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Address
Brickfields, Unit 215,
37 Cremer Street, E2 8HD
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Use the email addresses below to contact them directly.
-
Alex Kelly
alex@unifrog.org -
Arash Khosravi
arash@unifrog.org -
Ashley Walshe
ashley@unifrog.org -
Ben Mahoney
ben@unifrog.org -
Cassie Ruddock
cassie@unifrog.org -
Charley Fowler
charley@unifrog.org -
Chris Edwards
chris@unifrog.org -
Coralie Colmez
coralie@unifrog.org -
Daniel Keller
daniel@unifrog.org -
Emily Nash
emily@unifrog.org -
Emma Tonkin
emma@unifrog.org -
Farhana Somani
farhana@unifrog.org -
Freddie Knaggs
freddie@unifrog.org -
Greg Brown
greg@unifrog.org -
Hailey Bachrach
hailey@unifrog.org -
Hayley Jayne Wilkinson
hayleyjayne@unifrog.org -
Jacob Lovick
jacob@unifrog.org -
Jacqui Hogan
jacqui@unifrog.org -
Jade Costa
jade@unifrog.org -
Jen Carter
jen@unifrog.org -
John Hillis
john@unifrog.org -
Kaya Carter
kaya@unifrog.org -
Kelly Lake
kelly@unifrog.org -
Kim Anderson
kim@unifrog.org -
Libbie Jackson-Bell
libbie@unifrog.org -
Lizzie Brennan
lizzie@unifrog.org -
Matthew Jones
matthew@unifrog.org -
Mitchell Purnell
mitch@unifrog.org -
Natalie Smith
natalie@unifrog.org -
Neil Smith
neil@unifrog.org -
Nicolas Weir
nick@unifrog.org -
Paul Osbiston
paul@unifrog.org -
Rebecca Scannapieco
rebecca@unifrog.org -
Renee Kapuku
renee@unifrog.org -
Rob Cannings
rob@unifrog.org -
Robyn Smith
robyn@unifrog.org -
Samar Shah
samar@unifrog.org -
Sheri Barnett
sheri@unifrog.org -
Shirley Ling
shirley@unifrog.org -
Simran Pooni
simran@unifrog.org -
Sophie Oulton
sophie@unifrog.org -
Stephen Rodwell
stephen@unifrog.org -
Tom Haywood-Pope
tom@unifrog.org -
Tom Yeaman
tom.y@unifrog.org -
Victor Bamigboye
victor@unifrog.org -
Vikki Garner
vikki@unifrog.org
SO WHAT ARE WE REALLY LIKE?
Here's a closer look at some Unifroggers

Nicolas Weir, Head of International Sales and Delivery
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!

Samar Shah, Partner Success Team Leader
Describe your role
I’m the first point of contact at Unifrog for the majority of schools so, if they have problem or want something updated or changed, they come to me and I help get it sorted.
If you could be any superhero, who would you be?
Any superhero who can fly and get to places really quickly! I’d love to visit sunny destinations whenever I feel like it...
What does an average day as a customer success lead look like?
On a typical day I’ll come into the office, respond to emails, and make sure any other project work is progressing smoothly. I also answer the phones and help the rest of the team out whenever I can.
What advice would you give to your schoolgirl self?
Not to stress! I’d tell my schoolgirl self not to worry about the small stuff as it won’t actually matter that much in five years’ time - ignore the drama and hit the books instead.
What do you like the most about your role?
I love that my role can be really varied at times. Although the majority of day-to-day tasks are similar, the project work is very diverse. Also, I get to speak to a lot of teachers on a daily basis and find out how Unifrog is benefiting them, which makes me feel good!

