We are proud to be a black-female led business with a diverse team. Click on ‘read more’ to learn about us!
Tooting Works, 89 Bickersteth Road
Tooting, London
SW17 9SH
Hailing from Spanish Town, Jamaica (Yaard), Felicia joined Business Launchpad in March 2016 as a Centre Manager (maternity cover). She worked her way up through several senior roles and eventually took on the role of Acting CEO in October 2021.
Following a successful period of taking the organisation through changes and challenges, Felicia then stepped into the permanent CEO role in June 2022.
She is an avid advocate for youth empowerment and is deeply committed to helping minoritized groups dismantle glass ceilings.
Outside of work, her passions are her family and those she has taken on as family. She likes to chill, read, and eat. When she is not doing those, she loves playing games. She is a self-proclaimed ‘big kid’.
Felicia is also a board member for the youth charity She is You and runs her own mentorship programme The 12 Week Year, mentoring young women to become leaders.
Nicole is our Community Impact Manager. She manages the Event Space, Co-working Spaces, Enterprise Kitchen and Dining Room, looking after all things social impact, collaborations, community and experience.
Back in 2017, Nicole attended the free BLP masterclasses as a graduate and ended up joining the team in 2020 as a coordinator.In 2022 she finished managing a £150,000 youth programme funded by the Greater London Authority and supported by the Mayor of London.
As part of the Tooting Works Business Launchpad team, Nicole’s aim is to ensure young, marginalised people are seen, heard and represented, pushing them to realise their own potential.
With an English Italian father and an Indo-Caribbean mother, Nicole has a passion for the cultures and heritage that construct the diverse society we live in. She is extremely inquisitive about the history of the British Empire and diaspora communities in the UK.As a self-confessed foodie, she usually spends her weekends cooking or exploring food spots and takes great pride in Team Leading at her local food bank every week.
Nicole’s side hustle, Cocopine Corner, is a social platform that archives elders’ migration stories, projecting an inclusive representation of history, something she never had growing up.
Louise is our Operations Manager and enjoys helping to keep the building running smoothly and full of activity.
She’s previously worked in education, including managing operations for a training centre and an education charity, supporting young people and educators to study abroad, gain entry to challenging degree programmes, and take part in educational exchange programmes.
Outside of work she enjoys travelling with her daughters and watching them play sports, catching the latest films, and trying to keep on top of her garden and DIY.
Miguel joined as the part-time Finance Coordinator in July 2023 to support the Finance Lead and get stuck into all things finance related for both Tooting Works and Business Launchpad.
Having experienced the corporate side of accounting as an auditor at one of the Big 4, he sought after a close-knit team and already feels cemented within the Tooting Works culture.
As a proud South Londoner, Miguel also acts as a consultant for an independent jazz-oriented pub in Brixton and thrives on the intrinsic value provided by supporting community driven businesses that present opportunities and safe spaces for their locals.Outside of work, he is a technology enthusiast (attempting to learn how to code), an avid gamer, enjoys socialising with friends and is committed to his football club – Come On You Gunners!
Natasha is our Centre Manager. Prior to working at Business Launchpad she had a background in the music industry working as a European Tour Manager for RnB and Hip Hop recording artists from the US.
Her passion is to be purposeful and impactful, working at BLP meets that objective perfectly.
Outside of work she enjoys doing nothing!!! Aside from nothing she enjoys spending time in Barbados where her parents originate.
Hareg embarked on her journey with BLP in 2021 as a part-time Business and HR Administrator. Her passion for people and their development quickly became evident, propelling her career forward. In just her second year at the company, her outstanding performance led to a well-deserved promotion as People and Insights Manager.
Taking on this new role, Hareg assumed responsibility for managing the company’s HR processes with finesse, demonstrating a knack for implementing effective HR and recruitment strategies. Her expertise in the field allowed her to provide invaluable advice on general HR issues, solidifying her reputation as a reliable resource within the organisation.
She now holds the esteemed title of People and HR Manager. In this role, Hareg continues to drive the growth and success of the company, ensuring that its most valuable asset, its people, are nurtured and supported to thrive.
Outside of work, Hareg cherishes time spent with friends and family, finding immense joy in these moments. She’s also an avid fan of drama movies, finding comfort and inspiration in their storytelling.
Nadine is our Community Operations Coordinator. She has experience in a variety of sectors from being a Support Worker, to working in Recruitment and Digital Marketing. Joining BLP in November 2020, she started as a receptionist and after 2 years in the role, applied to be the Community Operations Coordinator.
Outside of work she goes to dance class often and loves to explore the city, finding cool spots (preferably restaurants.) She recently started experimenting with baking, trialling gluten free treats and perfecting the recipes. She also enjoys reading and watching documentaries.
Working for a charity that helps young people is something she has always wanted to do, especially after working with young people in the past, always wanting to help others.
Both of her parents are Jamaican and although she has only been there once, she wants to go back again and do a tour of the Caribbean.
What makesNadine unique is her lust for life no matter what she goes through.
Miranda seems to be part of the furniture at Business Launchpad.
Originally a tenant working at a company based in Tooting Works, Miranda was recruited in 2013 as Operations Manager.
Throughout the years her role changed and emerged into all things to keep Tooting Works running smoothly.
She is passionate to work for a charitable organisation that gives back to the community, especially one that positively impacts young people.
She left in 2021 to work on her own property business but has returned part-time recently to a bigger, better and brighter Tooting Works.
Outside of work she enjoys: keeping active (to keep up with two energetic boys), volunteering, being outdoors, reading and also enjoys food as seems to be a BLP team prerequisite.
Clifton hails from St Thomas, Jamaica, high up in the mountains. He arrived in England in 1975 and attended South Thames College, becoming an apprentice electrician for the NHS and qualifying as a City & Guilds electrician.
Our longest-serving employee, Clifton, joined in 2008 as a part-time caretaker. Gradually he was promoted to a more senior role and has watched both Tooting Works and Business Launchpad transform over the years.Clifton has enjoyed supporting us, with no two says supporting a fabulous organisation that enables young people to launch their entrepreneurial goals.
Clifton is passionate about music, and DJ’s in his spare time; he’s played at numerous venues including the Hilton Hotel, local pubs and clubs.
His favourite sports are cricket and darts and he loves to support friends and family whenever they need it.
Arif Rahman is the Programme Manager at Business Launchpad. A passionate and visionary individual on a journey to make a positive impact in the world of business and beyond.
Relentless desire to create innovative solutions and seize opportunities in the dynamic business landscape. He has an insatiable appetite building businesses.By day, he’s a master of business, continuously seeking opportunities to bring ideas to life for young people in starting their own business. By night, he transforms into an avid entrepreneur working on his small side hustle in sustainability.
Ogugua is our Governance and Risk Officer.
She started working with Business Launchpad in May 2023 and was working with one of the tenants previously.
She has a background of working in a solicitors office and is dealing with all our Lease renewals.
She has always admired what Tooting Works are doing for the youths and the community and has sometimes helped out with the charity events we have had in the past. She works part time and hopes to ensure that all tenants will cooperate in returning their signed leases on time!
Outside of work, she loves swimming, socialising with friends and family, loves going to the cinema and exploring new foods.
