Leading With Purpose

This week on Fit for Purpose, Justine is joined by the Customer Experience Director of Northern Gas Networks, Eileen Brown. They talk about how being a gas distributer gives their business a unique ability to reach into millions of homes and improve lives and opportunities at the same time, and how the switch from natural gas to hydrogen can make energy in the UK much friendlier to our planet.

This week on Fit for Purpose, Justine is joined by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, Professor Graham Baldwin. Graham talks about the contribution UCLan makes to improving opportunities via tackling health inequalities, and gives his younger-self some advice.

This week, Justine talks with the Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University, Professor Liz Barnes. They talk about how Staffordshire University has adapted in light of COVID-19, and why a focus on courses such as computer science are preparing students for the economy of the future.

This week, Justine talks with the Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University, Professor Liz Barnes. They talk about how Staffordshire University has adapted in light of COVID-19, and why a focus on courses such as computer science are preparing students for the economy of the future.

This week, Justine talks with Vice-Chancellor Nic Beech and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning & Innovation Andrea Dlaska of Middlesex University. They talk about why a Middlesex graduate might have extra value to employers, how the University has focussed on building those links, and why organisations benefit from diverse populations.

This week, Justine talks with the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Kiran Trehan. They talk about why improving social mobility is a priority for York, why it should be for the Russel Group of universities, and where Kiran’s passion for this agenda comes from.

This week, Justine talks with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, Shirley Congdon. They talk about how Shirley became Bradford’s first female Vice-Chancellor, and how the University is working with the Opportunity Area to level up its community.

This week, Justine talks with Hogan Lovells’ UK Managing Partner and Global Managing Partner for Diversity & Inclusion and Responsible Business, Susan Bright. Susan talks about her journey to the top of one of the world’s biggest law firms, and how Hogan Lovells are making law more accessible.

This week, Justine is joined by the Director of Sainsbury’s Brand, Judith Batchelar. Judith talks about how working with others during the coronavirus crisis kept Britain well-stocked and helped provide for key workers and vulnerable people.

This week, Justine is joined by the Customer Services and People Director of FTSE 100 United Utilities. United Utilities is the largest listed water company in the UK, and Justine asks how they use their scale and reach to create opportunity in some of the most deprived places in the UK.

This week, Justine is joined by the Chief Executive of top law firm Shoosmiths, Simon Boss. Shoosmiths was the first company to work with the Social Mobility Pledge to create a bold action plan to make sure they are going the extra step in truly enabling social mobility where they operate. Justine and Simon talk about why that’s important, what obstacles people face, and of course, Simon’s advice...

This week Justine is joined by Brian Gilvary, former Chief Financial Officer at bp and new Chairman of INEOS Energy. They talk how levelling up Britain really relies on businesses understanding the opportunity gap and having a plan for how they can help close it.

Justine talks to Lord Bird. Growing up in a London he credits the prison system with teaching him the basic skills of reading and writing. In 1991 he co-founded the Big Issue which has been a life changing support for our country’s most vulnerable and in 2018 we got together to create the Social Mobility Pledge. Still today his enthusiasm and passion for fighting injustices is as strong as ever. T...

This week Justine talks to Professor Toby Wilkinson, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln. Toby is responsible for the university’s work with outside organisations including the Social Mobility Pledge. They talk lockdown, the effect that all of this is having on students and the work that the university has been doing to boost social mobility in Holbeach in Lincolnshire.

Justine talks to Lord Bird. Growing up in a London he credits the prison system with teaching him the basic skills of reading and writing. In 1991 he co-founded the Big Issue which has been a life changing support for our country’s most vulnerable and in 2018 we got together to create the Social Mobility Pledge. Still today his enthusiasm and passion for fighting injustices is as strong as ever. W...

Justine talks to ITV’s Paul Brand. Paul grew up in Bridgend and went to his local comprehensive which started a journey to the very top of his industry. Now as a lead political correspondent at ITV news he offers a unique insight into the current Coronavirus outbreak. They talk raising aspirations at a young age, being true to yourself and the power that being different has.

Justine talks to Sandra Wallace. Sandra grew up in Birmingham, and set her sights on a career in law, a profession that’s harder than most to crack into and has struggled for a long time to be genuinely diverse in inclusive. Sandra rose - so far - to be Managing Director of the UK and Europe in one of the world’s biggest law firms DLA Piper. Rated as one of the top 100 most influential black peopl...

Justine talks to North East based entrepreneur David Harrison about setting up the C-19 Business Pledge, the business response so far to Coronavirus and how True Potential are adapting to home working.