Arash Khosravi, International Partnerships Manager
Describe your role
I am the International Partnerships Manager so I make sure our international partners are happy in how they’re using Unifrog, and that they’re making the most of the platform. I help make sure they’re engaging really well so that we’re helping as many students as we can across the world. I also support the International Area Managers, and spend lots of time answering schools’ queries and onboarding new schools so they’re happy with rolling out Unifrog. This is actually my favourite part of the role - I love chatting to schools all over the world and seeing how they’re getting on.
What's your favourite Unifrog tool and why?
There are so many to choose from! It’s probably the Webinars tool though - I really like the fact that we are doing student facing webinars. This is such a great avenue for us to share information, give students exposure to universities, and help them find out everything they need to know - sometimes about things they’ve never even thought about! I really love the fact that over pandemic we’ve rolled out webinars to help students in new ways.
What's the best concert you've ever been to?
My all time best was a John Mayer concert. I’d wanted to see him for ages and it honestly blew my mind! I know all of his songs, the atmosphere was amazing, and I felt so lucky singing along with the crowd.
More recently, the best concert I’ve been to is an Oh Wonder concert. It was two weeks before lockdown and it actually ended up being the last stop on their worldwide tour as the rest of it was cancelled because of the pandemic. It’s just nice to look back on that concert with my girlfriend and know we got the chance to see a great band who we love together before all the craziness set in.
What's your party trick?
This has got to be my Rubik’s cube trick - I can solve them in under a minute. I’d always wanted to learn how to solve them and I had spare time on my hands in my first year of uni so I got on YouTube and kept practising until I got it right. It took me about a month to learn and my personal best is 56 seconds - it always goes down well when I show it off!
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was an only child growing up so didn’t have much entertainment - I got obsessed with video games. This was back when you played games off of floppy disks and it was all really new technology. All I wanted to do was be a computer games tester - for someone who spent their whole childhood playing computer games, playing games everyday forever sounded like the dream! Ready Player One would have been my dream world! Computer games testing wasn’t really a thing when I was growing up and it didn’t feel serious enough to be a career - it’s different now, but back then gaming was definitely more of a hobby than a career.

Ben Mahoney, Area Manager
Describe your role as an Area Manager at Unifrog
My key role at Unifrog is to build strong relationships with schools. This means ensuring they’re getting the most out of Unifrog, fully embracing what the platform has to offer, and keeping abreast of the ongoing developments. Area Managers are crucial in spreading the Unifrog ethos - leveling the playing field so everyone has the same opportunities - I am part of the larger process of delivering this, while ensuring all the effort the company puts in to make this happen has maximum impact.
What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?
People normally say their alarm clock, and I'm no different, but once the alarm clock has done its job, then I'd say it's the nature of what I do - no two days the same, working with a diverse range of schools, delivering training and support on a fantastic product, and helping literally thousands of people access a resource which makes a real and positive difference to their lives; as the saying goes, 'find a job you love and never work another day in your life'.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt working at Unifrog?
That a tool like Unifrog can really change a young person's life, and how different my own pathway might have been if I'd had the benefit of its guidance.
What would your perfect weekend look like?
I’ve got young children and so my perfect weekend would be spending time as a family, getting outdoors, walking, playing football, trampolining - anything active to tire them out.

Charley Fowler, Area Manager
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 tooth-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 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.

Chris Edwards, Area Manager
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 10 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!

Emily Nash, Teacher Resources Creator and Editor
How did you find starting a new job while working remotely?
Having not met many people over lockdown, it’s been really lovely getting to know the Unifrog team over Zoom! Everyone is so keen to help out and answer questions so that helps to break down the barriers that you might imagine you’ll have when you start a new job whilst working remotely.
I miss having a separate home and work space. I’m fantasising about going into the office - which I did not ever imagine saying before lockdown! It’ll be nice to go for work drinks and coffees again with the team.
What part of your job do you find most challenging?
I’m the writer and editor of Unifrog’s Resources library. The challenge I tackle and enjoy most often is working out what students need when they learn a new topic and how they can best digest this knowledge. I try to think back to the lessons I found most engaging when I was at school. Being given the tools to learn more about myself as a student and explore future options was the most interesting and exciting thing to learn, so I try to bring this to the resources I create.
Besides this, one challenge is choosing a playlist to listen to when I work so that I don't get carried away with singing along!
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?
First, I would want a hot shower because there is no greater luxury than relaxing under the hot water. I want to be clean on the island, you know!
Secondly, I would want a lifetime supply of soy sauce for all the fish I’ll be catching and frying. It’s the best sauce anyway.
And finally, sunglasses. Regardless of island leisurewear, I want to look cool when I'm finally rescued!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I feel like I'm cheating on London by saying this, but it would be Tokyo - specifically the Meguro river. There are coffee shops, and galleries, and the most beautiful cherry blossoms. I love living in a big city and I loved getting lost in Tokyo when I visited. It’s a very calm place which I was surprised by because it’s so hectic. I’ve been taking Japanese lessons for the last couple of years, so maybe one day I’ll actually make the move!
Would you rather be able to teleport or time travel? Why?
Definitely teleport: there are so many reasons! Mostly, because judging by Dr Who and the movies, time travel rules are scary when you break them! I also want to explore the world - there are so many beautiful places to visit and amazing people to meet in its current form. I also think going back to the past would be lonely - our current time is so different and so technology focused, there’d be no one to really relate to in the past. Plus, teleporting has lower carbon emissions, so it’s a win win!

