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?

Like everyone else at Unifrog I love that what we do helps young people, and it's especially energising to work on projects that make access to information and opportunities fairer. Also, I'm addicted to coffee, so the thought of making my first cup is a big motivation to get out of bed. 

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).

Annabel Mercer, 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.

Caroline Collins, Head of Employer Partnerships

Describe your role at Unifrog

As Head of Employer Partnerships, I reach out to both national and international employers showcasing the Unifrog platform and helping them to raise their brand awareness with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds. I plan different opportunities in which students can engage with employers, such as webinars, and help collect information from our employer partners to populate the Know-how library, our Special opportunities tool, and our Apprenticeship tool. It’s a very exciting time to start this role as it’s a brand new part of Unifrog, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this area develops and the employer partnerships we create!

How has your background in social enterprise and higher education helped you in this role?

Before starting at Unifrog, I worked as a Partnership and Engagement Manager at Enactus UK, a youth social enterprise charity which works with university students. My role involved building and delivering partnership plans to ensure that the corporate sponsors achieved return on investment. This role involved exciting opportunities such as working with Amazon’s Black Employee Network to build 1:1 mentoring opportunities, creating virtual work experience weeks with Schroders, building grant funding opportunities with SAP and Sodexo, and helping to change Unilever’s graduate recruitment processes based on Enactus student feedback. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with the Careers and Employment Service at the University of Derby.

Both experiences have built my awareness of employability skills, which are vital for the world of work, and what activities I can create with partner employers to help young people build these. I’m excited to bring my experience to Unifrog and continue to support young people to make the best decision about their future.

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

It would definitely be Helen Bonham Carter! With all of the incredible films she has been in like ‘Harry Potter’, ‘The King’s Speech’ and the Netflix series ‘The Crown’, she’s bound to have some brilliant stories to tell!

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

I'd recommend watching ‘Monuments Men’. It's an absolutely incredible film with George Clooney, John Goodman and Bill Murray to name a few. It's about seven museum directors, curators, and art historians from the Allied Forces coming together in an effort to protect, recover, and return priceless artefacts damaged or looted by the German army in World War II and is based on a true story. Make sure you add it to your must-see list!
 

Catherine Twomey, Product Manager

What does an average day as 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.

Charley Rigling, Area Manager and UK Education Lead

What do you find most exciting about being a Unifrog Area Manager? 
 
I love the excitement when a new partner school comes on board, and we have the first strategy meeting to establish their goals with the platform. It's exciting to help schools take a step back and think about what beneficial changes using Unifrog can bring to their CEIAG programme. Additionally, my partner schools are spread across the East of England and London, and I find it really exciting when I discover cute coffee shops in places that I never would have visited if it weren't for my job. 

As our Gatsby Benchmark Champion, how do you help schools meet the benchmarks? 

As Gatsby Champion, my role is to be as clued up as possible on all things CEIAG policy related. With my partner schools, I'll support them in various ways with this. Often, we'll go through their CEIAG plan with a fine-toothed comb comparing this with the DfE's guidance on meeting the benchmarks. Many of my partner schools are working towards achieving CEIAG awards, so I'll help them by applying my knowledge of how Unifrog relates to the benchmarks and the assessment frameworks for the awards they're applying for.  

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

Before Unifrog, I was an RE teacher at a secondary school in Camden, London. Teaching gave me first hand experience of the challenges schools face in a variety of areas, as well as the positive impact good careers education can have on students. Teaching develops your resilience and your ability to empathise with others. All of these things drive me to do a really good job of supporting my partner schools as an Area Manager. I enjoy addressing the variety of issues my schools face relating to careers and destinations, and I love celebrating their successes using Unifrog to combat these. 

What’s your favourite song and why? 

Tough question! I'm all for a girl power anthem. ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera is one of my faves.

Chloe Hayes, People Lead

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

I love my work and I get very excited about the variation of tasks I get to focus on that day, and the lovely colleagues I’ll be interacting with. Unifrog has a strong social mission, and so this is a huge motivator for me to be the best I can be every day and support our team with the wonderful work that they do.

All that being said, I have to admit that the immediate thought which often gets me out of bed in the morning is the promise of a hot drink!

How has your background in Human Resources in the university access space helped you in your role at Unifrog?

