-working role I’ve had. I’d become so used to the buzz and energy of a secondary school, that I did wonder how remote teams still get to know each other personally. But by having regular ‘coffee chats’ via Google Meet (we drop in for a natter most mornings) and always being able to ping each other ideas and social updates via the work messaging app Slack, it has made working at home feel completely normal.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

My parents used to regularly take us to visit big ships docked into various places around the UK. Whether we were taking a peek around HMS Invincible, or gawping at the remains of the Mary Rose, I always remember being fascinated by the idea of a life at sea. As my mum was a nurse, for a long time I thought that being a Wren in the Royal Navy would be a great idea. That was before I spent any actual time on a boat… sadly, my sea legs had other ideas! I get so sick, so now I avoid sailing at any cost! 

What's your favourite song and why?

My favourite song to listen to is ‘My Sweet Lord’ by George Harrison. I’m not a religious person, but the combination of lyrics, the Hare Krishna choir, and the gentle acceleration of energy as the song builds, really makes me feel something bigger than I am! Second to that, I am a Spice Girls SUPERFAN, and my go-to Karaoke song is ‘Say you’ll be there!’ - complete with Mel C high kick. 

Lizzie Brennan, Data Manager

Describe your role as Data Manager at Unifrog

As Data Manager, I help to maintain and update all of the information we have on our opportunity search tools, as well as researching and designing new tools to add to the platform. This means my job can have an instant impact on hundreds of thousands of students all around the world, which is very exciting! It's super important we have the most up to date, impartial information to show to students to allow them to make informed decisions about their future.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

I'd say the most challenging part of the job is making sure that we are always on top of the latest developments and releases in education-related data. There are lots of great data sources which release data on a whole range of different areas in education, from the amount of students who go on to a graduate job once they finish a particular course at a particular institution, to the latest Ofsted reports for a school or apprenticeship provider in the UK. We need to make sure we have the most recent, relevant information to share and also look out for any new data points which we could use to supplement the information we already have. Getting feedback from students and teachers using the platform is also crucial to making sure we achieve this.

You were very involved in Unifrog’s move to a new office. How did you make sure that this would be somewhere the team were happy in?

People spend a good chunk of their day at work so we wanted to try and make the new Unifrog office a place people enjoy coming to, rather than just somewhere they have to be! We've made sure the space has lots of light, plants and colourful furniture to promote a happy, positive environment and we’ve also made sure people have the chance to add their own touches to the space. As we've now moved over from a shared to a private office, we've also invested in an office radio and it has exposed us to lots of questionable music tastes…

What are the best and worst bits of being an Arsenal supporter?

I was brought up an Arsenal fan, with my family all having their roots in Islington, but unfortunately during our glory days I was too young to appreciate how good we were. It's good to know our history, but since I started taking a serious interest it all went downhill and let's just say the struggle is real and I'm missing my favourite Frenchman…

Lydia Derbyshire, HE Partnerships Manager

Describe your role at Unifrog

My role as HE Partnerships manager is to make sure that our university partners get the most out of the platform and the exciting opportunities we have on offer. Through my role, I get to share incredibly valuable pre-application insights with universities, supporting them with their recruitment and marketing strategies. It’s great working with such a diverse range of institutions, knowing the value their partnerships and opportunities bring to the wider Unifrog community. 

How does your background in the education charity sector and student recruitment help you in this role?

Ever since graduating from university, my work has been somewhat related to higher education and ensuring students have all of the information to make informed decisions about their next steps. My work in the charity sector focused largely on widening participation, whilst my recent experience working in university student recruitment helps me better understand the priorities and challenges facing the university partners that I support.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside work?

As long as the weather is on my side, I enjoy going out on long walks with my dog, Ralph, and we’re really lucky to live close to the Peak District so there’s lots to explore close by. When we have a little more time, I love to get away on a camping trip, preferably somewhere near the sea!

What's the one film you think everyone should see?

Everyone should definitely watch ‘Hidden Figures’. The film is based on real events and tells the inspirational story of three female African-American NASA mathematicians who were integral in the space race, whilst also playing an incredibly important role in the advancement of equal opportunities.

