Martin James Group
Martin James Group
connecting minds, shaping futures & transforming lives
The Martin James Network consists of 4 groups with a linked vision of changing futures. Our Group has a central connection which is Martin James Cockburn (Jim).
Our network is formed from a variety of organisations from charities to leading-edge technology brands. It consists of Antser, Martin James Group, The TalkOut Group and our charity group, The Martin James Foundation. We range from start-ups to well-established brands that have been in business for over 15 years.
We deliver an empowered approach for our colleagues, customers and wider communities that is designed to improve human experience and connection. We strive to continually learn and adapt, this builds our resilience and consistently improves our impact.
The Martin James Network have a number of things in common which is forefront when working with the different groups. All the organisations are visionary and strive to improve human connection. These values align and are driven by everyone who work for the network, they are the core of who we are and why we exist.
Martin James Group has a variety of companies offering different services and products
Martin James Foundation is our charity group which helps children around the world
Antser are the go-to technology company providing smart social care solutions
our passion
We are passionate about people and actively champion fresh new approaches. Whether it’s championing diversity and inclusion, women on the board or giving opportunities to young entrepreneurs, we value people who think differently and challenge preconceptions.
All our groups are unified by our passion for;
- Improving human connection, insight and experience
- Access to digital tools and progressive tech as an enabler to human decision making
- Supporting vulnerable communities but particularly young people to improve their outcomes
- Encouraging entrepreneurialism and innovation
CREATIVE
We are Game Changers
CURIOUS
We Always Ask Why
COLLABORATIVE
Its All About Working Together
COURAGEOUS
We Are Bold And Brave
CANDID
We Like To Be Frank
CARING
We Put A Big Arm Arround It
COMMITTED
We Own It With Passion
mjn central network leadership team
Meet our management team who help lead and grow our network
Jim qualified as a social worker in the 1970s and went on to establish numerous, successful businesses over the past 25 years ranging from social care to restaurants and artificial intelligence. Between them, these companies have employed thousands of individuals in the UK and across the world.
Ayyab is a champion of change and has dedicated her career to project management and change roles. She leads the Martin James Network change agenda and is passionate about creating a progressive working environment. Ayyab believes in the power of connection and strives for all the businesses within the Martin James Network to work together to disrupt markets and deliver leading edge innovation.
A business with one mission: to make it okay to say you’re not okay in the workplace. TalkOut works with businesses to remove the stigma around mental health, disrupt current thinking and educate business leaders on how to create a happy and healthy workplace. Jill is a successful People / HR Director, with over 25 years of experience of driving a culture of high performance within businesses through the engagement of its people. Having an effective health and well-being strategy is a critical success factor for that. Jill is passionate about Mental Health in the Workplace and with the support of her team, works with leaders to understand the critical role they play when it comes to Health and WellBeing in the workplace. Jill loves being part of the Martin James Group of Companies and working within a genuinely caring and supportive environment, where people are given a real sense of belief to be the best version of themselves and achieve anything they put their mind to. Jill is also a volunteer counsellor for ChildLine – a support service for children and young people.
PragmatiK comprises two companies (one specialising in the automation of employment law and the other specialising in personal resilience). Greg has 30 years’ experience in HR/employment law having worked across a range of industries and sectors. In that regard, he wants to simplify the law for the end user through IT solutions. He also has a personal history which lends itself to helping other people develop emotional and psychological resilience for their careers and relationships. Greg loves being part of the Martin James Group because “of the incredible talent and support, as well as the serious commitment to creative entrepreneurialism”.
Pat manages the Intellect Tax Team –the Team provide FosterTalk members with a free Tax, National Insurance and Benefits helpline whilst also preparing and filing over 3,000 self-assessment tax returns a year for Foster carers.
She worked as an accountancy practitioner in UK practice for 30 years before joining the Intellect team and enjoys applying her expertise to a rapidly developing business
They are passionate about providing Foster carers with prompt advice regarding their finances whilst also ensuring carers are getting the correct benefit entitlements. Many foster carers are terrified by the issues of tax and benefits –we provide a simple solution to their worries
In an age of increasing reliance on digitalisation, her team continues to demonstrate the importance of the personal touch for clients when dealing with tax and associated matters. Pat looks forward to guiding her team to increased growth over the coming years.