Farhana Somani, International Area Manager
Describe your role as an International Area Manager at Unifrog
My role is to introduce Unifrog to schools in Asia and help counselors and students at those schools get the most out of the platform. I'm from London but I'm based in Hong Kong so it's easy for schools in Asia to get personal Unifrog support whenever they need it.
What does a normal day look like?
It's a cliche but one of the best things about my role is that no two days are the same. I might be in the office training counselors on a video call, visiting a school to launch Unifrog to students, or at a conference meeting counselors from all over Asia. I also chat to my team regularly to bounce ideas off them - even though we're scattered around the world, everyone is really supportive.
What do you enjoy most about living and working abroad?
Before getting this job I'd never been to Asia so it's been amazing to explore new places on work trips and weekends - and try the food. My favourite trip so far has been to Vietnam, where I tried my first grilled frog!
Hong Kong is a really exciting place to live and I'm always learning new things about the city. My current challenge is to learn some more Cantonese so I can talk to taxi drivers.
What do you miss about home?
Nando's, my eyebrow lady, and complaining about the cold.

Greg Brown, International Area Manager
What does a good work day look like to you?
The great thing about working at Unifrog is that every day is different. As an International Area Manager I’m often travelling, so when not on the road 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 Skype meetings with Unifrog partners and a big part of the role is having a flexible schedule. I can be speaking with people in Kazakhstan in the morning and the Cayman Islands in the evening.
If I’m travelling for work and out in different countries, a successful day is always measured by the positive reactions from students and staff when you present Unifrog at their school. It’s great walking around after the session and hearing the murmurs of excitement.
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!

Hailey Bachrach, Content Creator and Editor
What do you like most about your role?
I love knowing that the content I write and create helps students! Transitioning out of school and into whatever comes next can be a really stressful process, and it's great to know that one of my articles or videos might make it a little easier for somebody else out there.
How did you find starting a new job role remotely?
It is definitely difficult! It's hard to settle into a new role without having co-workers around to support you in person, or being able to pop by someone's desk to ask a quick question - though of course everybody’s done as much as they can digitally. On the other hand, not having to adjust to a new commute has been pretty nice!
What is your favourite hobby?
You’re not allowed to laugh, but one of my most recent obsessions has been playing Dungeons & Dragons! So many of my friends were playing, and finally somebody invited me to join a game and try it out. As a former drama kid, I was immediately hooked on having a way to be silly, play around, and create stories with my friends.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Hands down, it would be teleporting. I’m originally from the USA, and my whole family and so many of my friends live there. I'd love to be able to instantly pop by to say hello.