Megan Soley, HE Partnerships Coordinator

How has your career background helped you in this role?

I’ve done a little bit of everything in the higher education world over the past few years – student recruitment, event management, sales, schools outreach, marketing; and they all seem to have combined perfectly into this role! Every day I draw upon something different from my background, whether I’m designing best practice guides for our partners, planning how our offerings can be used throughout the recruitment cycle, or supporting the Partnership Managers with the logistics of marketing campaigns and events.

What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?

Lots of my days involve auditing our higher education partners to make sure everyone is getting the most out of their partnership. I really enjoy my work-from-home ritual of getting a big coffee, a comfy hoodie, and popping on my headphones to dive into some spreadsheets – I feel like a little detective. I think my colleagues can speak to me losing track of time when I'm in data-mode!

If you could meet any celebrity, who would you choose and why?

I would say I'd choose Sebastian Vettel. I grew up watching him being a menace on a Formula 1 track, back-to-back world championships, and now he is a massive inspiration to me with all his work campaigning to save our planet and drawing attention to human rights violations around the world. I feel like he would be a truly kind, motivated, and humble person to be around.

What gives you energy?

I’m a country girl at heart, so nothing revives me like a walk in the fresh air. When I was writing my dissertation I would sometimes go on two to three walks a day to recharge my brain!

Michelle Butterworth, Content Creator and Editor

What do you like most about your role at Unifrog?

I love that I get to learn about so many things. When researching for a new Know-how guide or Subjects library profile, I’ll be looking for answers to questions like ‘what’s the difference between ophthalmics and optometry?’, ‘why study in Canada?’, or ‘what causes anxiety?’ Discovering lots of interesting facts is definitely a perk of the role! 

How do you make sure you keep in touch with the team when you're working remotely?

I think Slack has definitely been a game changer - it makes it so easy to brainstorm new ideas or get advice from someone in the team, so I try to use it pretty often. It’s also nice to take part in things like the online yoga class. 

What's the best concert you've ever been to?

The best concert would have to be Rammstein. They really know how to entertain a crowd and their pyrotechnics are mind-blowing.

What's at the top of your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to try cliff jumping. And if I could do it off Haew Suwat - the waterfall featured in The Beach - that would be a huge bonus! 

Pam Gardner, Employer Engagement Coordinator

Describe your role

My role as Employer Engagement Coordinator is to make sure that every employer partner who works with us at Unifrog gets the most value out of working with us and our audience. That can range from suggesting our exciting upcoming events to employers to creating a targeted recruitment campaign for them focusing on priorities like geography or sector interests. Supporting the work of our three wonderful Employer Partner Managers largely involves coordinating the data on how well engagement is going with that partner's content or events they’ve delivered with us. During my interview, I said that I envisaged my role as being “the glue” for our wonderful employer team at Unifrog and that must have resonated (and they’re stuck with me now, haha).

What’s your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

This would have to be the Placements tool. In my previous role, I was a work experience coordinator in a sixth form college and I used it! I absolutely love the simplicity for students as they input their information, that it’s so easily manageable for the school/college, and that it brings in a ready-made employer database for the school. The ‘help’ documents and videos are short and accessible to share with student and staff groups too!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

It’s great to be a lovely person and you should always be true to yourself, but don’t forget you can put yourself first too. Have that confidence, believe you are worth it, and go for it!

What things do you spend money on unreasonably, but very satisfyingly?

Having bought not one but two kayaks this year, that is my splurge! Paddling on a quiet lake in total peace is the ultimate satisfaction and worth every penny!

Rebecca Scannapieco, Account Manager

What made you apply to work at Unifrog?

Without wanting to sound clichéd, I knew I would have loved to have access to the platform when I was at school. It makes thinking about and researching your next destination so much easier as a student! Having gained more knowledge of the platform, I know given the chance again, I would have applied to some universities abroad. I also love that the platform has made such a big impact for students and knowing that I’m a part of that is so rewarding.

What did you learn working at Zara that has helped you in this role?  

