Jakub Wawszczyk is a self-taught Software Developer from an Eastern town in Poland. Since moving to Manchester he has skipped the traditional route of university and entered the tech sector at the age of 18. With the help of his 2 co-founder he has recently launched his first start-up, Luma.

Last year, along with their cofounder Dan, Alex and Josie started a new company where profit wasn't the focus, productivity was. They are looking to help companies and individuals work better, be more focussed, avoid burnout and live by these 11 words: one thing at a time; most important thing first: start now.

Drew Forsyth has been a Commercial & Dance photographer for 8 years. He's photographed Anne Hathaway, worked on a nationwide campaign for the CO-OP and much, much more. But how did someone without any formal training build a successful career in such a competitive industry?

Three years ago Rob Kropp - Augusta, Georgia's Rob Kropp - put his stuff away in storage, filled up his car and drove 2000 miles in two days. Since then he has worked in over 11 countries and in more than 100 co-working spaces in what has become a life long commitment to flexible working.

Viv Yau is the co-founder of Manchester's first influencer marketing agency: Bee Influence. Starting in traditional advertising with TBWA\Manchester, Viv then became an early adopter of influencer marketing with her work at Gleam Futures (where Zoella is a client) before going it alone. How has influencer marketing grown over the years and where does Viv intend to take it?

Alex Durant was a Tax Advisor, and then he became "reborn into social medias" and launched a start-up with his childhood friend. JigTalk is a dating app with a difference, it prioritises a users conversational ability over their physical appearance.

Kiran founded his first business at just 16 and has since focused on supporting youth entrepreneurship networks. As Head of Acceleration at Accelerate ME, he has helped over 70 founders grow 40 companies. Companies that have created more than 50 jobs and raised in excess of £2.4M. 

In the space of a few years Michal Wisniewski went from a structured career in engineering to launching his own company that aims to reboot how companies value and activate their culture. Is company culture a trend or is it here to stay?

Unlike a lot of people who fall into Marketing, Poppy Heap decided at the age of 18 to study it at University. Four years later she is about to complete her first full year in work as a Marketing Executive. How has her opinion of Marketing changed and how well did university equip her for the reality of the industry?

What if socks could change the world? Josh Turner took a beer-fueled joke and turned it into a social enterprise. From selling counterfit Ralph Lauren shirts on eBay at 13 to closing down Ipswich town centre with a teen club night, Josh's journey has focused on making his career work on his terms. His approach to work has led to his latest venture: Stand4Socks. What is it like being an entrepreneur? What are the sacrifices and what sort of person succeeds?