Our steps to success…

In the Summer of 2001 Graham Moore & Carlo Missirian, both at the time, full time PE teachers at opposite ends of the country, took summer jobs working for Sky TV. 'Reach for the Sky' was the then Corporate & Social Responsibility Flagship of BSkyB and was aimed at using the Sky Channels to inspire young inner city people go to university. Moore had been employed as Operations Director, whilst Missirian was one of two assistant Directors.

At the start of the summer, neither men knew each other but by September a long-lasting friendship had been born. Over that summer by inspiring many young people through Reach for the Sky, they both realised that they shared much in common, their love of sport, teaching, education and life. This innovative programme was, in their opinion, a more engaging way of reaching young people than school – it was real life education. The experience inspired Moore so much that it confirmed the question he had been asking himself for a number of years, 'what was the purpose of education?'

In December 2001, armed with a bag full of ideals and philosophies Moore left teaching to set up his own education consultancy, Utopia Education. His growing reputation saw him gain impressive contracts with, amongst others, the QCA, working as a lead consultant on the '2 hours for school sport' campaign; with Youth Sports Trust developing programmes such as 'Living for Sport'; and the D of E working as a School Improvement Officer in schools with challenging circumstances.

In January 2004, in a rain soaked caravan in North Wales, both men joined again, but this time for good, to form humanutopia. They wanted to create a company that made a difference, made a difference to students, teachers, lives, schools and communities.

They wanted to make a difference to the education system. They wanted to run their company differently treating their colleagues differently. They wanted to create an organisation that broke the mould. They wanted to fill a gap that teachers and schools couldn’t fill because of restrictive legislation and curriculum constraints. They wanted to address issues that mattered to young people, that helped young people break free from conformity, anonymity and mediocrity. They wanted to engage and inspire young people and teachers in unique and powerful ways.

And so, ten years on from their first meeting both men have 'lived the dream'. Together they have worked with over 40,000 young people from Lands End to John O'Groats, 5,000 teachers in hundreds of schools. They have created many programmes that continue to inspire people in all corners of the UK. They have built a company of fourteen people where everyone is valued and treated equally.

Ten years on, they have watched each other’s children grow, their friendship is an inspiration to many, they are now watching each other go grey or bald, and they can see each other's waist size increase! But that wont stop them, they continually strive to improve everything the company does, understanding that, 'the only limits are the limits of their imagination', as they pursue their dream to make a difference.