I’ve always worked in Human Resources within the university access and widening participation sector. It's given me a strong sense of personal mission, and also an understanding of some of the hurdles that employees might be facing at work when striving to achieve educational equality and to level the playing field for pupils of all backgrounds – it’s no easy task!

I also think my background in Human Resources has helped me to be able to form great working relationships with many different people across an organisation.

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

At the moment, I’d probably choose to meet Davina McCall, to have a conversation about all the fantastic work she’s doing raising awareness on different women’s issues and how they can affect you at work and in your personal life. She seems like an energetic and caring person to have around, and I actually think she’d be a great HR and people professional!

What gives you energy?

I like doing things that inspire me in my daily life that help me to feel energised and excited at work. The main thing that I love doing when I have a day to myself is wandering around a great art gallery or exhibition, with my earplugs in so that I can block out the world and focus on the art for a couple of hours. I always come out super energised.
 

Claire Crease, Marketing Lead

What gets you out of bed in the morning to start working?

I always try to get outside for a nice walk with a podcast before I sit down to work in the morning, so the idea of getting out in the fresh air is a good incentive! I live in Scotland though which means that my routine is regularly spoiled by the weather, and on those days, a big cup of coffee and a good breakfast does it for me. 

What do you like most about your role?

I really like that I get to shout about all of the great work Unifrog is doing. The projects I'm involved in are so varied, and I appreciate that I get to mix critical thinking and strategy with more creative work. It's nice to flex both of those muscles at once!

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

This is such a cruel question, but if I have to choose one thing, I'll go with meat-free 'pepperoni' pizza. I stopped eating meat eight years ago, but at that point, meat-free alternatives weren't quite there and I spent a while feeling deprived of good pizza toppings. Now that I'm able to get my hands on a good slice of 'meaty' pizza, it's my go-to.

What gives you energy?

Engaging with the arts in general gives me energy, but especially live theatre. The performing arts were a massive part of my life when I was growing up, to the extent that becoming a performer was a viable career choice for a while! Although it's not the path I chose for myself, seeing a live show still gives me such a buzz and always leaves me on a massive adrenaline high. I took a solo trip to London last year and, because I had no supervision, I saw about six shows in four days. I didn't sleep for weeks after that...

Clare Stevenson, Account Manager

Describe your role

I haven't been at Unifrog for very long, but I've already received amazing training and support from the team. Essentially, my role is to enable partner schools and colleges in my region to maximise the value of their subscription to the platform. It's so important to understand each partner's specific goals and provide the necessary training, resources, and support to staff and students to help them achieve these.  

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

I love the ethos of the organisation and it's mission to raise aspirations for all students, regardless of their background. I was the first person in my family to go to university back in the early 90s, and I wish I could have had even a fraction of the access to the information and support that Unifrog provides.

I love that Unifrog is a B Corp with an incredibly positive culture.

I also used the Placements tool during my previous role for a large secondary school, coordinating over 150 student placements for sixth form students each year. This element of the platform made such a difference to my workload, so I was confident it was a platform that I could really get behind, and I know its potential to be transformative in helping partners manage their entire careers programme.

What would your perfect weekend look like?

My perfect weekend would involve at least one lazy morning when I'm not on the clock. Also, my daughter has recently moved away to college, so time spent with her at weekends will be incredibly precious to me. I love country walks with my family and our Schnoodle Cooper, via a pub for lunch perhaps. I enjoy catching up with friends and the occasional concert or theatre trip.

Who was your childhood hero?

I was massively into George Michael and Wham when I was a child. I had posters plastered everywhere in my bedroom!

Coralie Colmez, Co-Founder

Describe your role

I'm one of Unifrog's founders, so over the years my role has included pretty much everything from Sales to Data analysis to HR. I've passed on all my management and leadership responsibilities to other people, so these days I get to spend all my time on what I like the most, which is developing the platform. 

We look at ideas from wherever they come, including teachers and students at our partner schools and everyone in the team, and decide which ones we want to go forward with. I then work with Alex (the co-founder) and our lead programmer Stu to make them happen! I focus mostly on our products that involve using data, whether that's information from outside sources like UCAS or job market predictions, or usage stats from the platform. 

What advice would you give young people?

Always ask yourself what it is that you really want, and then do that instead of doing what the world expects of you. And remember that the decisions you make are very rarely permanent, and you can change your mind and your life at any point.

What book do you always recommend to other people?

