We are pleased to announce that Emma Taylor, Chief People Officer at Tesco, has been appointed as the new Chair of Movement to Work, succeeding Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems.
Emma formally takes up the position from this month, following three years of dedicated leadership from Charles, who will continue to support the charity as a Trustee and Steering Group member.
Since becoming Chair in 2023, Charles has played a pivotal role in strengthening our reach and impact. During his tenure, the charity has supported the creation of over 68,000 opportunities for young people across 2024–2025 and reached a major milestone of more than 250,000 opportunities delivered since the charity was founded.
His leadership has helped accelerate key initiatives, including the place-based YouthPath initiative, the Work Experience Works campaign, promoting high-qualityplacements, and the Next-Gen AI Skills programme, co-creating practical learning materials with Microsoft and Accenture to help young people use Gen AI confidently, responsibly and effectively, as well as a brand-new collaboration with LinkedIn focused on preparing young people for the future of work.
Charles Woodburn said: “It’s been a huge privilege to serve as Chair of Movement to Work and witness the life-changing impact of opening doors to employment for young people who lack opportunity, not ability. I’m incredibly proud of what our movement has achieved together -supporting more than 250,000 young people and launching vital initiatives like YouthPath and the Next-Gen AI Skills programme. Emma is a passionate advocate for early careers and I’ve no doubt she will be an outstanding Chair. I look forward to supporting her and the wider team as I continue my involvement in the charity.”
Emma brings extensive experience in early careers, skills development and inclusive recruitment through her role at Tesco, one of the UK’s largest employers of young people and long-standing supporters of the Movement to Work network.
Emma Taylor said:
Placeholder: “I’m honoured to take on the role of Chair at Movement to Work. The charity’s mission to break the ‘no experience, no job’ cycle is more important than ever, with too many young people still facing barriers to employment.
Movement to Work shows what can be achieved when employers, partners and government work together. I’m excited to build on the strong foundations Charles has helped create and to work with the network to expand opportunities, support young people to develop confidence and skills, and help more organisations see the value of inclusive early-career pathways.”
Sareena Bains, former CEO of Movement to Work, added:
“I would like to thank Charles for his exceptional leadership, commitment, and advocacy over the past three years. He has been a true champion of our mission, helping us to grow our network and deepen our impact at such an important time for young people across the UK. We are incredibly grateful for the time, care, and energy he has given.
We are absolutely delighted to welcome Emma as our new Chair. Her experience and passion for developing people make her a wonderful fit for Movement to Work, and I know she will play an important role as we continue to strengthen our work with employers and partners to create meaningful pathways into employment for the young people who need our support the most.”