Mark graduated from Exeter University in 1986 and started his first design business. Over the next fifteen years he set up a series of businesses including helping found Anti Copying in Design. In 2003 he graduated from University of Westminster with a MBA in Design Management.

He joined NESTA’s Creative Pioneer Programme in 2003 initially as a business support manager and from August 2005 as Head of the programme. The national programme focussed on developing graduate entrepreneurs, financing start up companies, and contributed to the development of policy in the area of skills, enterprise and early stage investment. He sat on the DCMS Creative Economy Programme Education and Skills Committee.

Mark joined NStar in May 2007 to manage the £1.9 million Design and Creative Fund. The fund has subsequently invested £880,000 into seven businesses leveraging an additional £537,000 of further investment for the businesses.