I love reading, so this could be a long list, but one of my favourites is ‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St John Mandel, which is about… a pandemic - so recently, people have been a lot less enthusiastic when I recommend it to them! Her writing gives the book an addictive other-worldly feeling, and it has a very lovely message about the importance of art. 

What does your ideal weekend look like?

Sleeping in indecently late, sun all weekend, a good party, and the perfect level of hangover.

Dan Seamarks, Head of Video Content

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.

Elizabeth Verner-Pollard, Area Manager

What do you like most about your role at Unifrog?

My favourite part would have to be the interactions with schools. I’m naturally curious, and relish meeting with new schools to understand their needs and challenges. I also find it hugely rewarding to support partners to get the best out of the Unifrog platform for each and every one of their students. 

What motivates you to get out of bed for work?

What motivates me is the feeling that I am doing something worthwhile. I am part of an organisation that is helping to make a difference to the futures of young people by raising aspirations, removing barriers and widening participation. Oh, and a couple of wet noses and wagging tails beside the bed get me up bright and early.

What book do you always recommend people?

I always recommend ‘Wonder’ by R. J. Palacio. It’s a great book about the importance of kindness, and was the first novel my son chose to independently read - which can be quite an achievement for boys - and then re-read many times over. He loved the film too, but thought the book was better (a win!).  

What advice would you give your younger self?

You are your biggest critic and are more capable than you believe. Besides, pretty much everyone else is winging it too! Take every opportunity to try new stuff to find your ‘thing’, and then do what YOU love - not what you think will please others. Also, almost nothing in life is permanent. If it doesn’t work out it is probably for a good reason (even if you can’t see it at the time) and a chance do something different. Above all: be brave.

Emily Adkins, Head of Teaching Resources

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

As a former teacher, I really wanted to stay working in the field of education. I used to enjoy creating teaching resources for myself and colleagues at school, and I am now doing that every day at Unifrog. I had used Unifrog with my own students, so I knew it was an incredibly useful platform to support students in pursuing their career aspirations. I was really excited by the opportunity to work for a company with a positive social impact and help level the playing field for students.  

What does an average day as Head of Teaching Resources look like?

What I like best about my role is that no two days are the same, as I might be working on a leadership lesson one day and a marketing and product design course the next. I get to work on lots of exciting projects like the Careers Year Plan, PSHE Lesson Pack, skill development lessons, online courses, and virtual work experience. Providing and acting on feedback is a big part of the role too, to make sure our content is the very best quality for partner schools and colleges. I love reviewing the work of my colleagues and seeing their creative ideas come to life in lessons and courses!  

What book do you always recommend to other people?

My background is in psychology so it has to be ‘Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments' by Alex Boese. It’s a collection of weird and wonderful (and often unethical!) experiments that have been conducted in the name of science. It contains a summary of Stanley Milgram’s experiment, in which the majority of people followed orders to give a stranger an electric shock strong enough to kill them! 

What's your karaoke song?

My ‘kitchen karaoke’ song is definitely ‘Naive’ by The Kooks. I’ve been known to play it several times on repeat whilst cooking. But I’m not sure I’d subject anyone to my singing voice outside of the house, no matter what the song was! 

Emma Byrne, Events Assistant

Describe your role at Unifrog

I help the Events team bring Unifrog’s conferences and fairs to life. That means supporting the In-Person Events Lead with everything from choosing and setting up venues, coordinating suppliers and equipment, and making sure exhibitors have what they need, through to welcoming guests and keeping things running smoothly on the day. I also help with follow-up afterwards and sometimes support our virtual events too.

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

Knowing that our events really help teachers, advisers, and students. I love the buzz of being part of a live event, seeing all the planning come together, and working with such a friendly, supportive team.

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

It would have to be Charlie Parker. As a saxophone player myself, I’d love to pick his brain on technique (and maybe finally learn how he managed to play at lightning speed without even seeming to breathe).

How would your friends describe you?

They’d probably say I’m warm and reliable, with a good sense of humour — and definitely the kind of mad animal lover who remembers dogs’ names long before their owners’!  

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, Account Manager

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 O'Keefe, Area Manager

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

Physically? A combination of my alarm and wafer-thin curtains (hello, early morning light). Beyond that, I’d say a sugary breakfast and the fresh promise of a new day.

