Sean

Life story

From his teens working as a carer for young disabled people in his home town of Blackpool, a career in banking in the City of London, being at the heart of the telecoms industry as it changed the world. Then imploded in on itself and founding his own £1m turnover company in the town he loves. That was a lifetime ago. Today he presents radio for BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Lancashire, hosts conferences and events and consults on social enterprise and social media. He is passionate about changing the lot of young people through social enterprise.

Sean also loves and is proud of his home town of Blackpool and believes it’s creativity and entrepreneurial heritage can be rekindled if the public sector get positive about this.

Love story

Sean’s first love is music and radio. He considers himself to be the luckiest man alive as a good few years ago he requested, then received the opportunity to produce and present a new music programme for BBC Radio Lancashire. Now he is part of the bigger and hugely exciting BBC Introducing brand. Sean’s ability to present, connect with young people, host events, work with new technology/social media and make things happen has allowed thousands to get their first taste of their music being played on the BBC. The programme also offers work experience and mentoring for young people interested in music and the radio. Plus bands get the chance to be played on Radio 1 and BBC6 Music and play on the BBC Introducing stages at major festivals.

Sean says of his Thursday evening BBC Introducing programme, “every week two bands bowl in for a live session and every week I meet another set of young people who go against society’s stereotypes” and this is important he says, “because that huge wealth of creativity in the young must be mentored, encouraged and leveraged for the good of all of us.”

So to social enterprise… Sean loved being in business but had little fun doing it just for the sake of the money. When he read about social enterprise in early 2006, it started Sean on a journey which would lead to him setting up and financing SPACE Blackpool CIC. Tens of thousands of pounds and hundreds of unpaid hours later SPACE Blackpool CIC has achieved much and now has huge plans to change the way services are delivered for young and old alike.

Social and tech stuff

Sean is a self confessed social media geek (Facebook, twitter etc.) His other role for the BBC is as a Social Media Producer and has been involved with successful projects that bring broadcast and online new media together in innovative ways. He now offers advice and support for groups/businesses who want to get their message over using this constantly changing and compelling medium.

The most important thing

Sean recently celebrated 25 years together with his wife Aishling, he is father to three children (actually two are adults), he is happiest when watching Glee, or chatting with the family, listening to new tunes or messing about with technology and social media.

Name dropper – clang

Of meeting and interviewing famous people Sean says “I met Bill Gates and he had a tank top on and man boobs. Yes in the early noughties I lived the geek dream.” One highlight for him is the day he went to 10 Downing Street at a Radio Academy do with a ton of radio people. “They were dressed like it was a wedding I had tangerine trousers and a tangerine hoody on. Maybe I was having a mid life crisis. Tony Blair came straight over to find out who the weird guy in tangerine was and we chatted about the new exciting world of the internet. He had what can only be described as the Blair stare.”