Meet the Made Not Born team
Neil Atkinson – Managing Director
Neil is our managing director and knows a thing or two about starting a new business. After studying bio-chemistry at the University of Reading, Neil set up his first business importing and selling ISDN cards from France. He was approached to sell the company in 1995 and he headed for London. It was whilst trying to navigating the headache that is London traffic that he hit upon the idea for his second business – designing and producing custom business location maps which he owned and managed until 2007. His next business venture was to set up a company with his wife to provide employment law and HR outsourcing. Happily, both the business and marriage are still going from strength to strength.
All of this business experience has allowed Neil to see what information, support and supplier networks are important to entrepreneurs and he now wants to channel his energy into helping others build successful businesses.
When he’s not busy being our MD, Neil likes to drive very fast cars around race tracks or whizz down ski slopes.
Sam Corcoran – Director
Sam is our director at Made Not Born. After graduating from the University of Derby, she later completed a post graduate diploma in Training & Performance Management at the University of Leicester. Sam has over 20 years of experience within the field of HR and training and has worked in a variety of HR management roles across industries including manufacturing, retail and business consultancy.
Sam has worked with Neil for many years, and was his very first employee at his previous business. Starting with a company from the very beginning has enabled her to see first hand some of the issues faced by companies that are just starting out, and she is hoping to pass on this experience through her work at Made Not Born.
Away from work Sam likes to spend time with her family, and as she’s outnumbered by her boys she has had to develop a love of hanging around freezing cold football pitches most weekends.
David Ralph – Copywriter/Content Marketer
David is our copywriter and content marketer with experience of writing for newspapers, magazines and blogs. His research skills are second to none, which might explain why he’s so good at general knowledge quizzes. David has appeared on BBC’s Pointless and ITV’s The Chase!
David studied for the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism and gained 100wpm shorthand all whilst working full time – so he’s not only super efficient but speedy too!
The speedy characteristic also applies to his hobbies. When he’s not creating fabulously informative business content, David likes to keep fit by running and entering lots of road and cross country races.
Chris Swindells – Graphic/Digital Designer
Chris is our graphic and digital designer and in charge of making everything look snazzy.
Chris started his career in retail whilst studying for his degree in Advertising/Creative Practice. Since then, he has had gained a wealth of design and media experience by working for a number of publications as well as undertaking a variety of freelance work.
When he’s not creating his wonderful designs, Chris likes to run and is an all-round health conscious person – this can sometimes make others in the office feel guilty for eating biscuits and drinking far too much tea and coffee!