Hayley Jayne Wilkinson, Account Manager
What do you like the most about your role?
Meeting new people - it’s mostly been on Zoom so I’m looking forward to meeting people in person again! I work with lots of different teachers as well and love being able to help them out and share my knowledge and excitement about the platform with them!
What’s the best thing about working at Unifrog?
Definitely the people. I love spending time with the team on our team days and catch ups - even when they’re online and not in person! And it’s not just the people, but the whole ethos behind what we do for our users and our employees. We really do look after each other and Unifrog as a company looks after us. We have so many measures to support our wellbeing and to make sure we are happy! We have a staff book club, we do quizzes, and we run social activities like Bake Off (which I won, by the way!).
What's your favourite pizza?
It’s a strange one! First of all, it has to be a pizza on a proper fresh dough base. Then, I like BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce, and my 3 toppings are chicken, red onion, and pineapple. Pineapple on pizza is the best and BBQ sauce has a hint of sweetness that brings out the flavour of my toppings perfectly- I have a sweet tooth so it’s so me! Oh, and you’ve got to have a garlic and herb dip to top it off! So good!
Where is the best place you've ever travelled to? Why is it the best?
In 2018, I went to Stockholm with my fiancé and absolutely loved it. We went in November, so it was very cold but I do enjoy the winter and getting wrapped up warm. It was such a lovely city - not too busy and plenty of history to explore and learn about. As a stationery addict, the highlight of my week was discovering lots of new stationery brands and stores. Scandinavian stationery design is my favourite so I certainly stocked up on lots of new notebooks and pens whilst I was there!
Which reality TV contest/programme do you think you'd win? Why?
My family always tell me to go on Bake Off! In fact, my fiancé thinks my cakes are better than the ones he’s eaten from bakeries, and he’s really critical so for that to come from him is high praise!
I love baking, but I actually think I’d be too nervous for Bake Off. I feel like I wouldn’t have a clue for the blind bake and the timings would stress me out. I’m normally really calm but baking just does something to me! I was baking one evening at home for my team in my last job and it went wrong- I got so stressed, I threw the pan across the kitchen and my fiancé banned me from baking for work! I would make headlines with my stress! As much as I love baking, I love eating the cake - if you’re not allowed to lick the bowl on Bake Off, I don’t want to be on it!

Jacob Lovick, Account Manager
What does a day in the life of a Unifrog Account Manager look like?
The day breaks. I open one eye, then the other, looking forward to another day of evening out the playing field for school students. I open my laptop and delve into the treasure trove of a fresh inbox, filled with teachers’ carefully worded queries. Perhaps I’ll be out on the road today, plying my craft with a head full of Year Plans and a school network-compatible laptop at my back. I’ll deliver Staff Trainings that change lives, days, moments. I’ll field phone calls that could make a teacher’s day, year, career, with intricately curated advice and feedback. And then I tread satisfied, once again, to bed. Satisfied in the knowledge of an Account that truly has been 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 have never been to this school before, and my name is not Robert. He took me round 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.

Jacqui Hogan, Account Manager
What does your role as an Account Manager at Unifrog involve?
It involves visiting lots of schools and colleges and trying to understand how we might best be able to support them in delivering and monitoring their careers guidance.
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.’

Jen Carter, Account Manager
What’s your favourite thing about your role?
My favourite thing by far is getting out into schools and colleges and meeting my contacts to chat through how they can use Unifrog most effectively. No two schools use it in exactly the same way, and everybody has challenges which I love to try and overcome. The platform is so flexible in the way it can be incorporated into the curriculum, and the perpetual tweaks and content launches mean that my meetings are always punctuated with exclamations of “I didn’t know it could do that!”.
As my contacts will testify, I love a cuppa and a catch up, and I really enjoy building relationships with my schools and colleges so that everyone feels supported and able to come to me with anything they might need, be it platform queries, suggestions for future tweaks, or requests for training.
What’s your favourite anecdote about Unifrog having an impact on a student’s life?
Technically this isn’t one of my wins, but a fantastic colleague of mine went into a school on the day the Canadian University search tool was launched, and on a whim (or was it pure serendipity?) she decided to showcase that tool. For one of the students there that day it opened their eyes to the world of possibilities and they subsequently applied and were accepted to study in Canada. Unifrog really does change lives!
What advice would you give to your 17-year old self?
There are a few clichés that I could come out with here and they’d all be true!
- Act now, apologise later.
- Don’t stress too much, whatever will happen is going to happen anyway.
- Follow your instincts, they are there for a reason!
- Pretend to be confident until it comes naturally.
- Procrastinate less (having spent far too long thinking about these questions, I’m not sure I’ve learnt this lesson yet!)
What do you get up to when you’re not working?
I’m married with 2 teenage/tween girls and a dog, so they take up a lot of my time! Alongside working part-time at Unifrog, I’m also studying a master’s degree at Uni in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy, a subject I love and find fascinating. I volunteer at Childline as a counsellor once a week which is incredibly rewarding, and lastly, I’m a trained massage therapist and I work the odd shift at a local clinic to keep my hand in.
My favourite way to relax is taking long walks along the river near where I live with my dog. That or playing cards, board games and video games with my kids.

