News story

Making a difference for Manchester businesses

Manchester, UKLearning NewsOneFile

Susanna Lawson, the cofounder of OneFile, is passionate about driving business through learning and development – and now she's been given a unique opportunity to really make a difference.

Susanna Lawson, Onefile, will join a new Business Advisory Panel in Greater Manchester
Susanna Lawson, Onefile, will join a new Business Advisory Panel in Greater Manchester 

Last year, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, launched a new Business Advisory Panel. He appealed to owners of local businesses large and small to join a forward-thinking group to tackle the issues faced by businesses in Greater Manchester. The applications were reviewed by the Mayor himself – so we're delighted to announce that OneFile's director, Susanna Lawson, has been chosen to join the Panel. 

Susanna is the ideal candidate for this new initiative. She's the cofounder and director of the UK's leading learning software – OneFile – which won the 2017 Queen's Award for Innovation. She's also a prominent name in the education sector and sits on the advisory panel for the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance. Susanna is a member of the Transatlantic Apprenticeship Exchange Forum – working to expand apprenticeships across America. She was also crowned Forward Ladies National Business Woman of the Year last year. 

But Andy Burnham wasn't only looking for business prowess. He needs people who are enthusiastic, insightful, confident and supportive – and that's exactly what Susanna will bring to the role. 

When OneFile was less established, Susanna was accepted on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses to develop her entrepreneurial skills. A few years on, she was then asked to share her experiences and support other business owners as a mentor for the Santander Business Growth programme. It was one of Susanna's mentees who nominated her for the National Business Woman award. 

Susanna always wants to make a difference for the people around her – whether that's the young people she employs or the business owners she meets. She's lived and worked across the city and can draw on her own personal experience to help make Manchester the best place to work, live and invest. 

"The first meeting of the new Business Advisory Panel is scheduled in the next couple of weeks, so we wish Susanna and her fellow members the best of luck."

Find OneFile at Learning Technologies 2018, stand T1, and catch Susanna's seminar 'Bringing edtech to businesses' in theatre 9 at 11:45am on 1st February.