We’re a diverse team bringing together creative, strategic and educational expertise.
Our team is filled with talented, creative and professional people and we work together to deliver creative solutions that we’re really proud of. At the heart of everything we do is the drive to build long-term relationships, support our partners and keep them involved in the creative process. We’re approachable and always willing to help in any way we can. Simply put, we’re a really passionate and enthusiastic group of people, committed to making a difference in the education sector.
Our Values

We're proud of our continued growth and critical role in supporting our partners to achieve their vision, values and strategic objectives. Throughout our journey, we have consistently demonstrated a set of core values that continue to underpin Engaging Education. They represent who we are and what we believe in.

To create INNOVATIVE ideas that support and promote.

To be SUPPORTIVE to partners at all stages of the creative process.

To present and maintain a PERSONABLE but PROFESSIONAL image.

To maintain INTEGRITY whilst delivering an outstanding service.

To be DETERMINED and dedicated to delivering a collaborative creative service.

Ross Bennett

Commercial Director

BSc in Management Sciences
Ross is the Commercial Director and one of the founding partners of Engaging Education. He established the organisation as part of an after-school project during Year 10 of Secondary School, where his passion for business and education was ignited. Ross is committed to improving the life chances of young people. This is evidenced through his positions as Chair of the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership, Vice-Chair of Governors at Goole Academy and Governor at the Freeston Academy. Crucially, Ross understands the challenges faced by academies, schools, multi-academy trusts and the people within. He has a proven track record of working alongside Principals, CEOs, Senior Leaders and students to develop and implement communication strategies – utilising a wide range of media.

Greg Bennett

Media Director

As Media Director, Greg has a proven track record with over 10 years’ experience delivering high-quality photography and video. Consequently, he is an expert in his field and within the education sector. Having helped to establish the organisation whilst still in the final years of Secondary School, Greg has grown with the business and has always taken a practical and open-minded approach to developing the service offered to all Engaging Education clients. He has been directly involved, throughout all pre- and post-production stages, in the delivery of creative media projects throughout the entirety of the education sector, from primary schools to MATs, including, but not limited to, promotional films, social media campaigns and whole trust image capture.

Imran Chouglay

Design Director

BA Hons in Industrial Design
Working as a designer around the world, from Singapore to Italy, he was lured to Wakefield as Design Director for Engaging Education and to establish them as creative specialists in the education sector. Imran has successfully branded/rebranded a number of academies, colleges and educational organisations and further implemented this with design solutions for internal and external communication of key values. He has established the core messaging for a range of multi-academy trusts, schools and education organisations, and is working as the Creative Director for National Careers Week, after being approached to become a shareholder in the company.

Emily Huffinley

Head of Operations

BSc Hons in Politics
Emily oversees all operations within the company and acts as a contact for clients. She liaises with individuals both internally and externally to ensure projects are delivered to a high standard to create real impact for our clients. She effectively communicates partners’ visions and aims to the in-house teams, which is reflected in a range of consistent, engaging and creative campaigns. As well as overseeing operations across the company, Emily is a key point of contact for wellbeing and maintaining the passion and enthusiasm in everything we do.

Michael Evans

Projects and Partnership Manager

BA Hons in Sport, Culture and Society
With over 5 years’ experience working within the marketing industry, Michael acts as a key contact for a variety of clients – managing the progress of projects and supporting our collaborative focus. He has experience managing a wide range of clients, focusing on website design and build, paid and social advertising, SEO and PR. Michael brings his experience to the table and works closely with our clients from start to finish, seeing ideas come to life with the help of our brilliant design and media teams.

Magda Clegg

Projects and Partnership Manager

MA in English Literature

During the last 10 years Magda has worked for the Wakefield Learning Community and, more recently, as marketing and communications lead for a successful, large secondary school. Prior to this, she worked as a project manager for Orange, the Press Association and translation agencies delivering multimedia projects in a fast-paced, ever developing environment. Magda’s dedication to client satisfaction and her keen eye for detail make her an invaluable member of the Projects and Partnership team.

