Our story

Justin Cooke

Chair

Justin is an entrepreneur, investor and business leader who has spent much of his career at the intersection of technology, education, media and talent. For him, Springpod's mission is personal: thanks to his parents' sacrifices, he was the first in his family to go to university, and he's seen throughout his career how much of someone's future is shaped by the opportunities they're exposed to, the people they meet and the confidence they gain early on, access that remains deeply uneven, too often determined by where a young person lives, the school they attend or who their parents know. It's a belief that runs through his career: alongside founding, investing in, building and exiting more than 11 businesses, Justin was a driving force behind digital accessibility, including lobbying for its inclusion in the Disability Discrimination Act, served as Vice Chair of UNICEF UK, supporting its mission to give every child the chance of a happy, healthy life, and was Deputy Chairman of FutureLearn, helping democratise access to education regardless of geography or background. As Springpod's Chairman, his focus is on expanding that mission, working with employers, educators and entire industries to make opportunity more equitable and strengthen the connection between education and the world of work, alongside a wider portfolio of education, technology and media businesses he chairs and advises, though it's Springpod he's particularly proud of, sitting at the intersection of two things he's long cared about: widening access and helping people fulfil their potential.

Hannah Williamson

General Partner at Edge

Hannah is General Partner at Edge, a creative-tech investor she's been with for over a decade, rising through the firm to lead investment in sector-defining media, education and entertainment businesses. She's been a Springpod board member since 2023, alongside board roles at A Million Ads and Newsflare.

Alex Bishop

Associate Director at UFI Ventures

Alex is Associate Director, Ventures at Ufi VocTech Trust, where he recently launched the Ufi Ventures Challenge Fund to back seed-stage skills-for-work start-ups. He's been a Springpod board observer since 2022, alongside similar roles at TaskHer and Gladys.

Geoff Hyams

Chairman at Patrol Store

Geoff spent 17 years in the Metropolitan Police, running murder squads, before leaving in 1999 to build a string of businesses serving the police and security sector, including Police Oracle, The NSI Group and UniformDating.com, sold to Cupid plc in 2012. He's now Chairman of Patrol Store, the UK's leading supplier of police and security kit, and has been a Springpod board member since 2016.

Rilwan Meeran

Head of Alternative Investments at Britebound

Rilwan is Head of Alternative Investments at Britebound, with a career spanning venture capital and private equity across MassMutual, Flat World Partners and Leopard Capital. At MassMutual he founded an impact investing programme to support underrepresented fund managers and entrepreneurs, and he's been a Springpod board member since 2024.