Working in Zara in my previous job definitely taught me a few things! I was able to improve on my communication skills, multi-tasking and also learning new systems and programmes. Unifrog is constantly changing and so being able to learn a new system quickly comes in handy. And working in an office means I can finally put all my clothes that I have accumulated whilst working at Zara to good use!

What’s your favourite thing about talking to teachers every day?

Whether I’m onboarding new schools, helping teachers with admin-related queries or guiding them through how to use the platform, it’s always really satisfying to know that we are making their job that little bit easier! We tend to speak with the same teachers on a regular basis which is really nice as it makes it more personal. It’s always nice to have a chat with teachers about how they're getting on, and it's fun to speak with teachers from all over the UK - I especially love a Geordie accent!

Which actor would you get to play you in the movie of your life and why?

Anna Kendrick because like her, my singing is Pitch Perfect (although Samar might say otherwise).

Robert Harries, New Business Lead

What does an average day as New Business Lead look like?

On an average day, I'll be sending out emails and calling prospective prospects as part of targeted campaigns, and then replying to those interested in finding out more about Unifrog. I also act as the conduit between the prospect and the Partnership Managers, ensuring both parties' diaries and interests align before booking meetings between the two. We also get a fair bit of interest in the platform from our website and I reply to these enquiries.

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

I enjoy the verifying process of a prospect's contact details and role within an organisation. It's a form of detective work at times.

What do you like to do outside of work? 

I play cricket for my local club in the summer. I enjoy reading non-fiction and genre fiction books, and I spend a lot of my time bird watching and walking.

What's your coffee order?

I'm more of a tea drinker, so I'd say Assam or decaf tea depending on the time of day.

Scott Blake, Producer / Director

What motivates you to work at Unifrog?

I absolutely love producing video content that makes a significant impact on people's lives and choices. Working at Unifrog provides me with the perfect platform to fulfil this passion and purpose. The opportunity to create videos that have a genuine, positive influence on individuals is incredibly rewarding and inspiring.

What's your favourite thing about your role?

One of my favourite things about my role is the opportunity to meet and interact with so many diverse and fascinating people. Each shoot brings me face-to-face with individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life. Listening to their stories, and capturing their triumphs on film, is incredible. 

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It would definitely be Thai green curry!

What's the best gig you've ever been to?

I saw Ariana Grande at Manchester Pride a couple years ago and that was a surreal experience (I'm kinda obsessed). I am however going to two Taylor Swift dates next year which I know will take the number one spot!

Sheri Barnett, Head of Written Content

Describe your role

My role is Head of Student Content, which means I plan and create content for our Careers, Subjects, and Know-how libraries, I edit content written by the rest of the student content team, and I look after the student content team. I also work with experts, universities, and employers to make sure that what we produce is as helpful as possible, and come up with new projects for the team to work on. In a nutshell, it's a lot of talking, a lot of reading, and a lot of writing - three of my favourite things!

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt working at Unifrog?

The most surprising thing I've learnt working at Unifrog is just how many incredible opportunities there are out there! When I was at school I didn't know I could study in Switzerland, complete a degree in Adventure Filmmaking, or take part in a school leaver programme and study later. There is such a wealth of opportunities out there and - having not had anything like Unifrog growing up - it surprises me every time I find something new and exciting on the platform!

What would your perfect weekend look like?

My perfect weekend would definitely be a city break somewhere in Europe. I love travelling and would quite happily spend every weekend for the rest of eternity exploring new places with my friends or my family.

What's your favourite pizza?

It's controversial! I love a vegetable pizza with extra chillies and pineapple! I also can't eat dairy and hate vegan cheese, so I go cheeseless... at least no one wants to share with me and I get it all to myself!
 

Simon Warner, Account Manager

What motivates you to work at Unifrog?

Having been a teacher in schools in economically deprived parts of London, I've seen the challenge of getting students to see what aspiration means and getting them to aim higher. So the Unifrog mission of levelling the playing field is something that resonates with me, and something I can apply to so many of the young people I have worked with over the last 13 years. I've also found that navigating next steps out of school is somewhat of a far more complicated process than when I left school! Helping students to find the right path for them is something I've always tried to do and again, this is something about Unifrog that I love – that the student's journey is at the centre!