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…

Matthew Jones, Area Manager
Describe your role as an Area Manager at Unifrog
Every day is different and there is no ‘normal’ or ‘repetitive’ week. As I cover north west England, north and mid Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, I travel quite a bit. One day I can be over in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, the next in Greater Manchester (take a look at a map of the UK, it’s some distance)!
There’s no normal 9-5. Some days I’m on the road at 5.30am or catching a flight over to Belfast at 6am and not walking back through the front door until gone 9pm later that night! Whilst demanding and often very tiring, it’s also exciting, rewarding and most importantly, doesn’t bore me to death! I enjoy the role as it keeps me on my toes and at the end of every day I feel like I’ve achieved something.
You've lived in Anglesey all your life, tell us your favourite fact or thing about what it's like to live there?
Bar two brief stints elsewhere yes, I’ve lived in Anglesey my whole life! When I was 16, I left Anglesey and joined the British Army as an Electronic Avionics Technician in Harrogate. But it wasn’t what I anticipated and I left after 12 months to go back into education and work towards university.
Anglesey really is such a beautiful place to live and many of the teachers I meet love coming over to Anglesey in the summer! What I most love about it is it’s a great place to bring up my daughter (who’s now 2)! It has everything - from my family and friends, beautiful beaches, countryside, the mountains of Snowdonia just round the corner and the cities of Liverpool and Chester within a short commute.
What made you want to work at Unifrog?
So, it’s quite an interesting story. I was at home (set the scene) doing some work when I got a call from a friend (and now colleague Tom) asking if I was interested in speaking with his boss regarding a possible job. Out of interest I accepted and Alex, Unifrog’s co-founder, setup a Skype call to show me what exactly Unifrog was.
At the end of the call, Alex asked me for an answer. In my mind I already knew I was going to say yes but I didn’t want to look overly keen and asked for a few days to consider his offer. The next day, I called Alex to accept and made my way to the old office in Bethnal Green on the Saturday afternoon to start training for the following week - dedication!
Seeing how fantastic Unifrog is for supporting kids to make the right choice, to really broadening their horizons and how they can make their aspirations a reality is what sold the job to me. When I joined the army, I wasn’t aware of half the options available to me. I made a naive decision at 15 without really considering all my options. So you could say what made me want to work for Unifrog is the fantastic product, Alex and Coralie’s vision and my own experiences from having made uninformed decisions!
What do you do to unwind?
I love spending time with my beautiful daughter Raya and dog Baxter (yes, named after the dog in Anchorman)! Whether it’s family days out or just a walk with a pit stop to the park. A simple walk will be the best thing ever, with Raya jumping up and down in muddy puddles (all parents will be able to relate). Other than spending time with family, I’ll have the occasional day out with friends watching football - from the lunch time kick off to the evening kick off and every match in-between!

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 3 times as a child, much to the disbelief of my local GP

Rebecca Scannapieco, Partner Management Lead
What made you apply to work at Unifrog?
Without wanting to sound cliché, 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).