More seriously, I’d say people – I love them. I’m lucky that my role involves fairly constant introductions, interactions, and opportunities to hear stories and build pretty exciting relationships. I’m becoming very familiar with the sound of my own voice though, and nobody is getting out of bed in the morning to listen to that (probably).

How has your background in working with schools for charities helped you in this role?

My background at an education charity directly led me to Unifrog and specifically our social purpose. I’ve worked closely with schools serving pupils most affected by poverty, and have seen the extraordinary work that those schools do to close a gap that, as we know, shouldn’t exist. Pupil destinations follow a similar pattern of cyclical poverty and disadvantage, leading to a huge gap in aspiration and opportunity.

Going back further, I went to a struggling state school that was forced to close the year after I left, so my role involves a lot of me thinking ‘I wish I had this!’, whilst witnessing a school leader experience a platform and partnership that can genuinely help them support their most in-need pupils.

Levelling the playing field is a system-wide challenge. I’m fortunate to have a broad geographical scope across South London and the South East, and therefore an opportunity to work with pretty much all forms of school provision. I’m here because Unifrog is doing incredible work to eliminate the pupil aspiration gap, support schools, and improve outcomes for communities.

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

A fun fact about me is that I’m probably the coldest person you are ever likely to meet, despite growing up in a much colder part of the country (Yorkshire) than the tropical London climbs I find myself in these days. By that I mean two pairs of gloves in the winter, one pair of the gloves in the summer (I kid). So cold is off the menu – let’s flip it on its head and go Mediterranean. I have a vision of being one of those one-hundred-year-old Greek locals who get by playing cards and eating olive oil and fresh tomatoes.

What's the best joke you know?

My Unifrog induction was a ribbeting experience. Get it? I’m here all week!

Jacqui Hogan, Account Manager

What does your role as an Account Manager at Unifrog involve?

I work with schools and colleges across Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire. A typical working week usually consists of lots of staff training sessions. These vary from whole-school staff training to more focused sessions, with tutors or subject teachers for example; providing tailored support that's relevant to their role, so everyone can make the most of the resources and the content available. I also have many meetings with key Careers team staff to discuss their CEIAG strategy, and offer best practice tips and ideas for using Unifrog to support the successful implementation of this.

What do you enjoy most about working with schools in the North of England?

As a Northener, I love working with schools in the north of England. Every day is different and I enjoy getting to know all the students and teachers in my various partner schools. My work involves a lot of driving and I get to drive through some of the UK's most stunning countryside. 

Is working for a social enterprise important to you?

Working for a social enterprise is very important to me. As a child I lived in what was considered to be an underprivileged area and know only too well the challenges that this can pose to young people. The fact that Unifrog aims to help level out the educational playing field, giving students access to information and resources to help them find the best destinations and opportunities for them is a huge incentive for me and make me feel proud to be a part of it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

It’s a Marcus Aurelius quote: ‘Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; and if it is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.’

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.

Joe Gask, Teaching Resource Creator

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

As a primary school teacher, I noticed that careers education is very limited within the curriculum. Working with Unifrog means that I can have a hand in designing a much-needed careers programme for primary schools. I also had very limited careers education whilst at school and would have loved to have access to something as brilliant as Unifrog to help me make those all important early career decisions.

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

The most surprising thing I have learnt from Unifrog so far is what a treasure trove of information can be found on the platform. I have been exploring all the fantastic courses on offer and delving through the Careers library. There are so many careers I didn't even realise existed! 

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

If I could meet any historical figure, it would be Beatrix Potter. While she’s famous for her beloved children’s stories, I’m fascinated by her lesser-known work as a mycologist studying fungi. Her passion for nature and scientific discovery, combined with her artistic talent, makes her an inspiring figure I’d love to learn from.

What does your perfect weekend look like?

My perfect weekend can vary drastically. Sometimes I prefer long walks through beautiful nature trails (Loch Lomond is a favourite of mine). Other days, I’d prefer to curl up on the sofa, indulging in a movie marathon or reading a horror book.  

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! My team also answers phone calls and helps with onboarding partners. This involves meeting with schools to look at how Unifrog works; we go through some cool aspects of the platform so teachers can get the most out of it right away. We also get to work with lots of 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 with some dough from an authentic Italian shop and roll it out. Then I go for a red tomato sauce as the base and add some olives, mozzarella, a bit of feta cheese, mushrooms, and some pesto on top (and maybe prosciutto if I don't want a vegetarian pizza). Put it in the oven (or cook it on the barbecue/braai 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 sadly not blessed with the privilege of being a morning person. My day begins with an angry string of alarms, but a good podcast on the train helps me defrost a little before having a big bowl of Weetabix at the office…

Other than 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 really 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 people when you tell them?

