Three new entrepreneurs in residence
5 March 2021
The woman behind the ‘Netflix for career development’, the former CEO of the ‘greenest football team in the world’ and a coffee trainer and consultant are set to share authentic entrepreneurial insights with Cardiff University staff and students following the expansion of the Public Value Entrepreneurs in Residence (PVEiR) scheme.
Aimee Bateman, Founder and CEO of Careercake.com, Helen Taylor, Founding Director of One Blue Marble, and Esther Hope-Gibbs, Independent Trainer and Consultant at Hope Espresso, joined the inaugural group of six entrepreneurs at a virtual welcome event on Tuesday 8 December 2020.
Since its introduction in 2017, the scheme has helped nurture promising new business ideas through student mentorship, set and supervise live business projects and co-create research and engagement opportunities with academic staff and postgraduates in Cardiff Business School.
Entrepreneurship can come from anywhere
Nominated by Dr Sue Bartlett, Aimee Bateman brings a wealth of experience in corporate recruitment to the role.
In 2010, she felt disillusioned and started making career advice videos on YouTube with a second-hand camera she bought from eBay.
Since then, her videos have accrued more than 12 million views, she’s won Institute of Director and Chartered Institute of Marketing awards and picked up an Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff Metropolitan University too.
Aimee said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Cardiff Business School’s Entrepreneurs in Residence Scheme.
“At Careercake we do a lot of work with students and graduates already. They’re often between 20 to 30 years old and at that stage in their lives where they’re working a lot of stuff out. They’re figuring out who they are and what they want to be and do. So, that’s somewhere I can hopefully contribute...”
“For me, it’s about giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to feel seen, heard and valued because entrepreneurship can come from anywhere. You just need self-belief and the right opportunities.”
Purpose-led business
Nominated by Dr Anthony Samuel, Helen Taylor brings a career spanning 30 years helping businesses and charities further their environmental, sustainability and inclusivity missions to the role.
Before founding her own company in 2018, Helen’s far-ranging career is defined by her desire to make a difference. Starting out in quality management Helen moved to the Soil Association at the height of the UK’s organic sector.
A decade later saw her team up with Dale Vince at Ecotricity, a role that would eventually see her become the CEO of Forest Green Rovers - the world’s greenest football team.
Helen said: “I’m very excited to be part of this group of entrepreneurs. Although I’ve never really thought of myself as an entrepreneur, I’ve worked with an awful lot of them over the course of my career!”
“And in 2018, I setup my own business which allows me to continue the work I’m so passionate about with amazing organisations that have environmental and sustainability missions...”
“My career has developed with the help of the people that I’ve worked with. People who have really nurtured me through. So, I see my role in this team as giving back by supporting young people and sharing my knowledge of purpose-led business.”
Dignity and hope
Nominated by Dr Carolyn Strong, Esther Hope-Gibbs has over 10 years’ experience as a coffee professional and is an advocate for victims of modern slavery.
She’s worked full-time in service and management positions in coffee shops and also as director and head of coffee at Manumit Coffee Roastery.
In this latest role, Esther developed a relationship with Cardiff Business School who support Manumit’s social business model offering dignity and hope to survivors of modern slavery through training and employment.
Since then, Esther has set up her own business – Hope Espresso – which offers consultancy, training and skills for baristas and coffee professionals across the UK.
Esther said: “I can’t wait to continue working with Cardiff Business School as an entrepreneur in residence.
“I could only have dreamt that I’d be helping to open coffee roasteries in prisons, working with survivors of trafficking, and improving supply chains at 25 years old. But, by taking up every opportunity that came my way and learning to problem solve, and challenging the way things are normally done, I’ve pushed myself beyond what I could imagine...”
“So, I hope to inspire and engage students with my personal story of entrepreneurship. I want to show them that they don’t have to wait 10 years to make an impact on society through business. It can happen immediately after university or even while they’re still studying!”
The addition of three new entrepreneurs to the scheme is part of the School’s ongoing commitment both to its students and the small businesses community, something which was recognised by the Small Business Charter in 2017.
“There’s a really stereotypical image of an entrepreneur but, because of our public value strategy, we wanted to bust that for our students by giving them authentic insights from inspirational people who make a difference within the economy and within society.”
“And, I have to say, our expectations have been far exceeded by the experiences we’ve had and that we know our students have had too.
“So, as well as welcoming Esther, Aimee and Helen, I want to say a big thank you to our inaugural six from everyone in the School. We can’t wait to see what’s next!”
Learn more about our Public Value Entrepreneurs in Residence.
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