What’s your favourite thing about your role (so far)?

I've loved getting to know the other account managers and learning from them. They're all great and so happy to explain everything and go through the platform and the systems. I've also enjoyed being able to start to meet the schools that I will be working with. I'm really excited to get up and running and explaining all of the amazing parts of the platform to them!

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

My wife and her family are Irish and they have a house on the West Coast of Ireland. I love being outside and the landscape over there is beautiful. Everywhere you look, there's something new to take in, and it feels so much more untouched than anywhere else I have been. It helps that the people are really friendly and it's such a relaxed place as well!

What's your favourite sandwich?

Is it controversial that I'm not a big sandwich fan? I do love a ham and cheese toastie every now and then though, but I'm not sure if that counts!

Sofia Hammond, Partner Success Lead

What does an average day as a Partner Success Lead look like?

An average day as a Partner Success Lead starts with checking the Unifrog inbox and responding to a multitude of queries from our schools. During the day, we make sure that all of our new schools are onboarded onto the platform. This includes running onboarding calls with the lead contact from the school and uploading their data onto the platform so that all students and teachers can start to use it.

What part of your job do you think is the most challenging?

The most challenging part of our job is making sure that every piece of data we upload to the platform is correct and up to date. Many of our schools have thousands of students/teachers who need access to the platform, so we spend lots of time updating and amending their information. Our goal is to make use of the platform as effective and seamless as possible, so it’s really important to us to get this right!

What's your favourite way to spend a day off?

I love going for a cycle or a long walk on the weekend. Apart from that, my friends and I are always trying new restaurants; Shoreditch is our favourite area for catch-ups over dinner.

Build the best ice cream sundae!

The best ice cream sundae would have scoops of pistachio, white chocolate, and salted caramel ice cream (with the caramel chunks). Then white chocolate sauce and strawberries on top!

Tamsin Davis, Account Manager

What do you like the most about your role?

I used to be a teacher, so I really like being able to work on something that helps teachers out. Unifrog makes life so much easier for them and their students. And on the student side of things, Unifrog’s mission to level the playing field is so important to me. Being able to give students the same opportunities, no matter what their background, really drew me to this role.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

It’s difficult to choose a favourite Unifrog tool as there are so many! I think mine would have to be either the Webinars tool or the Read, Watch, Listen tool. I’m not sure if those tools get used as much as some of the others, but they both feel like so much more than just a tool! They’re really useful for things like writing personal statements and finding wider reading to talk about. Podcasts, TED Talks, and webinars really help students broaden their understanding of a subject and strengthen their applications. 

What's the best gig or show you've ever been to?

One of my favourite recent gigs was seeing Jessie Ware. I’m a little bit obsessed with everything about her – her podcast, her cookbook, and her music. I listened to her a lot during the Covid-19 lockdowns and then played a lot of her songs at my wedding, so seeing her live was quite emotional.

What would your superpower be?

I think my superpower would have to be teleportation. The amount of time and money it would save me would be huge. Even for short distances, like getting home from work, it would be such a big help! But for long distances, like a flight to Japan I took, I really struggled to sleep so it would save me the discomfort of journeys like that as well. Plus I don’t want to move abroad because it’s hard to travel back home, so it would give me the opportunity to try that!

Tim Bodey, Account Manager

How has your background in teaching helped you in this role?

Being a teacher is a pretty unique job, and each school is more unique still. Being a teacher helped me understand what is important to students, and how teachers try to help them. It also made me really passionate about getting students good outcomes. Knowing so many amazing young people who have worked hard for their grades has made me want to see them get great jobs too. Unifrog is there to help them do that, so teaching has made me really energised by Unifrog's mission. It was a privilege to teach, but I love helping teachers see their students succeed after school.

What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

It's not a deep cut, but I love the personality quiz. I wish I'd done one of these way earlier in my life. It's a great start to looking at careers! It makes students think way more realistically about what they're interested in. When I was in school I did a careers quiz which told me to become a DJ. While 11 year old me was flattered that the internet thought I was a budding Chris Moyles, I don't think anyone who'd actually met me would have though the same. If I'd done an interests or personality quiz first, I don't think I'd have been given such a rogue suggestion!

