Apprentice star backed careers advisor to double in size with £100k Lloyds Bank fund

U-Explore, the Leeds-based firm that provides online careers guidance, is set to double in size within a year after receiving £100k package from Lloyds Bank.

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 company was founded in 2008 by current chief executive Andy Pickles, who was previously known as part of Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, the pop outfit that scored three number ones in the 1980s.

U-Explore 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. Matthew 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.

Matt Peters, managing director and a qualified accountant and former banker, 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.”

Tony Buchan, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, commented: “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.

“We’re committed to supporting small to medium sized businesses like U-Explore and have pledged to grow our SME net lending by at least £1bn a year until the end of 2017.”

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