Will Goodrum

Projects and Partnership Manager

BA Hons in Sports Coaching and Management

Will has worked closely with schools and colleges across the country for eight years, giving him deep insight into the education sector. He also has experience working with charities, national governing bodies and local authorities, making his expertise equally valuable for our partners beyond education. Will’s straightforward and open approach to project management helps him to build strong relationships and deliver projects beyond partner expectations.

Jake Clarkson

Projects & Partnership Manager 

Jake joined us with extensive experience managing projects with schools, colleges and Multi Academy Trusts, making him a perfect fit for our Projects Team. He’s skilled at keeping lots of plates spinning at once, managing projects and relationships to produce expectation-busting outcomes. In a past life, Jake spent a lot of time working on cruise ships, so you know working with him will be plain sailing. 

Sam Keenaghan

Copywriting and Development Lead

BSc in Psychology
Sam has a varied background, from carrying out research with children and young people, to working in marketing and publishing. All of these roles have provided opportunities to write for different audiences, such as young people, parents, governing bodies, and the media. Sam uses her range of experience to tailor written content to suit each client’s needs. Her eye for detail and flair for written communication allow her to create engaging copy for a diverse set of projects and clients.

Helen Law

Creative Copywriter

BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing
With over 8 years’ experience as an English Practitioner and a background in journalism, Helen utilises her creative writing skills to build the content for projects. Her attention to detail helps to create quality promotional pieces and digital communication. Helen’s previous career as a teacher gives her additional insight when helping to create bespoke marketing strategies for academies and schools. She has led on, created and developed original resources for a wide range of exciting clients.

Gaia Graziotti

Creative Copywriter

BA Hons in Chinese and International Relations 

Gaia has spent the last five years writing content across the world, delivering copy for charities, online publications, independent businesses, and international brands. Now joining Engaging Education after three years of freelancing experience, she’s getting back to her first (professional) love: the education sector! When you’re drawing from such an eclectic background, keeping it fresh and dynamic is the name of the game –– and so is tailoring every piece of copy to the partner’s needs and unique identity. That’s the kind of balancing act she’s known for! 

Daniel Charlesworth

Copywriting Assistant

BA Hons in English Literature with Creative Writing
With over seven years’ experience split between teaching English and writing content, Daniel has a keen insight and expertise in both the education sector and the world of copywriting. His previous roles required a fastidious work ethic, which he draws on to support the copywriting team in creating faultless, engaging content. Daniel is always thoughtful as to clients’ specific needs and is adept at suiting promotional campaigns and digital content to specific purposes and audiences in a variety of long and short forms.

Sophie Walshe

Digital Marketing & Web Analyst

BA Hons in English
Sophie’s previous experience working in the editorial team at Mumsnet as well as her continued interest in the education sector as a whole make her perfect for her role as Digital Marketing & Web Analyst. Sophie keeps on top of all things digital, from community management and social media to the population and management of websites. She works hard to ensure that digital content is up-to-date and reaches the right audiences, so that our clients don’t have to.

Olivia Maclaughlin

Digital Marketing Executive

BA in Journalism, Media and Communications (Joint Honour)

Olivia’s previous experience working with small, sustainable homeware and menswear companies, focusing on marketing and social media, has given her valuable skills and an in-depth understanding of all things digital. She enjoys the aspects of growth within social media, and this allows her to support clients with an enthusiasm that enables them to improve their social channels. Olivia prides herself on working efficiently and creating engaging digital content for our clients.

Sophie Flanagan

Digital Marketing Assistant

After completing work experience with us during her time at UTC Leeds, Sophie has rejoined the team to take on a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship. She has a track record of delivering impactful social media campaigns in a motor racing team environment, giving her skills that transfer nicely to the fast-paced education sector.

As someone who was so recently on the receiving end of marketing and communications within education, Sophie brings a unique and invaluable insight to the team, which is to say, ‘she keeps us young’.

Jade Moran

Project Support & Administrator

BA Hons in Multimedia Design
Jade is an essential cog in the Team EE machine and is responsible for keeping our operations running smoothly. With 12 years of experience in customer service and 6 years spent as an administrator, she is an expert in ensuring that the team and our clients have everything they need when they need it. From arranging printing and dealing with invoices to responding to general queries and signposting, Jade keeps everyone and everything organised to ensure we deliver the best service possible every time.

