Who we are
Promoting resilience, self-reliance, innovation and ingenuity; putting individuals in charge of their own learning – that’s the aim of Akatemia CIC, a not-for-profit working to change the face of education in the UK.
Akatemia inspires and supports universities to introduce team learning programmes which create work-ready graduates
Working with communities and companies we create team learning programmes which lay the foundation for systemic transformation
Our team
Alison Fletcher - Founder
As a journalist, BBC senior manager and later an executive coach I always knew that the human element was crucial to the success of any business or social endeavour. And I saw how often my coaching clients struggled with an inability to manage themselves, let alone their teams, suppliers and customers. In Finland I met young entrepreneurs who had learned how to work in teams and their energy, honesty and courage was inspirational.
I want to inspire others as they inspired me and encourage leaders and educators to embrace lifelong learning as growth and transformation, not just the acquisition of a body of knowledge. If we can do that, our world will be a much better place.
Dr Elinor Vettraino
My first experience of Team Academy was when I visited Tiimiakatemia in Jyväskylä, Finland in 2010. I have seen the model enable programme participants to become committed learners, independent and critical thinkers, conflict negotiators, innovators and happy, confident business professionals. I find that exciting and so I’m delighted to be continuing my work as a member of the Akatemia team both nationally and internationally.
I have been an educator for over two decades, with a background in creative arts, social and political theatre, teacher education and entrepreneurship. I am also an experienced coach working with individuals, teams and organisations to support professional and personal growth.
Carolyn Chapman-Lees
My first experience of Team Academy was in 2024, when I joined a panel for one of their ‘Houston Calling’ events. I returned in June 2025 to deliver a Design Thinking workshop as part of a ‘Rocket Pitch Day’. On both occasions, I was impressed by the quality, curiosity, and confidence of the Team Entrepreneurs, which sparked my interest in learning more about the Team Academy model. I’m now extremely proud to be a Team Academy Coach.
I’ve worked across education, the social economy and entrepreneurship spaces for much of my career, and I’m a strong advocate for learning programmes that help people develop the skills to be more courageous, curious, and connected, especially in today’s complex and often challenging environments.
I’m the Founder of an inclusive innovation company, Just Horizons, and have previously served as CEO of an education charity and Executive Director of a national network of FE colleges, where entrepreneurship was positioned as a strategic driver for change. I’m also a passionate and active advocate for social justice. In 2019, I was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Aston University in recognition of my services to education and the community.
Aimee Postle
Simon Finley
I’m an experienced higher education leader and team coach with a strong focus on learning innovation, work-based learning, entrepreneurship and enterprise education. I’ve led large-scale curriculum and operational change, helping organisations rethink how learning is designed and experienced.
My practice is grounded in active learning: applying knowledge in real contexts, experimenting, reflecting and iterating. As a coach, I help individuals and teams make sense of experience, learn from both success and failure, and turn insight into purposeful action.
Andy Farenden
I’m a designer, coach and facilitator whose work brings together participatory design, organisational development and creative approaches to learning and change. I design and facilitate workshops, coach individuals and teams, and help organisations and communities make sense of complex challenges, develop ideas and create better ways of working.
Creativity, play and dialogue sit at the heart of my practice. I use Tiimiakatemia inspired team learning, coaching and learning-by-doing approaches to help people build confidence, agency and practical capability. I founded the Team Academy for Social Change to bring those principles into communities beyond traditional education, grounded in a simple belief: everyone has the capacity to be a changemaker.
“Team Entrepreneurship transformed my life and I would like to see it do that for more people.”
Tom Ulander, graduate
Falmouth University