Martin Price
Collaborative Outreach Network Manager
Martin was generally pretty quiet at school, and did fairly well in GCSEs and A-levels, but without yet having any real inspiration. Lacking a proper plan for a long-term future, he opted for the subjects he enjoyed most, particularly Physics and Geography at A-level, and then on to a degree in Geography. At University he learned to enjoy learning for its own sake for the first time, as well as living away from home for the first time, which was challenging as a fairly shy young person. After graduation he still didn’t have a clear plan and went into a succession of jobs in the NHS to pay the bills, until he got involved in managing projects to change services in the NHS. This was not something anyone had ever suggested existed as a career at school, and it was where he found real drive and ambition, and job satisfaction that was about more than just earning a living. It has turned into a career that has taken Martin from the NHS into universities, and allowed him to travel the world, work with interesting people and be part of teams that make a real difference. None of this was planned when he studied for his degree, but wouldn’t have been possible without it. Which goes to show that there’s no need to panic if you don’t know what your life is going to look like, but that an education is a valuable thing whatever you decide to do later on. 

​Since 2015 Martin has managed ThinkHigher, and seen it grow from one person to a team of brilliant and dedicated professionals. Outside that, Martin loves Rugby League (little known this far South), football and is also proudly nerdy about Marvel and Harry Potter. 

Claire Muttock
​Data and Operations Manager
Claire manages the Uni Connect team of coordinators and does stuff with the evaluations to make sure activities are just right for our ThinkHigher students.
She has experienced all sorts of wonderful jobs from soldering signals for Sydney’s underground and providing technical expertise about vacuum cleaners… to teaching English in Indonesia and working in custody settings in Nottingham. Before joining ThinkHigher, Claire ran a business across the UK that involved leading a team of incredible teachers who worked with children of all ages and abilities in all sorts of different settings. Claire’s career has been eclectic but, like a magnet, her work always brings her back to working with or for children and young people. Claire became vegetarian at age 11 (before Quorn existed in supermarkets) and still is now. She is active in promoting equality and educating others on how society could be fairer and more inclusive. Claire enjoys coaching and enabling others to realise how awesome they already are. Claire’s first degree was a Bachelor of Science (honours) in Multimedia Production and is now working on her Masters of Science in Programme and Project Management. Claire is a qualified fitness instructor, scuba diver, youth justice practitioner, auricular acupuncturist and loves to learn; she believes that young people are able to change the world and that it all starts by reading a book! 

Ellie Frankel
​Project Coordinator
Ellie really enjoyed school  but had a slightly unconventional end to her school years when she took the difficult decision to study from home for her last year of A-Levels. Despite a challenging year, she was determined to prove to herself that she could do it and get the grades she wanted. 

​Fast forward 4 years, Ellie graduated with a degree in Events Management from Leeds Beckett University which offered her some brilliant opportunities to work at the Grand National, the MOBO Awards and various other high profile events. Nearing the end of her degree Ellie knew she enjoyed coordinating and planning but in what field of work was the difficult decision. Before joining ThinkHigher in August 2019 she worked on  outdoor agricultural shows which prior to starting she knew absolutely nothing about despite living in a rural village her whole life. Whilst she loved spending nearly 3 weeks in a field, knee deep in mud, Ellie hung up her wellies to try something new last year. 

​Ellie leads on the UniversityGo! project working with young people in Local Authority Care and supports the Uni Connect project with planning and delivery and looks after our brilliant team of student ambassadors. Ellie is passionate about young people having opportunities and ambition to succeed no matter their background or personal circumstances.

Laura Fisher
Raising Aspirations Coordinator
Laura joined the ThinkHigher team in June 2017. As part of the ThinkHigher team Laura works with schools in Rugby – Harris Church of England Academy, Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College, as well as King Edward College in Nuneaton. Laura is currently studying, part-time for her BA in Health and Social Policy at the University of Warwick. In her spare time, Laura is a Chair of Governors for a primary school, was a trustee for a Domestic Violence Charity and recently trained to become a Stay Safe Mentor for Positive Youth Foundation. In her spare time Laura loves to read, watch box-sets, spend time with her family and go for long dog walks with her two miniature sausage dogs. Laura enjoys building positive and nurturing relationships with the young people she works with and is passionate about ensuring everyone has the opportunities and experiences to succeed, irrespective of their background or educational journey. 

Jamie Ormes 
Raising Aspirations Coordinator
Jamie joined the ThinkHigher team in June 2017 with a background in teaching and youth work. Jamie has experience of working with young people in a range of settings from coaching football abroad to running youth clubs across Coventry. Jamie plans to build on his track record of nurturing positive relationships to create opportunities, boost confidence and raise young people's aspirations.
 
Jamie grew up in Coventry and his favourite GCSEs were PE and Art because they were practical didn’t involve as much writing as other subjects. The subject teaching at Jamie’s school was excellent, but the careers advice and guidance was limited. After staying on for sixth form, Jamie completed A-Levels in Biology, PE and Art but wasn’t sure what to study at University; he took a gap year with no real plan for the future. On the advice of one of his teachers, Jamie applied to become a Football (Soccer) Coach in New York City and at the age of 19 moved to the United States for two years. This experience helped Jamie to realise that he loved working with young people, especially when it also involved Sport. Jamie completed his degree with First Class Honours in ‘Community and Informal Education’ after studying through distance learning as a mature student. He later qualified as a teacher whilst working at a Further Education College.