James Hughes

Media Lead

BA Hons in Film & Video
With 10 years of experience in the media industry, James is involved in the entire production process – from pre-production briefs to the final edit. His creative enthusiasm is clearly evident with each project he is involved in, making him a valuable asset to the company. James has successfully built strong client relationships and delivers projects that are of the highest creative standard.

Sam Sharpe

Specialist Videographer/Photographer

BA Hons in Film & Media Production
Sam uses his experience as a professional videographer to create refreshing and compelling video content for our clients. His bold, innovative productions have been showcased internationally (by Eight Productions) and recognised by regional arts bodies. Sam’s specialist skills lie in cinematography and post-production, which he utilises to produce immersive and engaging video content that is always attentive to clients’ briefs.

Tom Broughton

Video Editor

BA Hons in Film & Television
Specialising in video and motion graphics, Tom’s 5 years of experience in the industry make him a valued asset within the team. He has the ability to deliver creative editing solutions that help projects stand out from the crowd. Tom is incredibly enthusiastic about video editing and isn’t afraid to push the envelope at times, resulting in engaging and successful productions.

Kurt Stevenson

Video Editor

BA Hons in Media Practices
Kurt joined our team with over 3 years’ experience specialising in filming and editing for the education sector. He has experience in working collaboratively with different clients, establishing their needs and creating media that is memorable. Kurt has a keen eye for the use of colour, movement and space, allowing viewers to be truly immersed in his work. With the wealth of visual stimuli on offer, Kurt focuses on capturing attention through film that stands out.

Morgan Race

Videographer/Video Editor

 

BA Hons in Film & TV Production

Before joining Team EE Morgan worked as a freelance filmmaker, producing stand-out films for a wide range of clients. He joined us in 2023 with a boatload of experience, talent and energy. Morgan’s a passionate storyteller, dedicated to capturing memorable, cinematic shots that evoke emotion across all audiences.

He’s also a talented writer, hoping to one day combine his loves of fiction writing and filmmaking to bring his ideas to the big screen. Get his autograph before he makes it big!

Ibrahim Farooq headshot.

Ibrahim Farooq

Videographer/Video Editor

Ibrahim joined the team in 2023 with over eight years of freelance experience in cinematography, video editing and photography, having worked with major clients including BBC Sport. His varied background in producing everything from documentaries to music videos gives him the creative edge our clients need to set them apart from the crowd.  

Samantha Dyson

Design Lead

BA Hons in Fashion Brand Management
Joining the company with 4 years’ experience in the industry, Samantha is passionate about digital and social media trends, constantly looking for inspiration for creative concepts and innovative ideas. Her forte lies in confidently fulfilling the brief by understanding the client’s needs as well as the intended audience. Samantha focuses on branding, layout and typography – creating social media and commercial awareness.

Sam Barran

Designer and Digital Publishing Specialist

BA Hons in Graphic Design
With a passion for illustration, Sam brings his own unique style to the design team. Coming from a small design consultancy, his ability to take ownership of projects and create original content has established him as a vital part of the team. Sam has worked on many successful interior projects that have helped clients to create visually exciting environments. His forte lies in print design, resulting in engaging marketing materials.

Beth Sparks

Designer & Studio Management Support

BA Hons in Graphic and Communication Design (Ind)
Beth completed her Year in Industry with EE during her undergraduate degree and couldn’t stay away! As one of our Designers, she helps to bring clients’ visions to life by creating exciting materials to engage a wide range of target audiences. Beth draws on her extensive experience in designing books and educational resources for children to ensure all materials she works on are both attractive and informative, fulfilling our partners’ needs every time.

Molly Coathup

Designer

BA Hons in Graphic and Communication Design

Molly has a wealth of experience supplying structural and conceptual designs within the FMCG industry, but it is her love for illustration and print that shines through her graphic design work. Through digital and print media, Molly brings her own creative input to every project, while always satisfying client needs. Her attentive nature, artistry and technical expertise mark her as an invaluable asset to the design team.

