Julian is a lifelong entrepreneur with 30+ years’ experience of starting up and growing social and commercial businesses in Manchester with a particular passion for community engagement and social uplift.

For many years Julian was a director of Unity Radio, a social enterprise dedicated to delivering impactful intervention programs for hard-to-reach and at-risk young people through the mediums of music and art.

After leaving Unity in 2018, Julian began to work as a mentor and adviser to social enterprises through the charity Sported, and since 2022 he has been a Business Adviser at the Growth Company, the economic development agency for Greater Manchester.

Julian has been a critical friend to Upward Frog since 2019 and became a director in Summer 2023.

As an honouree Mancunian, Julian is focused on championing small businesses and promoting the social value agenda in the city which he adopted as his home 35 years ago.

Julian lives in Manchester and is a keen mountain biker, a novice at yoga and enjoys spending long periods of time in Italy. He also is a regular volunteer at Lifeshare - the oldest homelessness charity in Manchester.