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Stories
The written half of the Bench — journeys, lessons and dispatches from the community.
Community Updates
Meet Stefan Burke
Meet Stefan — The Software Developer Building a More Ethical Future for Technology Stefan Burke is an experienced software developer whose career has spanned both fast-moving startups and global technology companies. Having seen the industry from multiple perspectives, he has fou
7 Sept 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Dan Wigley
Meet Dan — The Data Leader Helping Businesses Turn Insight Into Growth Dan Wigley is the Co-Founder of Fabric Analytics, a specialist consultancy helping businesses unlock the full value of their data through measurement, analytics, conversion optimisation, and digital performanc
7 Sept 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Paula Mesa Macías
Meet Paula — The Technology Consultant Helping Organisations Build a More Responsible Digital Future Paula Mesa Macías is the founder of Pau&Company, a technology consultancy that helps organisations understand, manage, and reduce technology risks. With a background in Telecommun
7 Sept 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet John Smithe
Meet John — The Digital Transformation Consultant Helping Small Businesses Make Technology Work for Them John Smithe is the Managing Director of In The Sky IT, a digital transformation consultancy dedicated to helping small businesses and non-profit organisations embrace technolo
7 Sept 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Conor Jaafari
Meet Conor – The Founder Turning Childhood Memories Into a Family Brand We’re delighted to announce that Conor Jaafari, Founder and CEO of Cozy Crew Club, will be joining The Legacy Bench as a podcast panel guest at our Networking Event – Manchester Edition on Friday 18th Septemb
21 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Community Updates
Meet Trevor Ward
Meet Trevor — The Solicitor Dedicated to Supporting Families When It Matters Most Trevor Ward is a Solicitor Partner and Head of Birth Injury Litigation at Fletchers Group in Manchester. With almost four decades of experience in clinical negligence law, Trevor has dedicated his c
20 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Sky Langwieser
Meet Sky — The Family Solicitor Guiding Clients Through Life’s Most Difficult Moments Sky Langwieser is a Family Solicitor at Hall Brown, based in the firm’s Manchester office, where she advises clients on complex family law matters including divorce, financial remedies, nuptial
20 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Rebecca Kelly
Meet Rebecca — The Lawyer Making Quality Legal Support Accessible for Every Business Rebecca Kelly is a data and technology lawyer, entrepreneur, and published author with more than 25 years of experience advising businesses on commercial, data, and technology matters. As the fou
20 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Pratiqk Jaani
Pratiqk Jaani is the founder of the Dhrasti Method, a personal transformation approach that helps people recognise the unconscious conditioning shaping their emotions, relationships, decisions, and experience of life. Through speaking, immersive experiences, workplace programmes,
12 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Sophia Peart
Sophia Peart is a speaker, pastor, transformational life coach, and NHS leader who is passionate about helping women navigate life’s transitions, rediscover their identity, and embrace a future filled with purpose and hope. Through faith, compassionate leadership, and personal tr
12 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet James Ediker
James Ediker is the Founder and Director of Lightbulb Thinking, an education consultancy dedicated to helping individuals, schools, and organisations unlock their potential through innovative thinking and confident leadership. A former government adviser and school principal, Jam
12 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Joe Loney
Meet Joe — The Presence Guide Helping People Find Peace Beyond the Mind Joe Loney is a Presence & Life Positioning Guide, public speaker, and author dedicated to helping people find clarity, resilience, and peace in life’s most challenging moments. Drawing on his own extraordinar
12 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Richard Green
Meet Rick — The Construction Leader Working to Reform an Industry From the Inside Richard Green is a residential and commercial construction contractor whose career has been built on more than two decades of practical experience, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment
3 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Austin Tang
Meet Austin — The Interior Designer Creating Spaces That Tell Stories Austin Tang is the Founder and Director of Austin Tang Interiors, a Manchester-based interior design studio specialising in luxury residential and brand-led commercial spaces. Originally from Hong Kong, Austin
3 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Stuart Waterworth
