Meet the Team
Gabi Binnie
Head of Funded Projects and RISEAs the head of the RISE delivery team, I oversee the project and ensure it is delivered in line with our funding requirements. I’ve been working on the RISE programme since 2016, and have seen many graduates build successful careers in SMEs, catalyse business growth and innovation, and contribute to regional economic development.
Merryn McGregor
RISE Project ManagerProject managing RISE is fantastic – it’s great to lead the RISE team, and to work directly with SMEs, our stakeholders, and graduate candidates. Though it’s a very busy time, it’s also really rewarding to see our local businesses develop and expand, and to see our successful graduates flourish in their new roles.
Annie Gainsborough
Candidate Engagement ManagerI look after all things candidate-facing, including advertising, assessment centres, and interview coaching! RISE is such a wonderful scheme, bringing together local business and fabulous graduates, many of whom, like me, came to Sheffield themselves and students and never want to leave.
Amber Bytheway
SME Engagement ManagerAs the SME engagement manager, I work primarily with the local SCR businesses to encourage them to get involved in the scheme and to get them high quality graduates working in their teams. Working on RISE has given me a great insight into how SMEs work, the challenges they face, and how impactful graduates can be on their businesses.
Ellie Gee
SME Engagement ManagerWorking with local businesses is great, and I love the variety of sectors that our SMEs work within. I’m one of the main liaisons for the business side of RISE, though I do enjoy getting stuck into working on CV screening and assessment centres! Working with the rest of the RISE team is wonderful, and I’ve made some great connections with local entrepreneurs and business owners.
Juliet Hayes
Candidate Engagement ManagerI work alongside Annie on the candidate side of things – like conducting and marking assessment centres, answering candidate queries, and even presenting sessions for Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Sheffield. I have to say that writing adverts is the most fun bit of this role, though getting to talk to the candidates is also really enjoyable!
Adam Preston
Project CoordinatorA project coordinator's job is never dull! I have a really interesting role doing things like helping to draft paperwork, conducting assessment centres, ringing candidates and businesses – and so much more. I actually got this role through the RISE scheme, so it’s been really interesting to see how the scheme works from behind the scenes.