The main thing that springs to mind is that I did dance classes for over ten years as I 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.

Kim Anderson, Area Manager

How long have you worked at Unifrog and what have been the biggest changes in that time?

I'm pretty old school at Unifrog, joining the company way back in 2015. I can remember the early days when we only had three tools. Unifrog is constantly developing and improving so there isn't just one big change. I guess the main change is that there’s now too many of us to all fit around one desk at Team Day!

What’s your favourite tool on the Unifrog platform? 

It's like asking which is my favourite child! The UK university tool will always be a stand out winner; it never fails to impress people when they see it for the first time. It also makes me wonder how I made a decision on university back in the day, basing my decision purely on the  pictures in prospectuses. Other than that the Subjects library - in particular the 'Geek Out' section - as it’s jam-packed full of cool stuff. I would definitely have loved it as a student.

What part of your role do you find most challenging? 

Getting hold of teachers! You guys are always so busy that trying to find time to speak to a teacher is like trying to pin down water. 

What’s your favourite film and why? 

Film would be my specialist subject on Mastermind. I'm such a geek - surely no-one can have a favourite? I probably have a favourite in every genre. Growing up with a big brother definitely formed my taste, starting with The Goonies, Rocky and Lethal Weapon (I didn't say it was good taste!). But now being a mum, you don't really get a say, although Moana and The Lego Batman Movie are actually surprisingly good.

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 and Engagement Lead

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!

Mhairi Drysdale, Recruitment Lead

Describe your role at Unifrog

My role as Recruitment Lead is to attract and help select candidates to join the Unifrog team, and support them throughout their recruitment process. I also onboard all new starters to ensure they have the best start possible to their Unifrog careers.

What's your favourite thing about your role?

I really enjoy getting to speak to lots of candidates, getting to know them, and hearing what excites them about Unifrog. It's great to get to work across all the teams at Unifrog, understanding the hiring needs in different teams and the briefs for new roles. I also really enjoy thinking about how we can continue to make recruitment processes better to ensure all candidates have a really positive experience.

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

It's going to have to be my fancy gym. It really is a splurge but it's one I get so much from. The coaches are amazing and make every workout fun. The only way I can justify the cost is that it makes me very happy and I miss it when I don’t go. I never thought I'd say that about the gym!

What book do you always recommend to other people?

I am not a huge reader, but I do enjoy reading about the human body. I studied biomedical sciences, and although I have forgotten most of it, I do like to every now and then dip back into the subject. ‘The Body’ by Bill Bryson is a book I really enjoyed reading. It has chapters on all the different parts of the body, and diseases that can affect them, so I would recommend that to anyone wanting an easy to read science-y book!

Mitchell Purnell, Area Manager

Why did you decide to work for Unifrog?

When I first researched Unifrog, I was drawn to the idea of working for a social enterprise with a product that I could be genuinely passionate about. Then I saw Unifrog's apprenticeship content and search tool in action, which completely sealed the deal! When I dropped out of college, I spent weeks trying to search for, and get my head around, apprenticeships. Something I hear a lot is ‘I wish this existed when I was in school’, which is exactly what I was thinking when I decided to work for Unifrog!

Describe your role

My main priority is making sure my amazing partners in the South West utilise all that Unifrog has to offer; not only with platform usage, but also by taking full advantage of our wider network. There really is no such thing as a standard day or week. I run staff trainings, strategy meetings, best-practice CPDs, conference talks/workshops and network meetings. Essentially, I do whatever is required to make sure staff are supported in providing students with the very best careers education, across the South West.

A lot of miles, a few too many fast food restaurants (for the free Wi-Fi) and plenty of work, but I love it.

What's the best thing about working with teachers?

The best thing has to be when you mention something that sparks their interest and sends them off on a passion-fuelled rant. No matter how tired they may be at the end of a long working day, one trigger conversation shows just how passionate they are about what they do, and why they do it. Plus, they’re super competitive if chocolate is on the line!

Please tell us two truths and one lie about yourself.

