Meet the Team.
Meet RIFT Social Enterprise’s passionate team.
Each member of our team is doing exceptional things to collectively work towards our shared mission of building sustainable pathways to self-employment.
Hear from Our Patron, Levi Roots
Levi Roots
RIFT Social Enterprise Patron
We are excited to announce that Levi Roots has become a Patron!
Levi, an entrepreneurial inspiration and advocate for social good, perfectly aligns with our mission. On his new role, Levi said: “RIFT social Enterprise's mission to empower marginalised people through self-employment support really resonated with me. My own journey from prison to entrepreneurship shows the value of their work. I’m excited to support and bring some Reggae Reggae sunshine to people’s lives!”
As an active Patron, Levi will lend his voice and support to our CFO Evolution and WISE contracts, including prison visits, helping us raise awareness and amplify our impact.
We’re incredibly grateful to Levi for his commitment and look forward to creating positive change together.
Andy Gullick FIEP RSA
Chief Executive Officer
Andy has spent all of his professional career working with vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals. His roles have included: social worker, Senior Probation Officer, Governor grade in three prisons, Chief Executive of a children's charity and Director of Justice for an employment organisation for people with convictions.
If you would like to contact Andy, you can do so at: agullick@riftse.co.uk
Lord Dr Michael Hastings CBE
RIFT Social Enterprise Patron
We are delighted to announce the formal appointment of Lord Dr Michael Hastings CBE as our new Patron.
Lord Hastings is a renowned advocate for social justice and human rights, and we are honoured to have him join our team to support our work in empowering the long term unemployed and people with convictions through self-employment opportunities.
With his extensive experience in the corporate, public, and non-profit sectors, Lord Hastings brings a unique perspective and wealth of knowledge to our organisation. We are excited to work with him to advance our mission of creating pathways to financial independence and self-sufficiency for those who need it most.
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Daisy
Head of Business & Enterprise
Daisy heads up the Business Start-Up Team at RIFT Social Enterprise, bringing her 7 years’ experience within the social housing sector and background in the public procurement & construction industry.
She has previously been the project lead for a 10 million euro, cross border, EU-funded project which supported in excess of 1200 individuals into self employment, traditional employment or further education.
Daisy is passionate about business start-ups, innovation and out of the box ideas.
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Gemma
Head of Operations
Gemma joined RIFT Social Enterprise in 2022 having been part of the RIFT Group for 14 years. She brings experience in tax and accounting, and also marketing, having spent the last five years focusing on customer experience and insight for RIFT. She loves to lift up rocks and find out how things work, always looking for ways to improve what we do and make it the best it can be for our participants.
Outside of work, Gemma is a big Charlton Athletic fan, sharing this passion with her two young sons when she’s not watching them playing in their own matches!
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Jemma
RIFT WISE Project Lead
Jemma has joined RIFT Social Enterprise in 2022 as one of our Business Start-Up Advisors, bringing along with her, her skills and experience from running her own business as a creative business consultant. Jemma is now excited to be our RIFT WISE Project lead, developing and delivering an impactful self-employment support offer for women with convictions.
Jemma is a self-proclaimed 'multi-passionate' with a keen interest in human potential. Combining the two, Jemma enjoys supporting people innovatively with their various business ideas and empowering them to achieve their goals and make things happen.
In her down time, Jemma enjoys traveling with her daughter, going for long walks and getting lost in books on philosophy.
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Ts’anna
Performance Improvement Coordinator
Ts'anna joins us from her previous role at RIFT, where she co-ordinated for Business Development, Operations and Communications in Research and Development Tax Credits.
She brings a diverse range of experience alongside strong communication and organisational skills.
She champions the work RSE does and is excited be a part of it.
Ts’anna would describe herself as an introverted extrovert that loves music, likes to change her hair (a lot) and can’t live without lemon juice.
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Rhys
Business Start-Up Advisor and Lead Trainer
Rhys is one of the Business Start Up Advisors, whose professional career has been based around working with those people striving to better themselves or improve their current situation in one way or another. He joins RIFT Social Enterprise from the Housing Sector, where he was the Sussex lead for a 10 million Euro, Cross Channel, EU-funded Project supporting its participants into self-employment.
Rhys’ previous experience includes working in a Rehabilitation Team, as a Child Practitioner in a Local Authority Safeguarding Team and as a Secure Officer in a Youth Offending Prison.
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Olly
Business Start-Up Advisor
Olly spent a decade teaching before a career change to establish his own business. He now combines his love of working with and developing people with his knowledge and skillset in start-up businesses to help clients transform their ideas into reality.
Olly loves seeing clients succeed just as much as he loves geeky board games and walking his dog in the Yorkshire countryside (which is a lot)!
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Lucy
Business Start-Up Advisor and Neurodiversity Lead
Lucy has joined RIFT Social Enterprise after many years of self-employment running her own hospitality businesses & mentoring start up business owners.
She is passionate about helping others pursue their journey into non-traditional careers paths that embrace their passions & fit their needs.
Lucy believes there’s nothing that can’t be solved over a cuppa & a good biscuit. In her free time, you’ll find either with her head in a book or heading to yoga.’
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Parrisse
Business Start-Up Advisor
Parrisse joins us after working with the Ambulance Service for the last 8 years and is self-employed, having established her own Beauty Business & Training centre for the past 10 years. She has helped many people start up their own beauty business and is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and experience of being self-employed.
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Kathleen
Business Start-Up Advisor
Kath joined RIFT Social Enterprise in March 2024 as a Business Start-Up Advisor with 5 years of justice sector experience. She's worked extensively with individuals in prisons and through the gate (TTG), focusing on reintegrating high-risk individuals into the community through education, training, and employment support. Kath led the ESF CFO development fund project, establishing The Straight Six Café in Nottingham, offering Level 1 Hospitality & Catering qualifications and facilitating connections with employers. Recently, she led a team of Employment Coaches at two Restart sites, assisting participants in returning to employment and self-employment.
Outside of work, Kath enjoys walking her dogs, gardening, and watching Harry Potter.
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Jane
Personal Tax Specialist
Jane joins us from her previous role at the RIFT Group, where she has spent 4 years as a Tax Consultant. Jane has a real passion for all things accounting, and her favourite part of the day is speaking with clients. Jane’s vibrant personality, strong communication skills and expert tax knowledge means she will be a great addition to the team.
Jane loves a challenge, almost as much as she loves Karaoke and in a former life was an opera singer!
Michele
Administrator
Michele is the newest addition to RIFT SE.
She is our administrator and is responsible for looking after all things admin related.
She has a background in multiple industries including working for a Charity remotely supplying fuel vouchers for those struggling financially in the North of England.
She has a real passion for helping people and gets a real satisfaction from seeing others succeed.
Michele was also a dog groomer for many years which included running her own busy salon. Having rescued and owning 5 dogs at the time and loving our furry friends it seemed only natural to help other people’s dogs look amazing.
Holly
WISE Project Support Officer
Holly is our RIFT WISE Project Support Officer, bringing her dedication to personal growth and expertise from running her own business as a Life and Relationship Coach.
Holly develops and delivers tailored business start-up support to women within the criminal justice system, empowering them to launch and sustain their own businesses, and assisting them in navigating any post-release challenges.
Holly is passionate about mental health advocacy, community wellness, and making self-development support accessible to all. She also firmly believes that life is always better with a Yorkshire pudding (or three!).