Introducing our new North East Business Council Steering Group

We are delighted to announce that we have launched our first Regional Steering Group, to work alongside the Jobs Foundation team & Kiran Fothergill, our North East Chairman, as we continue to develop our North East Business Council.

Fothergill, who said he was “delighted to be working alongside such an experienced team”, will be supported by Beverley Brooks, Stuart Fearn MBE & Ashleigh Wright. 

Beverley Brooks is the Founder-CEO of The Recruitment Junction, an award-winning recruitment charity that has placed more than 700 people with convictions into sustainable paid work across the North East. Speaking about her new role, Beverley said “I am passionate about the transformative impact that long-term employment can have on people’s lives, and the crucial role that businesses play in helping people to build productive lives, where they and their families can thrive. That’s why I’m delighted to be supporting the Jobs Foundation on the North East Business Council Steering Group”.

Stuart Fearn MBE is the Chief Commercial Officer of OneBanx, a shared infrastructure solution for the UK’s banks, Co-Founder of Buy Local North Tyneside, and a Non-Executive Director of Society Matters CIC, which specialises in social welfare training and social action projects, where he was previously Managing Director. He was awarded an MBE in the Covid-19 Honours list. Alongside Beverley and Ashleigh, he is also now a member of our North East Steering Group, on which he said “I’m delighted to be working with the Jobs foundation as part of the North East business council steering group. I’m passionate about supporting people from our region into meaningful, well-paid, long-term employment, and this also re-enforces my other employability interest, Suitability CIC. A strong voice for the region’s business community will help us achieve this”.

The first of our North East Steering Group to be announced, Ashleigh Wright said “I am absolutely thrilled to join the North East Business Council Steering Group. The North East is home to incredible people and strong communities, but I believe the real potential of our region isn’t yet fully realised. I’m passionate about helping to change that by creating more opportunities and supporting ambition at every level, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive”. Ashleigh is the Managing Director of Westray Recruitment, a recruitment business specialising in companies operating in the engineering, industrial & manufacturing, business support and professional sectors, having worked in the business for more than 17 years. She is also a Board Trustee at Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter.

Beverley, Stuart and Ashleigh bring a wealth of experience, and will be working alongside Kiran and the Jobs Foundation team, as we look to establish the Jobs Foundation as a voice for the North East Business Community.