Jamie’s educational journey provides a great perspective to ThinkHigher activities; Jamie really enjoyed leading our Sport Psychology and Creative Discovery Days and our Sports Camp in the summer holidays. Jamie believes that taking part in physical activity and having a creative outlet are vital components for our social and emotional wellbeing.

Sarah Farrell
Raising Aspirations Coordinator
Sarah grew up in Ontario, Canada and moved to the UK in 2007.  As part of the ThinkHigher team, she works with the schools in Hinckley, including Hinckley Academy and John Cleveland Sixth Form Centre and Redmoor Academy, as well as Higham Lane School in Nuneaton.
She has worked with young people in a range of settings from delivering in school programmes, team events, one to one support and running forest school and outdoor learning events.  She is passionate about supporting others to achieve their potential and helping them to realise just how amazing they are.  Using the skills and experiences that she has gained throughout her career to support students in making informed, ambitious decisions about their own futures.

Josh Pointon
​Raising Aspirations Coordinator
Josh works with The George Eliot School, The Nuneaton Academy, Hartshill School and King Edward’s College.
In school Josh’s favourite subjects were P.E. and Science. It was no wonder why Josh ended up studying Sport and Exercise Science at University but the road wasn’t as easy as that. Josh failed his 1st year in 6th Form and it was a lesson learnt for Josh to take education more serious. The next two years Josh took a level 3 Btec in Sport Development, Coaching and Fitness which gave him the opportunity to go to University. This opportunity was nearly missed until a teacher at Josh’s 6th form asked why he wasn’t applying to go to University. This conversation happened on the last day of applications for University, this teacher sat down and went through the whole process and helped Josh apply. This is one of the reasons why Josh loves his job at ThinkHigher because he is eager to make sure no one misses their opportunity to go to university like Josh nearly did.  

Josh graduated in 2014 from Coventry University with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.  After University Josh worked for an educational company that provided week long intensive courses in schools to help students in a variety of subjects. This is where Josh’s passion to help young people realise their potential began. Josh believes that all young people are different and one way does not fit all. He wants to inspire young people to believe in themselves so they can think higher and become the best they can be.

Jo Gaffney
Raising Aspirations Coordinator (FE)
Never really knowing what she wanted to do with her life, Jo is someone who follows her heart instead of her head. Jo dropped out of her Fashion Design degree aged 19 to work as a DJ in clubs and bars all over the UK; living in Manchester, Wigan (where she was homeless for 3 months), Nottingham and Stoke-On-Trent. With her nights spent playing music for party goers, Jo spent her daytime completing a distance learning course in Child Psychology and began working at an outdoor activity centre where she became a qualified climbing, abseiling, archery, zip line, quad bike and fencing instructor. After 5 years of working in nightclubs Jo began looking for her next big adventure- not sure what to do, she sent a text to everyone in her phone asking what job they could see her doing. Eleven people replied to say ‘Air Hostess’, so Jo decided that was the path to take and spent the next 3 years working in the skies. The job was hard but fun and Jo used her new travel contacts to spend the winter months travelling the world including China, Peru, Bolivia, India, North America and Europe. Ready for another new adventure Jo started to work at a local youth club and loved it so much that she became a full time youth worker at Henley College Coventry in 2005- the first full time youth worker to be based at a further education college in the UK!

During her time at the college Jo also became a respite foster carer for 2 years, got married and began a distance learning degree in Informal Education: Youth and Community Studies. The marriage didn’t last but Jo’s love of working with young people did and her work was featured in several local and national TV programmes and newspaper articles. She also managed to combine her love of travel with youth work as she took groups of young people to volunteering projects in Russia and Rwanda. Eventually realising that she needed to love herself a little more Jo began to focus on who she was and what she wanted. With this new attitude Jo graduated at the age of 30, bought her first home and reconnected with an old friend with whom she eventually found love with before having two kids in her late thirties.
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​In March 2020 Jo joined the ThinkHigher team to experience new challenges, learn new skills and become part of an amazing team of Coordinators, Ambassadors and young people. Despite still saying that she’s not academic, Jo is due to start a Master’s of Science in Psychotherapy and Counselling in October 2020.

Emma Culey
Enterprise Coordinator
After graduating from Coventry University, Emma has worked in roles in educational research, workshop delivery to young people and education programme management. Her main skills and interests lie in outreach, managing and delivering programmes to help students to reach their potential. In Emma's current role of Enterprise Coordinator, she works with ThinkHigher, The Careers and Enterprise Company and Coventry & Warwickshire LEP. Emma's role is to work with Careers Leaders in 18 schools to help them achieve their Gatsby Benchmarks. Alongside this, she works with local businesses to develop school programmes and recruit senior leaders as Enterprise Advisors to support school careers programmes.

Heather Twomey
ThinkHigher Administrator
Heather finished a 2 year German Language and Secretarial course in Coventry before leaving her home town to spend a number of years working in South Africa, the opportunity which fuelled her passion for travelling.  She has gone off the PA / Admin track a few times and spent a number of years in the fitness industry (including driving a van full of sports equipment and setting up exercise classes in local church halls) and 9 years working in the recruitment industry.  Now back in her field of administration, with 40 years’ experience, she loves being the office support for the ThinkHigher team.