Pret a Manger chief executive Pano Christou has been named as the first UK chair of a national business-led network aimed at creating more employment opportunities for young people.
The Homewards programme, founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2023, has appointed Christou as chair of its New Employment Opportunities Network (Neon).
He will led on its strategic direction, lead collaboration and growth, and support the development and expansion of the network beyond 2028.
Neon is designed to bring together “major employers, local businesses and public services” to help young people at risk of homelessness access stable employment, with the aim of improving job retention and long-term stability.
A Homewards spokesperson said: “We are delighted to welcome a business leader of Pano’s calibre, whose longstanding commitment to tackling unemployment and homelessness makes him ideally placed to lead the Neon network.
“This new chair role will play a vital part in supporting businesses to create and strengthen pathways into employment for people across all six Homewards locations, while helping to scale the initiative nationally.
“As we mark three years of the Homewards programme, Pano’s appointment reflects our ambition to build on the progress achieved so far and take Homewards into its next phase. Years four and five will be focused on accelerating our efforts to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.”
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