Meet Stuart — The Project Leader Delivering Engineering Excellence Through Trust and Technical Expertise Stuart Waterworth is Co-Owner of Art of Maintenance and an accomplished Project Director with more than 30 years of experience across the property services, construction, and
3 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Grant Erskine
Meet Grant — The Entrepreneur Creating His Own Path Through Architecture, Business, and Reinvention Grant Erskine is a Chartered Architect, entrepreneur, and creative business leader whose career has been shaped by resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge conventiona
3 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet James Emmanuel Kalu
Meet James — The Storyteller Using Creativity to Inspire Hope and Purpose James Emmanuel Kalu is a storyteller, creative, and follower of Jesus Christ whose work is driven by a desire to serve others through meaningful creativity. Whether through film, theatre, music, or other fo
27 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Chris Marsh
Meet Chris — The Business Development Specialist Connecting Ambitious Businesses for Growth Chris Marsh has spent more than 26 years helping businesses across Manchester’s digital, technology, and creative sectors unlock new opportunities through meaningful relationships. With a
27 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Katy Ennis-Hargreaves
Meet Katy — The Creative Director Helping Bold Brands Stand Out With Purpose Katy Ennis-Hargreaves is the Creative Director behind BOLDISM®, a Yorkshire-based boutique design studio specialising in strategic branding, packaging, and creative design for businesses ranging from amb
27 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Ese Bobori
Meet Ese — The Founder Reimagining the Future of Audiobooks Through AI Ese Bobori is the founder of Audibound, an AI-powered audiobook production platform created to solve one of publishing’s biggest challenges: while millions of books are published every year, only a small fract
27 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Faith Sodipe
Meet Faith — The Engineer Building Technology That Works for People, Not Just Systems Faith Sodipe is a software engineer, cybersecurity advocate, speaker, and community builder working at the intersection of engineering, security, artificial intelligence, and human-centred techn
20 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Darren Ratcliffe
Meet Darren — The Ecommerce Leader Helping Businesses Turn Websites Into Growth Engines Darren Ratcliffe is the founder of Courageous, a Manchester-based ecommerce agency that helps ambitious businesses grow through high-performing digital experiences. With a career in digital sp
20 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Aliya Rajah
Meet Aliya — The Executive Presence Coach Helping People Find the Confidence to Be Seen Aliya Rajah is an Executive Presence and Public Speaking Coach, entrepreneur, and communication specialist dedicated to helping professionals become more confident, influential, and authentic
20 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Carl Phillips
Meet Carl — The Strategist Helping Businesses Turn Marketing Into Measurable Growth Carl Phillips is the Managing Director of The PMC, a Stockport-based digital consultancy specialising in B2B marketing, lead generation, and digital strategy. With more than 15 years of industry e
20 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Adnan Jouzaa
Meet Adnan — The Voice for Early Intervention and Healing Through Lived Experience Adnan Jouzaa is an accommodation support worker with Manchester City Council and a developing advocate for trauma-informed support and early intervention in mental health and social care systems. H
9 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Heidi Noble
Meet Heidi — The Technician Challenging How Women Are Seen in the Music Industry Heidi Noble is a music technician and emerging creative working at the intersection of live performance, audio, and media. Based at BIMM University in Manchester, she is building her career within li
9 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Ash Anderson
Meet Ash — The Music Curator Championing Independent Sound and Regional Talent Ash Anderson is a Nottingham-based entrepreneur and music enthusiast who has turned his passion for discovery into a growing music platform. With a deep love for independent sound and underrepresented
9 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Thomas Holroyd
From Silence to Strength: The Story Behind Thomas Holroyd Thomas Holroyd is a founder, BSL interpreter, and director of The Interpreter Initiative, a business built around one core belief — that communication should never be a barrier to opportunity. Alongside running his SME, he
19 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Grace Trippitt
Meet Grace — The Storyteller Turning Survival Into Purpose and Voice Into Impact Grace Trippitt is a writer, HR professional, and personal trainer whose work sits at the intersection of lived experience, wellbeing, and storytelling. Alongside her role in Human Resources, she is a
19 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Shamime Jan
