Social Mobility in Focus: Insight, Action & Collective Impact

Catalysis Hubs turns collaboration across a regional economy from something fragile and time-limited into something structured, governed and self-sustaining. We work with businesses, voluntary and community leaders, and impact investors to:

·       co-design and deliver services that improve performance and growth

·       enable non-financial value exchange through commitment pools

·       unlock, distribute and recycle revenue and value locally

·       strengthen more inclusive and resilient regional economies

There is compelling evidence that strong systems are built on cooperation, where value is shared and participation is broad and systems that only work for some don’t last.

Nina is Strategic Lead for Social Value and Impact at Salford City Council.  Over the last 15 years, Nina has worked on a range of regeneration programmes, ensuring that local people benefit from development through making community and partner connections, developing policy and practice and employing a range of social value measurement tools alongside storytelling to drive impact for communities. Nina has collaborated with colleagues and partners to ensure social value is embedded through the planning process in the city, moving social value beyond a procurement setting to lever private sector investment towards social purpose and maximise impact for places and communities through inclusive growth. She now leads the council-wide approach to social value and impact, building on firm foundations to ensure the council’s activities drive local impact and lasting change, and investment in the city leads to positive outcomes beyond bricks and mortar. Nina is also the current chair of the Greater Manchester Social Value Network – a collective of public, private and voluntary sector, coming together to improve outcomes through social value and share learning and good practice.

Geraldine is Social Value Lead and Associate Director for Marketing and Business Development at Menzies LLP. She works closely with leadership teams across the firm to shape how it positions itself in the market, build relationships, and deliver meaningful, measurable social value.

With over 30 years’ experience, Geraldine is passionate about connecting people, businesses, and communities to create opportunities for sustainable growth. A key part of her role is supporting the development and delivery of social value initiatives that have a real and lasting impact.

She is actively involved in the wider social value landscape across Greater Manchester, as a member of the Greater Manchester Social Value Steering Group and the pro‑manchester Social Mobility Committee, contributing to initiatives that support inclusive growth and improved access to opportunities.

Alongside her role at Menzies, Geraldine is particularly passionate about social mobility and early careers, working with schools and students to help raise awareness of career pathways and build confidence in accessing professional opportunities.

Shamaine is the Director of Programmes for National Social Mobility charity LTSB and has over 10 years experience working in the charity sector. After graduating with a PGCE in Lifelong Learning specialising in Dance, Shamaine worked for the National Citizen Service (NCS) and then joined LTSB in 2018 and following 2 promotions is now the Programmes Director. LTSB is a charity that prepares and supports bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into meaningful roles with major firms all across the UK. The programme personally and professionally develops young people through practical skills coaching, higher-level critical thinking sessions, the power of sport and how to utilise the transferable skills you learn from the field into the workplace, and insight events with leading companies, business professionals, and LTSB alumni.

I have always been passionate about working with young people and helping them reach their full potential. Sports has significantly shaped who I am today, and I believe the transferable skills gained through sports are crucial in early career development.

John Chapman is Director of Sales, Training & Partnerships at ANTZ, helping businesses grow while delivering real social impact. ANTZ provides a complete, tailored social value service, bringing business and community strategies together to create measurable outcomes through local, regional and national delivery networks. John works with organisations at every stage of their journey, connecting them with trusted local partners and the expertise needed to deliver meaningful, proven results.