Elise Bennison

Designer

BA Hons in Graphic Design

Fresh from her degree at Leeds Arts University, Elise brings an exciting new perspective to the Design Team. She’s passionate about telling stories through illustration, typography and colour while remaining true to an established brand. Elise is a great all-rounder and loves to dive into all areas of the design process, from initial idea to final product.

Sarah Walker

Designer

BA Hons in Graphic Design
Sarah supports the rest of the Design Team to create a variety of attractive and engaging materials for our partners. By making updates to existing materials, preparing artwork for print and creating graphics and mock-ups for social media, Sarah’s work is essential in ensuring we go above and beyond on every project. Her degree in Graphic Design and experience designing logos, branding and graphics for a range of clients make Sarah the perfect fit as a Designer at EE.

Melissa Watson Headshot

Melissa Watson

Designer

Coming Soon!

Aimee Morley

Graphic and Motion Designer

BA Hons in Illustration and Animation
An expert in both illustration and animation, Aimee is a versatile member of our Design Team. Aimee has a rich creative background in 2D Frame Animation and Motion Design. She brings our designs to life, creating visually engaging animated content for our clients. Her ability to create and execute ambitious visual concepts in her designs means that she stands out – just like her work!

Jack Parker

Design Assistant

BA Hons in Graphic Design and Animation

Jack supports the Design Team by making amendments to projects and helping to create a wide range of engaging materials. By preparing artwork for print, creating graphics and working on larger projects, Jack is an essential part of the Design Team. His extensive experience with branding projects and working with Adobe Illustrator means that he is able to ensure we go above and beyond for our clients.

Andrew Riches

Advisor

Andrew has worked in education for over 26 years, mostly in leadership roles. He has been a Headteacher as well as a CEO, overseeing the expansion of a large multi-academy trust. Andrew first worked with us as a client and has first-hand experience of the impact of strong branding and effective marketing. As an advisor, Andrew brings a wealth of experience to our team enabling us to have a deeper understanding of the educational landscape.

Roy Bennett

Logistics & Morale Officer

With an extensive career in the West Yorkshire Fire Service as Watch Commander and experience as a Road Safety Trainer, Roy is responsible for ensuring all print materials are delivered safely and efficiently via the Engaging Education van. Alongside this role, he is responsible for maintenance and keeping our team’s morale high. Roy is a skilled musician and personifies the description of a ‘people person’ – an attribute that makes him the perfect delivery man for our organisation.

Kenton Robbins

Non-Executive Director

Kenton has more than 25 years’ business experience in a wide range of industry sectors, including working at Director level for two of the UK’s largest FMCG PLCs. With this experience and his specialist knowledge of Leadership & Business Coaching and Mentoring, Kenton’s advice and guidance have been invaluable in driving Engaging Education’s continued growth.

Our Story

Years before Engaging Education came into fruition, founders Ross and Greg were involved in a school-based enterprise project that was to become the start of a passion for business and education. This project saw the birth of ‘Olly and Molly’ – a story about two inquisitive characters who travelled to London. Move forward a few years to 2006 and ‘Olly and Molly’ had arrived at Middlesbrough Football Club as part of a project overseen by Ross, Greg and a number of their peers. In 2008, the pair began delivering workshops to local schools and their passion for education grew.

By 2011, Engaging Education became a registered company, delivering creative workshops to local schools. During 2013, Engaging Education welcomed its Design Director, Imran, who brought with him extensive design skills and creative ideas. The company’s summer schools were delivered to 14 schools during 2014 and proved very popular. In the same year, the company secured its first SLA with Ossett Academy, followed the year after by Goole Academy.

During 2016, Engaging Education updated its website and identity, and the creative service grew substantially. Company partnerships were developed in 2017 with the investment in National Careers Week and the work created for KCOM. This same year saw the company achieve the first, of many, Trust contracts.

Today, we’re a strong team of designers, copywriters, digital experts, marketeers, strategists, photographers and videographers with a vast range of partners and ongoing projects.