We continue to expand our regional leadership coalition

Last week, Jobs Foundation Yorkshire held the first meeting of its newly established steering group, bringing together some of the leading voices from across business, education, and the charitable sector and led by Martin McKervey of AESSEAL and Vulcan Engineering.

Martin will be working alongside Dr Deborah Bullivant MBE, Kam Grewal-Joy, Ashfaq Gulab, Edward Naylor, Dr Spencer Pitfield OBE, and Ken Ross OBE.

Dr Deborah Bullivant MBE is an educationalist and social entrepreneur who is Founder and CEO of Grimm & Co, a charity that supports under-resourced children and young people with writing skills. Deborah is also a former headteacher and became a Doctor of Education in 2022. Later that year, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours List, for her dedication to improving children’s life chances by raising literacy levels.

Kam Grewal-Joy is Headteacher at Meadowhead School Academy Trust, and a Governor of Sheffield College, with more than 20 years of sectoral experience. She was a designated National Leader of Education prior to taking up her second headship, and in this role supported local schools with their school improvement journeys to a Good Ofsted judgement.  

Ashfaq Gulab is the Head of Operations at Impact Hub Yorkshire, a social innovation hub offering programmes, community and workspace to social innovators. He has led the development of apprenticeships through the Learning and Skills Council, where he was appointed as the Director of Excellence for Apprenticeships and Work Based Learning, working closely with schools, FE colleges and employers across West Yorkshire.

Edward Naylor is the Chief Executive of Naylor Industries who has won a number of awards for his work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, a national EEF Leadership Award, and Business Leader of the Year from the Yorkshire Children’s Charity. He is also a Trustee Board Member of Barnsley FC Community Trust, Co-Chair of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, a Board Member of York University Management School Advisory Board and Entrepreneur in Residence at Connect Yorkshire.

Dr Spencer Pitfield OBE is the Founder and Director of SPL Strategies, with more than 30 years of industry experience. Spencer is actively involved in innovation across the education and training landscape, including work with the Green Skills Advisory Panel (GSAP) and the development of new models for vocational, technical and green skills delivery, being one of just 250 Fellows of St George’s House, Windsor Castle. In 2016, he was awarded an OBE for political service, presented at Buckingham Palace by HRH The Prince of Wales.

Ken Ross OBE is the Director of RBH Properties and Pennine 5, Further to his business interests Ken is passionate about supporting and improving the lives of young people with Down Syndrome and in this capacity currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association. In 2024, he was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

These appointments expand our regional leadership network to 17. In the North East, Kiran Fothergill is supported by Beverley Brooks, Alison Dunn, Stuart Fearn MBE, John McDonald and Ashleigh Wright. In the South West, Simon Boyd OBE is supported by Tom Kegode, Mary Pugsley MBE and Helen Stacey.Throughout 2026, we will continue to expand our network of regional business councils, with launch events in the West Midlands and East Midlands, and will also be launching Jobs Foundation Northern Ireland, with further launches scheduled for throughout 2027.