Seven leading industry titans join Big Youth Group to improve the odds of young people
Award winning entrepreneur Jack Parsons signs up Tech UK president and six influential business leaders to help him improve the odds of young people.
Big Youth Group (BYG) has today announced seven of the country’s most influential business leaders are joining its stellar advisory board including the President of Tech UK and the former CEO’s of Grant Thornton and House of Fraser.
The company – co-founded by award winning young entrepreneur, Jack Parsons, and former Havas Group CEO, Paul Frampton-Calero – said it was delighted such distinguished game changers were joining the board as it strives to significantly improve the odds of young people across the UK and eventually around the globe.
Founded in January 2018, BYG is a marketplace of youth-led services that enable young people to access work opportunities, mentors and essential advice, learn the art of business faster and build their networks and personal brand.
The hugely successful figures joining the board are Tech UK President, Jacqueline de Rojas CBE; Craig Fenton, Google UK director of strategy and operations; former CEO of Grant Thornton, Sacha Romanovitch; former House of Fraser CEO, Alex Williamson; Merian Ventures partner and ex British Consulate General, Priya Guha; Chief People Officer, Lorraine Metcalf and ex Royal Mail Group managing director, Jonathan Harman.
The advisory board, chaired by Paul Frampton-Calero, will meet regularly to identify new strategies and partnerships to spearhead the growth of BYG, which has already partnered with corporates including Accenture and Sage; amassed over 1,500 UK ambassadors; graduated the first cohort of its accelerator program for young founders, powered by GoDaddy; whilst actively campaigning for enhanced work experience, mental health awareness and mentoring for young people aged 18 to 30.
And there are further plans for international expansion as well a long term goal to create partnerships with one hundred organisations committed to helping young people.
Jack Parsons, CEO of BYG said:
“We couldn’t be more excited to have these superstar advisors to help guide our journey to help millions of young people. I am humbled that these people have chosen to support BYG in the next phase of our growth. They have made a very smart choice to back a movement that really has the heart of young people at its core.”
Paul Frampton-Calero, Chair of BYG added:
“Every day we read more about how young people are being let down by politicians, the education system, and employers. We need more urgent intervention and new models that better serve our growing and talented youth. I couldn’t be more excited about the social impact we will be able to achieve with advisors of the highest calibre, who have all committed their time to joining this meaningful movement.”
About the BYG’s new board members:
Jacqueline de Rojas is President of Tech UK, Digital Leaders & Co-Chair of the Institute of Coding; a board member of Rightmove, Costain Group and ao.com. She received a CBE in the Queen’s Honours list in 2018.
Craig Fenton is Director of Strategy and Operations at Google UK and ex EMEA and LATAM Managing Director for Accenture. Craig is a strategic operator with a deep understanding of market-leading technology led operations.
Sacha Romanovitch became the first woman to run a high profile city accountancy firm – Grant Thornton. Sacha now co-chairs the Government led Inclusive Economy Partnership, which aims to drive systemic change on issues ranging from mental health to financial inclusion.
Alex Williamson is the former CEO of House of Fraser and The Goodwood Group. Alex has recently been appointed CEO of the Bridgepoint Development Capital owned company Inspiring Learning, a business that enhances the lives of young people through experiences that inspire.
Priya Guha is Venture Partner at Merian Ventures, a member of Innovate UK Council and Adjunct Faculty at Ashridge Hult Business School. Last year, Priya was named the Top 5 Asian Woman in UK Tech and Top 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech.
Lorraine Metcalf is a C-Suite People executive ranked in the Top 100 HR Execs within high growth tech companies by Hot Topics. Lorraine was most recently Chief Talent Officer for Zoopla Property Group where she supported the business through IPO, 8 acquisitions and sale to Silver Lake for $2.2bn.
Jonathan Harman served as Managing Director at Royal Mail Group for six years. Jonathan has previously led Marketing and Martech businesses through periods of transformation for Omnicom, WPP and Aimia. He now runs his new consultancy Bloom Profit Growth.
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