Loubna Bouarfa is the founder and CEO of OKRA Technologies. Loubna grew up in Meknes, Morocco before studying at the University of Technology in Delft in electrical engineering, specialising in statistical signal processing. In 2007, she undertook a PhD applying Machine Learning to predict surgical workflow and detect anomalies in real time, applying her research directly to surgical operating, predicting error and improving workflows. Over the course of her PhD, Loubna discovered that AI provides a strong framework for evidence-based medicine, using data to improve outcomes directly in the real-world environment outside of clinical trials and widely used controlled healthcare studies.
Previously to founding OKRA Loubna worked in academic settings, a start-up and consulted for different Pharmaceutical vendors. Loubna holds several advisory positions, is a member of the EU High-Level Expert Group on AI, and was named a Forbes 2018 Top Woman in Tech.
In 2017, Loubna was recognised by MIT Technology as an Innovator under 35. In January 2018, she was among the finalists for the award of the entrepreneur of the Year by Women in IT and was selected as one of Forbes Top 50 Women in Technology.
Managing Director of Tribera – a marketing agency that specialises in integrating creative, digital and content. Fran has over 20 years of experience having worked client side for some of the biggest brands. Her expertise is in branding, proposition, customer experience, research and strategy. She is passionate about her role as MD and works hard to create an environment where diversity and creative thinking can flourish. Fran enjoys being part of the Martin James Group because “it’s a massively supportive environment and we get to work with driven, talented people”
Mark joined the Martin James Network as Group People Director in August 2019 with over 20 years experience in HR across many different industries. Mark is passionate about driving and continuously improving engagement and diversity across the business. Mark is at the forefront of new and progressive people approaches which reflect and support the company values and the entrepreneurial and innovative approach of the Group. Outside of work, Mark’s married with 2 children (a girl and a boy) and has lived in Birmingham for most of his life.
Steve is currently the Group Chief Executive Officer of Key Assets (Europe & USA). Key Assets (Europe & USA) provides social services to children, families and communities commissioned by government child protection services in Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Finland and the USA.
Steve qualified as a social worker in 1995 and has developed extensive practice and business experience in the design, delivery and oversight of children and family social services across international jurisdictions as a lead manager and as an independent consultant.
Steve, as a volunteer, has served as Expert Advisor to the STARS Foundation (UK) and is a Director of the National LGBT Foundation (Ireland). In 2018 he was listed in the Google/Deloitte (Asia Pacific) top 50 LGBT+ executives list and the Financial Times (UK) Outstanding Top 100 LGBT+ Executives list, ranking at number 4. Steve is passionate about supporting others to achieve their potential at work and in life!
Steve says,‘being part of the Martin James Group is exciting because I get to work with outstanding people, across the world, who are purpose driven, fun and who want to make the world better for vulnerable children and families.’
Jim qualified as a social worker in the 1970s and went on to establish numerous, successful businesses over the past 25 years ranging from social care to restaurants and artificial intelligence. Between them, these companies have employed thousands of individuals in the UK and across the world.
Ayyab is a champion of change and has dedicated her career to project management and change roles. She leads the Martin James Network change agenda and is passionate about creating a progressive working environment. Ayyab believes in the power of connection and strives for all the businesses within the Martin James Network to work together to disrupt markets and deliver leading edge innovation.
A business with one mission: to make it okay to say you’re not okay in the workplace. TalkOut works with businesses to remove the stigma around mental health, disrupt current thinking and educate business leaders on how to create a happy and healthy workplace. Jill is a successful People / HR Director, with over 25 years of experience of driving a culture of high performance within businesses through the engagement of its people. Having an effective health and well-being strategy is a critical success factor for that. Jill is passionate about Mental Health in the Workplace and with the support of her team, works with leaders to understand the critical role they play when it comes to Health and WellBeing in the workplace. Jill loves being part of the Martin James Group of Companies and working within a genuinely caring and supportive environment, where people are given a real sense of belief to be the best version of themselves and achieve anything they put their mind to. Jill is also a volunteer counsellor for ChildLine – a support service for children and young people.
