Careers business headed by 80s pop star set to double in size

A FIRM that provides online careers guidance to young people, founded by a former member of 80s pop outfit Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, is aiming to double in size within a year after securing £100,000 finance deal.

Leeds-based U-Explore provides free, comprehensive and impartial careers guidance for schools, colleges, students and parents via its Start software that matches users to suitable jobs based on their qualities, skills and work preferences.

The firm’s expansion plans are being backed by Lloyds Bank, which has provided the £100,000 working capital package.

The business was founded in 2008 by current chief executive Andy Pickles, who was previously better known as part of Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, the pop group that scored three number ones with its medleys of rock n’ roll hits in the 1980s.

The business was launched when Mr Pickles, after being invited into schools to give talks on how to get into the music business, found pupils were uninformed and under-prepared for the world of work.

It was acquired in 2013 by the family of Matthew Riley, the founder and executive chairman of the £600m turnover IT and communication service provider Daisy Group, who was also one of Sir Alan Sugar’s advisers on The Apprentice.

U-Explore has signed up more than 1,000 schools to its free careers guidance software (Start), and is looking to sign up another 1,000 in the current school year.

Managing director Matt Peters said: “Schools have limited budgets for careers guidance and the infrastructure for delivery of careers guidance has been largely dismantled.

“With Matt Riley’s financial support we have made our software available to all schools and students free of charge, as well as providing lesson plans to help schools drive engagement.”

A big focus for the business is its new Three Minute Hero campaign, which aims to build a comprehensive library of three minute videos delivered by people working in a wide range of jobs.

These videos will be accessible through the free Start software to give young people who might be mulling a similar career an insight into the profession.  

Mr Peters said: “We intend to become the market-leading careers guidance software, and we want to capture 50,000 Three Minute Hero videos, giving students an insight into what it is really like to do different jobs.”

Tony Buchan, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “This is a business that has at its heart a real desire and drive to help young people across the country.

“U-Explore has an impressive management team and some exciting plans for the future.”