Founder: Tom James / Enterprise: Absolute Beginners CIC / Discipline: Multidisciplinary / Location: London

More about their enterprise:

Absolute Beginners CIC is a pioneering initiative based in North West London where local 17 to 21-year-olds are paid to learn how to design and create everyday products from waste materials. The project aims to equip young people with future-ready skills while promoting a new approach to sustainable production.

Founded by Tom James, Absolute Beginners CIC was created to empower young people to use radically sustainable methods in the making of everyday products. The initiative provides practical training that prepares participants for meaningful careers while encouraging them to rethink how products are designed and produced in ways that do not harm the planet.

Through hands-on learning and creative experimentation, the programme fosters confidence, problem-solving skills and a sense of purpose. By combining innovation, sustainability and youth empowerment, Absolute Beginners CIC is shaping a new model of production that benefits both people and the environment.

DBACE Bursary recipient

Interested in mentoring, advising or being an occasional coffee buddy for our Incubator members?

Please get in touch Join our network of supporters

Interested in mentoring, advising or being an occasional coffee buddy for our Incubator members?

Please get in touch Become a supporter
CLOSE
DANNY LANGSMAN

CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Danny joined the Board of Trustees of MeWe Foundation in 2026 and was appointed Chair. He is one half of Doolally and Shanks & Bigfoot, the production duo behind Sweet Like Chocolate, the first UK garage record to top the UK Singles Chart. A self-taught songwriter, producer and creative entrepreneur who has built and managed his career through his own company for more than three decades.

Danny’s connection to the communities MeWe serves grew directly from his career. He was Chair of Tribal Tree, a Black led music education charity, and was among the founders of MeWe360, contributing to its original concept, brand identity and culture. He stepped back from involvement in 2013 and returned as Chair in 2026, bringing long-term commitment to the mission alongside independent perspective.

He has broad experience in the creative industries including music production, graphic design, illustration and mentoring emerging talent. He is a long-standing advocate for opening access to opportunity for founders and entrepreneurs in the creative economy.

CLOSE
EDWIN ELDER

TRUSTEE

Strategy delivery, governance implementation and organisational change specialist

Edwin Elder brings significant experience in programme delivery, organisational change and governance implementation, strengthening the Board’s capacity to ensure MeWe completes its current commitments in a structured, well-managed and accountable way. His background leading transformation programmes within regulated financial services environments provides assurance that MeWe’s governance improvements and operational decisions are practical, deliverable and aligned with funder expectations.

Edwin’s experience overseeing complex change initiatives supports the Board in translating governance commitments into clear implementation plans, measurable milestones and accountable delivery structures. This is particularly relevant to ACE’s requirement for demonstrable progress on governance review actions, including clear decision-making frameworks, trustee capability, and evidence of effective organisational oversight.

CLOSE
DAVID OBRART

TRUSTEE

Corporate governance, legal structure and regulatory compliance specialist

David Obrart brings deep expertise in corporate law, governance frameworks and organisational structuring, providing the Board with strong legal oversight during a period of transition and governance refinement. His experience advising businesses across formation, restructuring and compliance ensures MeWe’s governance arrangements remain robust, transparent and aligned with regulatory expectations, particularly in relation to the Sole Member model and board independence.

His background supports the Board in ensuring decisions are legally sound, conflicts of interest are appropriately managed, and organisational structures remain fit for purpose as MeWe completes current programme commitments and strengthens its governance framework for future funding.

David’s expertise directly supports key requirements identified by Arts Council England, including the need for clear governance controls, a framework for assessing proposals involving the Sole Member, and confidence in board independence and decision-making processes.

CLOSE
PETE COLLEY

CEO

Pete joined MeWe360 as its Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in November 2025. A qualified Chartered Management Accountant, Pete has held a number of senior leadership roles over the last 25 years in both the public and private sectors, heading up Finance, Strategy, Procurement and Operations teams. He relishes working with teams, their customers and other stakeholders to enhance performance, optimise resources and leave them smiling.

Previous employers and clients include Boots, Reuters, Sainsburys, WHSmith, Network Rail and NHS England. He has most recently worked for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and its subsidiary, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR). His primary focus there was improving internal operations and controls, and fostering relationships with key third-party suppliers to deliver greater value for money for and reduce the risks to the regulators. Between 2005 and 2007, Pete was the Managing Director of Not the National Theatre, an Arts Council England supported small-scale touring theatre company, bringing new writing recently performed in London to arts centres and theatres across the UK. He has also been Deputy Head of Governors at St Jude’s Primary School in Herne Hill and Treasurer of the London branch of the Long Distance Walking Association (LDWA).