• I represented Bristol in the UK Junior Tiddlywinks Championships 2002 and came a very respectable 3rd place.
• I hit my peak of stardom at the age of 12, when I directed an award-winning series of short films based on climate change.
• I had chicken pox three times as a child, much to the disbelief of my local GP.

Nat Beverley-Smith, Assistant Video Editor

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

I actually used Unifrog as a student! As someone who felt a little in the dark about the best way into my industry, I found the resources and support on the platform incredibly helpful.

In my first year after education I worked as a technician for the media department in my old Sixth Form, and spent a large portion of my week producing teaching material (often as interactive slides or tutorial video) which I would then either personally deliver in workshops or pass over to the teachers to use in their classes. It gave me a taste for helping young people, and how rewarding encouraging students to chase their dreams can be.

Now, at Unifrog, I'm able to develop informative videos that help them find their futures on a much wider scale, supporting students like me across the country and around the world! This company is also an amazing place to work; I completed an internship here as a student and several freelance contracts thereafter, and I absolutely love the team mindset and how friendly everyone is. I leapt at the chance to join the team full-time! 

On the Personality quiz, which frog are you?

I got INTJ – Golden Poison Frog; I love their vibrant colour and I too would love to live in a tree in the Colombian rainforest with five of my friends. Although, the introvert/extrovert split was 51%-49%, and Wallace's Flying Frog (ENTJ) looks pretty cool too!

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

I vaguely recall a keen interest in driving tractors at age four... though it didn't last long. I've been interested in technology in some way or another for most of my life, and after a brief spell of my early teens spent acting, I decided that media production was for me. At the core of it I've always enjoyed entertaining and informing, and I put that passion to engage in my video editing at Unifrog every day!

It's board game night: what are you playing?

Tough one! I'd have to go with ‘Frustration’, a true classic of my childhood – though if we've got the time, I enjoy a longer game like ‘Monopoly’ too.

Param Patel, Finance Lead

Describe your role at Unifrog

The role of People and Finance Assistant has a few parts to it. There's the ‘people’ side, which involves helping maintain employee holiday and absence records, booking hotels, and making sure the office is run smoothly – so the HR side of things. And I also support the finance team to manage our bank account, make payments, and respond to enquiries on the email account. So there’s two very different sides to the role, which means every day is a bit different too!

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

It might be a little bit clichéd, but working for a company like Unifrog that has a strong aim – to make sure everyone has access to the information they need to make decisions about their future – gets me up in the morning. It’s great to work for a company with a social goal.

On top of that, everyone I’ve met at Unifrog has been really nice and helpful, which helps get me up in the morning too.

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

I genuinely had no idea for most of my life! When I was 14 or 15, I thought I wanted to be a sports journalist. Then I realised how much I enjoy geography and so I studied that for my degree. But above all, I always wanted to do work that was meaningful, which is how I ended up here at Unifrog.

What about you always surprises people when you tell them?

When people first meet me I think I come across as quite quiet, but I’m very passionate about some of my hobbies. So if you ever see me watching a football game in a stadium, you’d be really caught off guard about how much I get into it! I go crazy if we score a goal. And another thing that surprises people – I have not eaten cake since it made me sick on my tenth birthday!

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).

Robyn Langdon, Events Lead

Describe your role at Unifrog

My role at Unifrog as the Events Lead is to run the virtual events on the platform. This could be from arranging webinars for a small group of students and/or teachers/counselors, straight through to organising large virtual exhibitions attended by 1000s of students from all across the world. I love the process of planning various events, from the event conception, to the end goal of the event being a great success. I really enjoy having lots of events going on at once, and means that the humble to-do list is my best friend!

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

Usually, my dog or a small child! I'm not a coffee drinker, but luckily I'm a morning person, so that certainly helps. But also really enjoying my job; I'm new to Unifrog and already love working here. The days go by quickly and it's a really friendly place to work. I was a bit worried I'd find it difficult working remotely from my home in Plymouth, but that hasn't been the case at all! You can tell that everyone is really proud to be working here and helping make a difference.

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

I have this conversation more often that I'm happy to admit and it changes regularly! At the moment, it would have to be pizza, but it must be one cooked properly in a wood-fired oven. There's nothing more disappointing than a sad oven pizza!

What's your party trick?

I can make a turtle out of the metal covering of the cork ('muselet' is the official name) from a champagne bottle. My brother-in-law is French and passed on the wisdom!

