Expanding our coalition: the launch of our South West Business Council

When we established the Jobs Foundation, one of the first places our team visited was Christchurch, where we met with the team at REIDsteel whilst filming our launch video. Since then, we have launched both volumes of our foundational research, grown our Business Council to more than 1,200 members, and begun the process of establishing regional business councils in every nation and region of the UK. It was great to return to Christchurch this week, to launch our second regional business council, under the leadership of REIDsteel Managing Director, Simon Boyd.

We are delighted to have hosted 40 supporters of the Jobs Foundation for the launch of our South West Business Council, to hear from Simon, Matthew Elliott, our President, Tim Lloyd, President of the Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce and Managing Director of the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa, and Helen Stacey, Managing Director and Owner of Aspire Jobs with more than 35 years of industry experience. 

Simon opened the event with a panel discussion, with topics discussed including the Employment Rights Bill, the South West Jobs Market, the industries best positioned to provide the jobs of the future and policy proposals to support businesses in creating the jobs needed to move 2 million people from welfare into work. The panel then answered questions from the audience, on topics such as ensuring young people leave education workplace ready, ensuring women aren’t underrepresented in the workplace and how Government can support businesses in bringing people with disabilities into employment. 

Our South West Business Council will host regional policy roundtables, contribute to the Jobs Foundation’s research programme, and become a crucial network for our Accreditation Scheme when it launches in 2026. We look forward to visiting Exeter College of Further Education in November, where we will be gathering 75 business leaders from across the region for our first regional policy roundtable.

With thanks to our South West Business Council Chairman, Simon Boyd, and REIDsteel, without who this event would not have been possible. We look forward to launching our Yorkshire Business Council in November, alongside our Yorkshire Chairman Martin McKervey. If you are interested in supporting the Jobs Foundation with our ongoing work in the South West, or with our upcoming launch event in Yorkshire, please contact our Business Council Manager, Kellen, at kellen@thejobsfoundation.com.