Renee Kapuku, Content Creator and Editor
What do you like the most about your role?
I love working with universities and students to create video or written content! Although it's enjoyable to create solo, it's always such a pleasure to have school staff and students chime in with their thoughts and experiences to help bring the content to life. Not only does it make the content more useful, but it’s also super engaging and even more fun to create.
How did you find starting a new job while working remotely?
Very weird at first! It was nice meeting everyone and starting afresh, but it’s so strange that I haven't had the opportunity to see everyone in person! I have no idea what everyone is like in real life - if they’re anything like they are online, then they're certainly lovely. I have enjoyed having the flexibility of working from home, but I do miss the in-person interaction and look forward to getting into the office soon.
What is your favourite hobby?
Baking, without a doubt! I have always cooked and baked here and there, but never consistently. At the beginning of 2020, with the switch to remote working, I found I had a lot more time to dedicate myself to baking. I’m a major fan of Great British Bake Off, and secretly harbour a dream to be a contestant on the show! I started off making brownies, then moved onto perfecting cupcakes, and finally began making birthday cakes for my friends and family. I'm currently trying more niche recipes, like tres leches (Mexican triple-milk cake) and swan choux chantilly (swan-shaped eclairs) as I love the art behind baking too. Needless to say, my friends and family are super pleased with these exploits!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Relax! Everything will fall into place, and it's okay to experiment. I have a lot of passions and hobbies, and when I was younger, I was a bit more hesitant to test out and try new things. Now that I'm older, experimenting is my life and I love trying new things. After all, life is short so it's best to do as many crazy and fun things as possible!

Rob Cannings, International Area Manager
What does a day in the life of an International Area Manager look like?
As International Area Manager for Europe, my day is usually one of two very different scenes. I spend about 7-10 days of every month visiting a different European country, or sometimes two! During these trips, I get to visit our fantastic partner schools and help them integrate Unifrog into their curricula, train staff how to use the platform and most excitingly introduce it to students. I also get to visit schools that we don't yet work with to demonstrate the ways in which Unifrog could help them deliver better careers and higher education guidance for their students. When I'm back at Unifrog HQ here in London, I do all of the above remotely via video chat, recharge and put the finishing touches on the plan for the next trip.
How has your previous experience in Higher Education helped you in this role?
Five years of working in careers and employability services across three different London universities was a great foundation for understanding the environment I now find myself in. In particular, my role at The London School of Economics gave me the opportunity to work very closely with graduate employers from a variety of sectors. This means that I've been involved with helping to shape the future of young people - in one form or another - for a long time now. On a more day to day level, when you've run countless presentations, seminars, and workshops for 18-21 year olds, standing up in front of students a couple of years younger to do something similar doesn't faze you quite as much as it could!
What’s the best thing about travelling as part of your job?
Forgive me for the obvious answer, but as a massive foodie I can't look beyond that. So far in 2020 I've been lucky enough to enjoy ravioli in Rome, gyros in Greece, pastéis de nata in Portugal, and bacalao in Barcelona - do I get extra points for alliteration? - and that's just off the top of my head. As a big football fan, I've also tried to take in a game as often as possible too. I've got to games at the San Siro, Estádio José Alvalade and El Madrigal so far this season. Bonus points for anyone who can name the teams that play in those venues without resorting to Google!
What was the first album you bought?
Being the youngest of four children, I was lucky enough to get some excellent hand-me-down cassettes - yes I was born in the 80s! - from a very young age. I vividly remember dancing around my room to The Prodigy when I was way too young to process the lyrics... I can't remember the first album I bought, but the very first piece of music was a single - Cotton Eye Joe, by Rednex. Thankfully, it didn't lead to me buying whatever god-forsaken album that song featured on. For some extra narrative detail, I also remember that during the trip to Our Price in Torquay to pick up that particular banger, my sister purchased the far more respectable Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio. For shame.

