Jayne Mannox

My career started in PR, where I managed some very fun FMCG consumer brand accounts and also worked on B2B projects for international blue-chip organisations. These early years gave me a deep understanding of marketing, branding, and how to communicate with diverse audiences. From there, I moved into teaching in secondary schools, where I taught business, law, and public services (and even served as a Special Constable for West Midlands Police). I quickly progressed to Head of Department, and then took on a role managing education provision in a prison for young offenders. Leading a large team, I managed the delivery of functional skills and vocational training to individuals serving sentences from four years to life. That experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of second chances.

After leaving the prison service, I took a huge leap of faith and followed my dream of being an entrepreneur. I co-founded two businesses: a training company which delivered education and training across a range of subjects and sectors, and a social enterprise focussed on supporting at-risk individuals. Over the years, we achieved a lot! We were a government-appointed ‘Kickstart’ company during COVID, held some large education contracts across the UK, including Apprenticeships, and supported thousands of learners to achieve their qualifications. I ran these businesses for nearly seven years, and whilst it was a rollercoaster, they are among my proudest achievements.

Now, at UCB, I bring all this real-world experience into the classroom. I love being able to share industry insights and expertise in business enterprise, entrepreneurship, social enterprise, strategy, and learning and development. Thanks to my years working in industry, I can provide context that goes beyond textbooks and theory. Drawing on my contacts, I’m also able to invite guest speakers to connect with UCB students.

I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to get things wrong, who take calculated risks and keep moving forward. I thrive in busy, diverse environments and love working with motivated students who challenge the status quo. My advice to students is to “be a sponge” and absorb everything you’re exposed to at UCB. Grab every opportunity and connect with your peers; you just never know if the person sitting next to you will end up running the next million pound business!