Shameel Wahid, Head of Finance

Describe your role

My role is really interesting because of how much variety it has. It includes everything from payroll - making sure everyone gets paid correctly - to managing and accurately reflecting Unifrog’s cash flow and financial position. On top of that, I’m also working on some exciting projects around making our financial processes more efficient and automated through the use of technology and a lot of Excel! 

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

There were two things that really stood out to me about Unifrog. The first was its mission; being a part of an organisation that helps students make some of the most important decisions in their life really resonated to me. The second was its culture; Unifrog’s online resources showed how important culture was to the company and what it stood for, and that mattered to me.

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

The first two items I’d want would have to be a duvet and a pillow - I really need my sleep, no matter where I am! And the third would be an autobiography of someone else who’s been stranded on an island. I think it would reassure me to know they’d survived it!

How would your friends describe you?

I think my friends would say I’m calm, indecisive, and forgetful. I’ve lost count of the number of times they’ve had to remind me about something! When it comes to making small decisions, I tend to overthink (it might be my economics background that leads to analysis paralysis). But if all hell breaks loose, they’ll turn to me to stay calm!

Siân Phillips, New Partnerships Lead

What's your favourite thing about your role?

I enjoy reaching out to schools and colleges and helping to grow the Unifrog community! I was inspired to join Unifrog as I strongly believe in our mission to level the playing field for all young people by helping them find their best next steps. It's so exciting when a new school decides to join us, as I know the impact the platform is going to have on their student's futures.
 

What part of your job do you find most challenging?

The role can be very busy! Day to day, I'm responding to enquiries from schools, writing campaigns highlighting different platform features, working with our Area Managers to organise demonstrations, and reaching out to schools about our Sponsorship programme. 
 

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

I would choose Barcelona! It's such a cool city, full of culture, great beaches, and lots of dogs! I love it so much I'm actually getting married just outside the city in August 2024!

What’s your favourite thing to do outside work?

I like exploring new places with my partner and our rescue dog, Isla (featured in my photo at our first doggy yoga session).

Siri Minsaas, Head of International School Sales

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

Before joining Unifrog, I was a teacher and worked in university access for many years, so helping students find their next step and figure out what they want to do in the future has always motivated me in the mornings (that, and a breakfast of berries and cereal).

What's your favourite thing about your role?

I love getting to work with colleagues and support schools all around the world. I'll catch up with colleagues in Colombia, hear how schools in Hong Kong are getting on, and talk to teachers in Cyprus - it's super varied, and feels like I've travelled the world in the course of the working day!

Where is the best place you've travelled to, and why is it your favourite?

I went to Sri Lanka a few years ago, and it was absolutely incredible. It's really easy to travel around the island, so you can take in all of the stunning beaches and mountain landscapes. We swam with turtles and saw elephants and leopards. The food was so delicious – I'm still dreaming about it! 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I wouldn't want to mess with the time-space continuum by saying too much to my younger self, but I'd say that it's okay to not have a plan, or for your plans to change. I didn't know where in the world I wanted to live, what I wanted to do with a politics degree, or what job to do after teaching, but not knowing exactly what you want to do just gives you an opportunity to try new things and figure out what works for you!

Stephen Rodwell, People and Operations Director

Describe your role as Head of People and Finance at Unifrog

As my title suggests, I lead on two main things at Unifrog: managing our cash flow; and recruiting, retaining, and developing a happy and effective team. We think we do a pretty good job at making Unifrog a great place to work (hopefully you can see that from our reviews!), but part of my role is to make sure we're always thinking creatively about how to improve – whether that's introducing new perks and benefits, streamlining our internal processes to make them super efficient, or supporting everyone to find their best next steps for professional development. We try to take ideas from everywhere, especially our own team, to continue to make Unifrog an even better place to be.

When you first started, what struck you about Unifrog?

It's a great team of people who support one another and celebrate each other's successes; everyone is eager to help and push the platform forward. It's also inspiring that we have a group of experts in Higher Education and post-16 opportunities who are helping lead the discussion about the future of young people.

As a former teacher, why do you think that what Unifrog is doing is important?

Although I worked in a primary school, I know that my Year 1 pupils would still have loved exploring the different careers on the platform! Every year my class made a ‘Book of Dreams’ where each child drew a picture of what they wanted to be when they were older. In a way, Unifrog is just a grown-up extension of that! Even from a young age, giving children ideas about what careers are out there is hugely important in shaping their aspirations.