A regular in the cheap seats in London’s West End and elsewhere, Pete is also an avid follower of cyclo-cross and Burnley Football Club.

Hanan
Tantush

Founder, Intotum Adaptive Fashion

“For me, it was a day spent catching up with fellow founders and feeling really hopeful for the trajectory of this year. Thank you for the wonderful session and so great to see how business is going for all the amazing cohort.”

Jameisha
Prescod

Founder, You Look Okay To Me

“My mentor’s approach with focusing on the wellbeing aspects of my life have significantly changed my perspective as a founder. It’s helped me tackle my unrealistic expectations of my energy levels.”

Sabella
Ibanez

Co-founder, Pivot

“It was so invaluable hearing everyone else’s journey and experiences. I can feel really lonely sometime, even if you are in a team.”

Nahum
McLean

Founder, ADDA

“My mentor helped me with the ‘WHY ADDA’? This was really helpful in establishing relationships with schools, as it helped them to see how it would benefit their students and institutions.”

Akua
Danso

Co-founder, Black Females in Architecture

“Our mentor’s insight has been amazing and it’s getting us to think about strategy differently.”

Skanda
Sabbagh

Founder, Everybody’s Climbing Tree

“The clarity MeWe has given is big. The business plan influenced our work. Lots of our services were informal and it helped give it structure.”

Banseka
Kayembe

Founder, Naked Politics

“My mentor taught me the importance of incremental thinking to get the foundations right. I grew enormously during this period.”

Anon

Founder

“That was my favourite session from any programme, ever”

Pete
Barr

Co-founder, Enayball

“Our Mentor linked us up with 2 people who have licensed another product of ours. [This was] the  biggest thing to happen to our company and product and an incredible opportunity.”

Ameenah
Begum

Founder, Planet Friendly Paint

“I grew the confidence to approach past connections and make progress with a new lead from a corporate retailer to have a steadier supply.”

Ryan Mario
Yasin

Founder, Petit Pli

“She’s a perfect fit! Understood the company  and needs very well. Thank you  for finding my mentor.”

Anthony
Daulphin

Founder, Standing Ovation Project

“The business support has been amazing from the MeWe team and led me to contact sponsors that I would not have  normally. The check-ins were great and I felt like I was very much valued by the MeWe team and still do, which is lovely.”

Jem
Collins

Founder, Journo Resources

“I do feel more resilient and a better leader coming out of these 12 months. I’ve been able to navigate tricky situations like ending a work contract with more confidence and have more belief in myself.”

Alvin
Owusu

Co-founder, TAG Agency

“The past year has been transformational for us. We set targets now, we are building a ratecard too and we know what our base fees must be and rarely go underneath them. We have a clearer plan for how both Tum and I get to full time.”

Alisha
Morris

Founder, The Bitten Peach

“It was really beneficial to encounter other founders from outside our ‘bubble’. It helped for big picture thinking and a reminder of how to engage with those who don’t know about us or the type of work we do.”

Ola
Christian

Founder, Levile

“The incredible team has been very responsive, supporting us at the drop of a hat. The opportunity to learn from esteemed professionals was both beneficial and positively challenging.”

Bethany
Williams

Founder, Bethany Williams London

“I’ve really benefited from the mentoring. After every session we’ve been able to unlock a new way of thinking about something.”

Ndubuisi
Uchea

Founder, Word on the Curb

“The advice, introductions and links provided through the MeWe programme and network have been  instrumental in the development of our business.”

Aaminah
Patel

Co-founder, Forward Culture

“Meeting like-minded people and seeing that our struggles are universal despite our different  businesses really gave me confidence.”

David
Newell

Founder, Newell Bespoke

“With MeWe you are literally skipping over months, or even years, of trial and error. I’m light years ahead of where I used to be.”

Vivienne
Isebor

Founder, ADHD Babes

“A solid reminder of the Nigerian saying, ‘body no be firewood.’ Thank you MeWe for creating such a nurturing space for us.”

Moira
Sinclair

NED. Trustee. Coach. Consultant. Speaker. Chair, Factory International. Former CEO of PHF

“One of the things that has been really fascinating about watching MeWe’s journey has been the complete focus from the very beginning on talent and on the particular need of individuals, and why the world as it was currently constituted really wasn’t getting to grips with that…”

Hilary Carty

Hilary
Carty

Director, Clore Leadership Programme

“MeWe acts as a connecting force for individuals and small organisations who may well get there on their own, but certainly MeWe speeds up the process. It accelerates the learnings and the connections.”