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why?

Having studied history I'm tempted to be niche, but I'll try to go for someone you won't need to Wikipedia. With that narrowing of the historical field I'd go for Nelson Mandela. Overcoming such adversity, being so dedicated to unity, I think he'd have some incredible insight. I'm staggered by his perseverance. I'd love to ask how he found strength to keep going. As a man who saw Apartheid fall, and rebuilt the rainbow nation after, I'd be fascinated by the details of how he did it. I also think it would be interesting to hear where he would start to change the world today!

What's your karaoke song?

It really depends on the karaoke! Having been in a few shows, my first solo was ‘Mr Bombastic’ which has remained as a classic. More of a crowd pleaser would be ‘My Heart Will Go On’, which always gives good options for dramatic interpretation. And what karaoke isn't helped by some dramatic interpretation…

Vikki Garner, Partnerships Director (UK and Employers)

What do you find most exciting about working at Unifrog?

So many things! I would probably have to say new developments and the impact they have on schools and students. It's super exciting when you’ve had an idea yourself, or heard about one from the team or a partner school, and then see it develop into a new tool. We always ask a few of our partners to test out new tools, and seeing their reactions as they realise how much of a difference it's going to make to either their CEIAG tracking and management, or opportunities for their students, is equally as exciting as the initial idea.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

I support the Account Management and Partner Success Teams, and with 2,000 partners to look after, every day is super busy. Our partners provide us with amazing feedback, from how fantastic they're finding the platform to the barriers they have in delivering CEIAG in their schools. I love hearing about these barriers and helping the teams to support our partners to overcome them. I suppose you could say it's our partner schools' challenges that become mine, and I love the challenge of finding the perfect solution. 

Has previous experience as a teacher served you well in this role?

Absolutely! I've had first hand experience of the difficulties when it comes to planning and delivering careers, whether that be a shortage of allocated time, making sure students have the right information for their chosen pathway, trying to create lessons which capture their imagination and raise their aspirations, the list goes on! But it's these experiences - those of the team and of our partner schools - that drive everything we do at Unifrog.  

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why?

This is a tricky one. I'd have to say Rosa Parks. I'd love to go back in time to watch her make a stand against racism through simply sitting on a bus. That one act sent shockwaves through America and earned her the title of ‘the first lady of civil rights’. A phenomenal woman!

Zoe Long, Area Manager

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

Throughout my career, I've been deeply engaged in the captivating worlds of widening participation and career development. My passion lies in smashing barriers and ensuring that every young individual, regardless of their origins or talents, can revel in equal opportunities. Witnessing them chase their aspirations and navigate seamless transitions fuels my enthusiasm.

Becoming a member of the Unifrog family was a natural choice for me, aligning perfectly with my quest to reshape the narrative. It's all about empowering students at an earlier juncture, kindling their potential, and propelling them towards their own unique destinations. Reflecting on my own school days, I often yearned for a resource as enchanting as Unifrog. Its magical impact in aiding young people to craft a more enlightened path for their future is undeniable.

So, here's to shaking up the game, shaping destinies, and ushering students into a realm of boundless possibilities – a journey I'm thrilled to be a part of!

What's the most surprising thing you've learnt working at Unifrog (so far)?

I've been genuinely astounded by the excess of tools and resources the platform offers. Unifrog transcends the conventional boundaries of a mere destinations platform; it's a multifaceted gem that fosters cultural understanding, cultivates fresh skills, and widens the outlooks of possibilities for students. The nostalgic feeling of "if only this had existed during my school days" is undisputable – a sentiment that resonates profoundly!    

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If I were trapped in a never-ending mealtime loop, you'd find me gleefully slurping down a variety of king prawn curries. Seafood and Indian cuisine have my heart in a culinary dance-off, and this dish takes the crown every time!

How would your friends describe you?

Always up for a laugh, generous, and full of unflinching truth. I've got your back, even if the truth stings a little!