Robyn Smith, Account Manager
What does a day in the life of an Account Manager look like?
It's tricky to say what an average day looks like as an Account Manager; no two are remotely the same! Some days I'll be travelling from my home in Newcastle upon Tyne far and wide to Glasgow, York or the Lake District; other days I'm at home with my Jack Russell Terrier Elsie, taking calls and answering emails. Occasionally you'll find me at Unifrog HQ in London.
How has your previous experience as a Barber helped you in this role?
Surprisingly, not many teachers are up for having their hair cut while I'm delivering a Unifrog training session. In all seriousness, my experience as a Barber and business owner has taught me how to really listen to the needs of clients, and come up with solutions to long-suffered and common challenges.
As well as being an Account Manager, you look after the Resources library. Which is your favourite resource?
I really love coming up with new and engaging ways for schools and colleges to deliver their careers education, so creating lesson plans for our Resources library is perfect for me. I built much of my previous career as a Barber on networking, and I believe the art of conversation is an important skill to possess, so it would have to be the ‘World of work: Professional networking’ resource. It's suitable for all students and gives many students an experience they haven't had before.
What does your ideal weekend look like?
I'd start at the gym then grab a coffee to catch up with friends. Then I’d join my husband, daughter and dog on a walk along one of the beautiful Northumberland beaches (Bamburgh is my favourite), before coming back to Newcastle for a Sunday roast with our whole family.

Sheri Barnett, Senior Content Creator and Editor
Describe your role
My role is Senior Content Creator and Editor, which means I research and write new guides for students, I edit guides written by the rest of the content team, and I manage the content team. I also work with experts, universities, and employers to make sure our student facing content is sound, 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, or complete a degree in Adventure Filmmaking, or take part in a school leaver programme and study later. There is such a wealth of opportunity 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 husband.
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!

Simran Pooni, New Business Lead
What do you enjoy most about working at Unifrog?
Firstly, the platform itself is amazing and has helped thousands of students and teachers with all things careers. As part of my role here at Unifrog, I get to speak to schools and colleges across the UK and explain how the platform can benefit them. It's a great feeling when they decide to come on board. The second thing I enjoy most is how supportive the team are - everyone always takes the time to celebrate each other’s successes.
How would you describe working in the office?
Working in the office is great! It's sociable but also definitely a productive environment where sometimes we stick our headphones in and power through all our work. The office has lots of plants and a very colourful mural full of frogs that was painted by Alex and Coralie. There’s around 12 of us who work in the London office Monday - Friday and it's always a pleasure when other members of the team pop in for the day.
What have you ticked off your bucket list so far?
The first thing that I ticked off was Skydiving. I've also been on the fastest roller coaster in the World (Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi) and bungee jumped in Whistler, Canada!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Mexico - it's been my favourite place I've travelled to so far - the people are so lovely and friendly. I live for the sunny weather, Mexican food and I’m obsessed with Reggaeton music.

Sophie Oulton, Area Manager
What does a day in the life of a Unifrog Area Manager look like?
Normally an early start! I work with about 170 schools and colleges across North London, Essex and Suffolk, so I'm often up early to reach somewhere in time for a 9am meeting. Most of my time is spent meeting staff and discussing their goals for careers, and we work out how they can achieve them with Unifrog. I also meet with schools who aren't yet using Unifrog, to talk through how the platform could suit them, and then help them get set up with it.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
Problem solving. I work with lots of different types of schools, who run things in a variety of ways. A big part of my job is adapting Unifrog usage to suit them best, and to make sure it has real impact in every school.
I also love public speaking, which I'm lucky enough to do lots of at the various conferences I attend, or CPDs I run, throughout the year.
How would you describe the culture at Unifrog?
Supportive. We now have about 35 people in the team and we're based all across the country, but we constantly check in with each other to see how we're all getting on, and what we can share from our days.. whether it's best practice, interesting news we've heard that day, or tweets that have made us laugh!
What would your superpower be?
Always managing to pin the tail on the donkey.

Stephen Rodwell, Operations and Finance Manager
Describe your role as Operations and Finance Manager at Unifrog
I'm responsible for the smooth running of the office from day-to-day, whether that means coordinating our programme of UK and International conferences or helping to improve our team workspace. I also manage the company's finances along with Libbie, our Operations and Finance Assistant. Essentially, this means I keep a close eye on our income and expenditure and try to save money wherever possible! If I ever find a spare moment (rare!), I really enjoy getting involved in other parts of what Unifrog do, whether that's writing and editing for the Unifrog platform or getting stuck into data research.
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?

Vikki Garner, Head of UK Engagement
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!