PragmatiK comprises two companies (one specialising in the automation of employment law and the other specialising in personal resilience). Greg has 30 years’ experience in HR/employment law having worked across a range of industries and sectors. In that regard, he wants to simplify the law for the end user through IT solutions. He also has a personal history which lends itself to helping other people develop emotional and psychological resilience for their careers and relationships. Greg loves being part of the Martin James Group because “of the incredible talent and support, as well as the serious commitment to creative entrepreneurialism”.
Pat manages the Intellect Tax Team –the Team provide FosterTalk members with a free Tax, National Insurance and Benefits helpline whilst also preparing and filing over 3,000 self-assessment tax returns a year for Foster carers.
She worked as an accountancy practitioner in UK practice for 30 years before joining the Intellect team and enjoys applying her expertise to a rapidly developing business
They are passionate about providing Foster carers with prompt advice regarding their finances whilst also ensuring carers are getting the correct benefit entitlements. Many foster carers are terrified by the issues of tax and benefits –we provide a simple solution to their worries
In an age of increasing reliance on digitalisation, her team continues to demonstrate the importance of the personal touch for clients when dealing with tax and associated matters. Pat looks forward to guiding her team to increased growth over the coming years.
Loubna Bouarfa is the founder and CEO of OKRA Technologies. Loubna grew up in Meknes, Morocco before studying at the University of Technology in Delft in electrical engineering, specialising in statistical signal processing. In 2007, she undertook a PhD applying Machine Learning to predict surgical workflow and detect anomalies in real time, applying her research directly to surgical operating, predicting error and improving workflows. Over the course of her PhD, Loubna discovered that AI provides a strong framework for evidence-based medicine, using data to improve outcomes directly in the real-world environment outside of clinical trials and widely used controlled healthcare studies.
Previously to founding OKRA Loubna worked in academic settings, a start-up and consulted for different Pharmaceutical vendors. Loubna holds several advisory positions, is a member of the EU High-Level Expert Group on AI, and was named a Forbes 2018 Top Woman in Tech.
In 2017, Loubna was recognised by MIT Technology as an Innovator under 35. In January 2018, she was among the finalists for the award of the entrepreneur of the Year by Women in IT and was selected as one of Forbes Top 50 Women in Technology.
Managing Director of Tribera – a marketing agency that specialises in integrating creative, digital and content. Fran has over 20 years of experience having worked client side for some of the biggest brands. Her expertise is in branding, proposition, customer experience, research and strategy. She is passionate about her role as MD and works hard to create an environment where diversity and creative thinking can flourish. Fran enjoys being part of the Martin James Group because “it’s a massively supportive environment and we get to work with driven, talented people”
Mark joined the Martin James Network as Group People Director in August 2019 with over 20 years experience in HR across many different industries. Mark is passionate about driving and continuously improving engagement and diversity across the business. Mark is at the forefront of new and progressive people approaches which reflect and support the company values and the entrepreneurial and innovative approach of the Group. Outside of work, Mark’s married with 2 children (a girl and a boy) and has lived in Birmingham for most of his life.
Steve is currently the Group Chief Executive Officer of Key Assets (Europe & USA). Key Assets (Europe & USA) provides social services to children, families and communities commissioned by government child protection services in Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Finland and the USA.
Steve qualified as a social worker in 1995 and has developed extensive practice and business experience in the design, delivery and oversight of children and family social services across international jurisdictions as a lead manager and as an independent consultant.
Steve, as a volunteer, has served as Expert Advisor to the STARS Foundation (UK) and is a Director of the National LGBT Foundation (Ireland). In 2018 he was listed in the Google/Deloitte (Asia Pacific) top 50 LGBT+ executives list and the Financial Times (UK) Outstanding Top 100 LGBT+ Executives list, ranking at number 4. Steve is passionate about supporting others to achieve their potential at work and in life!
Steve says,‘being part of the Martin James Group is exciting because I get to work with outstanding people, across the world, who are purpose driven, fun and who want to make the world better for vulnerable children and families.’
in the news
Keep updated with the latest news from our network of companies.