Meet Shamime — The Community Leader Transforming Women’s Health Through Belonging and Empowerment Shamime Jan is the Founder and Director of Bollyfit Active CIC, a community-led organisation dedicated to empowering women through culturally responsive health, wellbeing, and fitnes
19 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Perry Offer
Meet Perry — The Business Strategist Simplifying Complexity to Create Better Outcomes Perry Offer is a highly experienced business strategist, leadership advisor, and creator of innovative management frameworks, with a career spanning almost 50 years across senior executive leade
19 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet George Howson
Meet George — The Media Producer Amplifying Voices Through Powerful Storytelling George Howson is the Co-Founder and Director of Pear Tree Media, a growing media organisation responsible for creating video content across a diverse portfolio of brands and industries. With a passio
4 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Charlotte Nichols
Meet Charlotte — The PR Expert Helping Powerful Stories Reach the People Who Need to Hear Them Charlotte Nichols is a PR business owner, podcast host, and presenter with two decades of experience in public relations and brand building. Having spent 17 years running her own busine
4 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Simon Howard
Meet Simon — The Experience Creator Turning Corporate Events into Unforgettable Moments Simon Howard is the founder of Introducing Events, a Manchester-based company specialising in interactive team building, conference energisers, and corporate entertainment experiences. With mo
4 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Rebecca Houston
Meet Rebecca — The Marketing Leader Making Digital Growth Accessible for Businesses Rebecca Houston is a Chartered Marketer, business owner, and sustainability advocate with nearly three decades of experience in the marketing industry. As the founder of Smash Marketing, Rebecca c
4 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Christine Bill
Meet Christine — The Community Champion Fighting Food Poverty Through Food Nest UK Christine Bill is the founder of Food Nest UK, a community-driven initiative dedicated to making food accessible and affordable for those struggling with the rising cost of living. Through compassi
3 Jun 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Grace Eccles
Meet Grace — The Aspiring Presenter Turning Passion into Presence in Music Media Grace Eccles is an emerging music and entertainment journalist and presenter, driven by an undeniable passion for all things music and pop culture. Through her growing platform GraceTalksMusic on Tik
29 May 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Alex Kamara
Meet the Designer Reframing What Independent Creative Practice Can Look Like: The Story of Alex Kamara Alex Kamara is a Manchester-based designer and the founder of The Arts Office, an independent practice working across brand identity, editorial, and digital design. With nine ye
29 May 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Tristan Blevins
Tristan Blevins – Building Wellness Through Conscious Core Tristan Blevins is the founder of Conscious Core, a wellness company created with the intention of bringing together multiple disciplines into one unified, human-centred approach to health and healing. His work blends sci
28 May 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Macauley Lynch
Macauley Lynch is a founder working at the intersection of sustainability, computing, and global access to technology. As the creator of the Sustainable Compute Network (SCN), he is building an ambitious initiative that transforms discarded computer hardware into carbon-negative
12 May 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Joe Engledew
Meet Jeng — The Creative Searching for Meaning in Motion Joe Engledew, known as Jeng, is a young creative navigating life, identity, and purpose one step at a time “on the long walk home.” His work and mindset sit in that in-between space where reflection meets expression, and wh
12 May 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Amy Chung
Meet Amy – Breaking Barriers and Redefining Representation Amy is a Welsh-born Chinese actor and model based in Manchester, driven by a powerful mission to reshape representation within the entertainment industry. Her journey is not just about personal success, but about creating
12 May 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Amanda Nicholson
Meet Amanda — The Writer Turning Lived Experience Into Connection, Understanding & Voice Amanda Nicholson is a late-identified autistic writer and podcaster whose creative journey is rooted in self-discovery, reflection, and a deep desire to help others feel less alone. After beg
12 May 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Katie Brown
Meet the Filmmaker Redefining What It Means to Break Into the Industry: The Story of Katie Brown Katie Brown is a recent film school graduate, set designer, and emerging creative whose journey reflects both the excitement and the reality of entering today’s film industry. She has
12 May 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Johnny Hurst