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

A corner sofa, the Beatles discography, and a lifetime supply of cheese. What more could you want?

Thomas Ayling, Post Production Manager

What does an average day as a Post Production Manager for Unifrog look like?

On an average day, I’m usually editing new videos and checking in with the team to provide support on projects before they’re sent to our partners. I could be working on a range of projects, from profiles for our Careers, Subjects, and Know-how libraries, to marketing videos or courses. There’s always something different to focus on, which keeps things really interesting!

What’s your favourite Unifrog tool and why?

Ooh, it has to be the Careers and Subjects libraries. As a video editor at Unifrog, it’s my job to transform interview footage into stories that are easy to understand and engaging for young people. It’s always interesting to hear personal journeys, and I love shaping those stories in a way that might spark something in someone watching. I also really enjoy our Courses tool as we get to create fun motion graphics for trailers and explainer videos, and there’s plenty of room to be creative.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I’d tell my younger self to take more risks and that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. The important thing is to really commit to something that excites you, even if it's not the perfect or final choice.

Which reality TV contest/programme do you think you'd win?

I reckon I’d have good run on 'Takeshi's Castle'. I’m hoping all those hours watching it growing up have trained me in the art of foam boulder evasion.

Tom Cook, Lesson Writer

What made you want to work for Unifrog?

Unifrog’s aims and vision are very close to my heart. I’ve had so many discussions with people, both my age and younger, who had no idea what jobs were out there until they started speaking to people at work. They then look back on their qualifications and wish they’d done something different. I think it’s so important to make young people aware of what options are out there early on.

Unifrog’s mission to eliminate bias and discrimination in the education system by leveling the playing field is really important to me too. Along with that, I’d also heard lots of lovely reviews of what it’s like to work for them, so all of these things made me excited to apply!

What's your favourite part of your role?

I really like having time for collaborative planning. As a teacher, it’s quite rare to have the time to bounce ideas off other teachers and keep doing that until you’re really happy with a lesson plan. When I was teaching in a school, I was often on a tight deadline to pull something together that would meet the learning aims. At Unifrog, I’ve got that creative time and can use my team as a sounding board, so together, we can make the best and most impactful lessons possible. 

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

A few months ago, my wife and I saw the Australian band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard in an open air amphitheatre in Athens. The sun was coming down, they played for over two hours… it was such an amazing party in an outstanding setting. They’re a really inclusive band too – they call their supporters the ‘weirdo swarm’, because they welcome everyone! They had signs up encouraging everyone to look out for each other in the crowd.

What's top of your bucket list?

I’d love it if my band, Tashkezar, could play Glastonbury one day. But I imagine if we ever get the chance, we’ll probably start out on a very small stage with lots of logistics to get our heads around and mud to carry our instruments through!

My wife and I are also desperate to go to Canada to see bears in the wild. You have to catch a boat or a sea plane to get to lodges with viewing spots to see the grizzlies. 

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 Mackenzie, Head of People Operations

What made you want to work at Unifrog?

One of the reasons I was keen to work at Unifrog was its social mission. It’s quite important to me that my workplace has a wider social purpose. When I had my interview, the staff on the panel were just so friendly too - and having now met the team at the Team Day, I can confirm this goes for everyone else!

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

The best part of my role is the fact that it’s so people-facing. I really enjoy getting to know people, so it’s great to have a role where I get the chance to chat to the whole team, learn what they do, and work out how best I can support them.

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

I think I’d choose to live in Tasmania. In 2020, before the pandemic hit, I was travelling around Australia with a friend and we stayed with a family who lived there. It’s the most beautiful place you can imagine. There’s loads of independent art going on, vineyards, beaches, and freshly grown food. The family I was staying with had a boat, so we even went lobster fishing, caught a lobster, and ate it on the same day!

The one caveat is that I’d have to bring all my family and friends with me, as Tasmania’s a bit of a distance from the UK!

Which reality TV programme do you think you’d win, and why?

I’m not sure if this counts as reality TV, but I definitely think I could win Pointless. I always used to watch it when I was coming home from school, so I’ve got a good knowledge of the different categories that might come up. You have to do it in pairs, so I’d go with my housemate - she’s got the pop culture sorted, and I studied geography at university. So if the right categories came up, I reckon we could win!