About Us
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Bootstrap Company believes in the power of creativity and micro-enterprises. We combine these elements to form a vital asset within Dalston. Our core activities are focused on three things:
· Supporting lndividuals and Small to Medium Enterprises
As well as providing high quality, affordable managed workspace, we also support our tenants by providing tailored business support, providing networking opportunities and promoting their work.
· Piloting innovative educational projects
By leveraging the creative enterprises that are part of the Bootstrap community we develop programs that focus on creative learning and career building.
· Creating a space for cultural exchange
Striving to push borders on re-imagining space and creating unconventional experiences are vital to our enterprise. We've created Print House Gallery, regenerated our WW2 bunker space and pioneered Dalston Roof Park.
Our History
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Founded in 1977 as a training and
enterprise organisation, Bootstrap Company
emerged at a time when the country was experiencing ridiculously high levels of
unemployment and industrial restructuring. The government promoted
self-employment by introducing Local Enterprise Agencies, a way to link up
local government and entrepreneurs. Up sprang Bootstrap!
In the nineties Bootstrap acquired The Print House; a factory for catalogues, crayons and pencils. It became a base for training and employment programmes whilst renting out workspaces for small companies and individuals. This remains a key function of the building to this day.
In recent years, the building received massive makeover and is now home to some of the most innovative and renowned talent in creative industries and social enterprises.
We've come a long way and are very proud of the
companies in our building.
Staff
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Sara Turnbull
Chief Executive
Sara Turnbull is a Chartered Environmentalist with experience in holistic sustainability, energy efficient retrofit and behaviour change. Sara has lived in Clapton and Dalston for 6 years and is passionate advocate for sustainable development. She brings to Bootstrap experience of property management, energy, retrofit, design and leadership in the private, public and third sector.
Sara is currently a Policy Advisor for www.greendeal.co.uk and an expert speaker on Building Performance for the Institute for Sustainability. She is a Trustee and council member for the Energy Institute and Vice-Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s European Sustainable Development Council.
Her previous work includes sustainability training for the Homes and Communities Agency and Prudential Property Investment, retrofit investment advice to Hermes and the sustainability strategy for Jaguar Land Rover’s new factory in Wolverhampton.
Zak Butcher
Emmanuella Cole
Halim Ghanima
Ruth Hahahoe
Chioma Nwanaga
Rosa Slade
Henry Trew
Trustees
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Bootstrap Company is led by a board of voluntary
trustees. The trustees are responsible for the general control and management
of the charity. The staff team is lead by the Chief Executive.
Board of Trustees:
Peter Kenyon
Chair
Contact Peter Kenyon
Peter Kenyon has been a community and social entrepreneur for over 20 years.
Peter's professional background in journalism spanned from the 70s - 90s. He was a freelance political and financial journalist with the Sunday Times, Irish Times and BBC Brussels. He joined Reuters in 1977. He was a Hackney councillor from 1994 - 2002, and Founder Chair of Newham Community Health Services Trust from 1995 - 1998.
He is a strong advocate of ethical business values, good governance and accountability to the local community. He believes this is the best way of building sound social enterprises. He was a member of the Development Trust Association's ad hoc working group that produced The Early Warning Guide; recommended by the Office of the Third Sector for use by voluntary sector boards and senior managers. He is a member of Community Builders' panel of mentors.
Mary Doyle
VIce Chair
Contact Mary Doyle
During and after her college education in drugs & bugs, to get away from the lab, Mary started doing voluntary youth work in Hulme Manchester. This led to being a volunteer for an International Peace Organisation in Northern Ireland, in youth and community work with both communities through the summers of 1979-83.
Mary decided people were more important than, for example, working for a drugs company "Lots of money but leave your conscience at home..."
Mary has worked and lived in urban and rural areas, developing projects, services and employment that serves the needs of local people. Five years ago a friend asked if Mary wanted to help rescue Bootstrap. It’s been a roller coaster ride but she wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Casey Lord
Trustee
Casey Lord is an Investment Manager at CAF Venturesome, one of the UK’s leading social investment funds. Prior to this, Casey worked for a grantmaking foundation in Islington and lived in India volunteering with micro-finance and development NGOs. Between jobs Casey helped set up FARM:Shop in Dalston.
Tomi Nummela
Trustee
Tomi worked in banking with ABN AMRO and Societe Generale for 10 years where he gained extensive experience in Debt and Equity Capital Markets covering wide range industry sectors. Having studied for an MBA in Corporate Social Responsibility, he now works for Cambridge University as a Programme Manager for Finance Sector Leaders Group.
Douglas Gilmore
Trustee
Douglas is Trading Director of the National Gallery Company Ltd, overseeing their retail, catering, digital and image licensing businesses. He spent 20 years in operational and business development roles with high street retailers plus 3 years franchising British and American retailers in Saudi Arabia. He has a passion for the arts and is an alumnus of the NYT. He is a trustee at The Geffrye Museum and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
John Shute
Trustee
Following a career in the oil industry, during which time he was responsible for project managing North Sea and International projects, John has spent the last decade working in a variety of roles in the not-for-profit sector.
Robert Soady
Trustee
Robert is a Paralegal at Grant Thornton and his experience includes professional negligence investigations, international arbitrations, insurance claims solutions and financial analysis.
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18 Ashwin Street London E8 3DL
Phone: 020 7275 0825 - Email: hello@bootstrapcompany.co.uk - Fax: 020 7275 0830
Bootstrap Company Ltd. Company No. 1355222 - Charity Registration No. 275489.
Renovations part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Adventure Capital Fund.