Meet Johnny Hurst— The Entrepreneur Turning Experience Into Impact, Guidance & Growth. Johnny Hurst is a father, founder, and mental health facilitator using lived experience as the foundation for meaningful change. His journey into entrepreneurship was shaped by personal mental
12 May 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Oliver Shields
Meet Oliver Shields – Rebuilding From Experience Oliver Shields is a former Army serviceman currently stepping into a new chapter defined by family, healing, and personal transformation. Recently leaving army life behind, Oliver is now adjusting to a very different pace, one cent
24 Apr 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Teni Abioye
Teni Abioye – The Creator Building a Life First, Then a Career in Front of the Camera Teni is a Manchester-based sales professional currently navigating a transition into the media space, with a long-term goal of building a personal brand and working fully for himself. His journe
24 Apr 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Jane Dillon
Jane Elizabeth Dillon — The Creative Who Turns Storytelling Into Impact Jane Elizabeth Dillon is a London-based filmmaker, actress, model, and entrepreneur whose work is driven by bold, emotionally charged storytelling. Her career sits across both the creative and commercial worl
24 Apr 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Danielle Vassell
Meet Danielle – From Defying the Odds to Creating Impact Danielle is a Derby-based motivational speaker, children’s author, and creative producer whose journey is defined by resilience, purpose, and a powerful belief in human potential. Her story begins not in success, but in sur
24 Apr 2026 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Kiva Lownie
Meet the Founder Turning Pain Into Purpose: The Story Behind Hugs & Suds® Kiva Lownie isn’t a typical inventor. She’s a mother, a survivor, and the founder of Hugs & Suds® — the world’s first patented, UKCA-tested shower-safe baby carrier, created through grief, ADHD, and uncondi
24 Apr 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Alex Colwell
Meet the Creator Challenging the “Easy Job” Narrative: The Story of AlexDoesQuizzes Alex Colwell is a Manchester-based quizmaster, Twitch streamer, and YouTube content creator who is building a space where entertainment is interactive, fast-moving, and deeply connected to audienc
24 Apr 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Nicola Mattey
Meet Nicola Mattey – Storyteller, Presenter, Performer and Business Owner Nicola is a storyteller, presenter, and performer and now turning her creativity into purpose as the founder of The Ornament Exchange Company, a business reimagining Christmas through a more sustainable len
24 Apr 2026 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Harry Greener
Meet Harry Greener — The Student Founder Building the Future of Trade Businesses Harry Greener is a university student with the ambition and clarity of a seasoned founder. While balancing academic life, he is building Quotable, a next-generation digital platform designed to moder
30 Nov 2025 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Ross Minton
Ross Minton — The Artist Who Turns Resilience Into Creativity Ross Minton is a Shropshire-based artist with over 20 years of experience in the creative industry, known for his wit, environmental passion, and unapologetically honest approach to art. Far beyond labels, Ross refuses
29 Nov 2025 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Carl Zhang
Meet Carl Zhang — The Visionary Building a Cross-Border Creator Network Between China & the UK In a digital world where creativity moves at the speed of culture, few emerging entrepreneurs stand out with a vision as bold and globally connected as Carl Zhang. Based in Manchester,
29 Nov 2025 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Jordan Gaffney
Meet Jordan Gaffney — Radio Presenter, Music Storyteller & The Voice Behind The Indie Rock Show Jordan Gaffney is a dynamic radio presenter, musician, and the unmistakable voice behind The Indie Rock Show. With a career rooted deeply in the UK’s music scene, Jordan has grown from
29 Nov 2025 · 1 min read
Community Updates
Meet Waswa Kempadoo-Millar
Waswa Kempadoo-Millar — A Mindful Multidisciplinary Educator Redefining Purpose Waswa Kempadoo-Millar is a private educator, martial artist, sports scientist, and multilingual creative whose life has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a relentless commitment to personal gr
29 Nov 2025 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Alanah Mills
Meet Alanah — The Disabled Photographer Redefining Creativity, Visibility & Representation in Media Alanah is a Manchester-based freelance photographer and retoucher whose journey blends artistic excellence with extraordinary resilience. Living with Type 1 diabetes, autism, ADHD,
29 Nov 2025 · 2 min read
Community Updates
Meet Lilly-Mae Roberts
Meet the Founder Challenging the Corporate Mold: The Story of Lilly-Mae Roberts Lilly-Mae Roberts is a marketing coach, mindset strategist, and the visionary founder behind Thirty Seven Co and the soon-to-launch Thirty Seven Spaces — two mission-driven brands reshaping how founde
29 Nov 2025 · 2 min read
