Will Akerman : MyKindaCrowd
What is MyKindaCrowd all about?
MyKindaCrowd connects young people with companies, careers and their future. Free to Universities, Colleges and Schools, MyKindaCrowd is supported by City & Guilds, The SSAT Enterprise Village, the TES, UCAS and Brent Hoberman. Companies set real-life challenges from which teachers and lecturers can select the most relevant for their students. Students respond with bright ideas, and are rewarded with work-experience, Internships, prizes or even jobs. More than 65% of UK Universities and 14% of schools and colleges have joined MyKindaCrowd in the 3-months since launch. Companies already setting challenges include; Fujitsu, Arup, Thales, Eden project, more magazine, Pineapple Dance Studios and the NSPCC.
What is the social impact?
- MyKindaCrowd provides a path for all young people to connect with the world of work, society and their future.
- MyKindaCrowd levels the playing field; students are judged on their ideas and responses rather than their ‘post-code’, appearance or accent.
- MyKindaCrowd has national reach, is free, and completely sustainable.
Who are the people involved?
Will is the youngest ever qualified Options Trader. Following 1991 Citibank in Frankfurt, he founded an independent derivatives brokerage that became the 3rd largest of its kind. A regular business speaker, addressing international audiences at London School of Economics, London Stock Exchange and World Money Show. In 2003 Will went on to found Speakeasy4schools, which grew to become the largest independent Enterprise Education provider in England. In 2010 merged with, and rebranded as CragRats, teaching 150,000 students per annum. A unique blended-learning delivery; Live theatre, facilitated workshops and e-learning. In 2010 Will identified that students could not effectively connect with business. Crowd sourcing was the obvious solution; MyKindaCrowd.
A blend of educational experience and business expertise, leveraging multi-sector talent. Advisors Brent Hoberman and Graham Bishop offer hands on advice and guidance.
What are the future plans?
Current growth rates forecast 98% of all UK Universities, Schools and Colleges will sign-up to MyKinda Crowd within the next 6-months. International Universities continue to sign-up and partner companies and challenge setters are eager to support global expansion.
www.mykindacrowd.com based in London.