Meet Our Team

Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE DL – Founder & CEO of Youth Employment UK

Laura-Jane (LJ) left school at 16 with poor GCSE grades, she had experience of being a free school meal student and being singled out because of it. Through her early career she worked in retail and sales, using each step to build her skills, experience and confidence. Whilst working in recruitment LJ began to see that the barriers she faced were not unique to her and became a passionate advocate for young people transitioning between education and employment. Spending time to better understand the structural issues of youth unemployment and the policy around the area, LJ founded Youth Employment UK in 2012.

LJ is a passionate campaigner for youth employment and the rights for all young people to access quality employment and have their voices heard on the issues that affect them. LJ believes that it is for all of us to create a youth-friendly society so that young people can fulfil their potential.

Recognised as a leading youth employment expert LJ provides support, insight and expertise to many groups on issues of social mobility, education, employment and skills. LJ has a lead role with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Employment and is a co-founder of the Youth Employment Group.  LJ was a secondary school governor for 8 years and is now a Governor of The Bedford College Group, she was a founding Board Member of Youth Futures Foundation, the what-works for youth employment. LJ was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Years Honours for services to young people.

Lauren Mistry – Deputy CEO

Lauren has worked in HR, Recruitment and Careers Services since leaving university in 2008 where she studied Business Management.

As deputy CEO of Youth Employment UK Lauren leads our strategies on research, insight and best practice across youth and business audiences. She’s passionate about ensuring that all young people get the resources they need to understand and support their best next steps and that there are accessible, quality opportunities available.

Lauren leads Youth Employment UK’s annual Youth Voice Census, the largest Youth Voice survey of its kind. In addition, she is leading Youth Employment UK’s work to launch a first-of-its-kind evidence-based Good Youth Employment Benchmark this year, changing how employers understand and plan their youth employment strategies across the UK.

Dr Rupal Patel – Policy & Research Director

Rupal Patel joined Youth Employment UK in 2024 as our Policy and Research Director. She is responsible for leading our policy and Research strategy and ensuring young people’s voices are heard in policy decision-making. Previously, Rupal worked at the Education Endowment Foundation where she led the quality assurance for policymakers on the teacher professional development reforms and conducted synthesis reviews to ensure policy was evidence-reformed. Rupal has spent over 10 years managing education reform research projects and evaluations for various government departments and third-sector organisations including The Department for Education, The Education and Training Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Office for Students and Social Mobility Commission.

Kat Wells-Bond – Marketing Director

Kat Wells-Bond joined Youth Employment UK in 2023 and is our Marketing Director. She is responsible for our marketing strategy, branding and creative output, as well as supporting our talented marketing team.

Kat’s previous experience includes being a content manager for an industry-leading e-commerce business, as well as running her own photography business, which has given her a wide range of skills and experience in marketing, sales, creative, and branding. She is now looking forward to applying these skills to engage our audiences and help young people.

Eleanor Chambers – Youth Voice, Policy & Research Coordinator

Eleanor’s background is in Healthcare and Research. Eleanor worked for 4 years within different healthcare settings and moved to Research following the end of her Psychology degree.

She joined Youth Employment UK in 2023 and is passionate about supporting young people by promoting their voices to be heard, and using research and policy to make a difference.

Kathryn Johnson – Executive Assistant and Office Manager

Kathryn joined the Youth Employment UK team in December 2024, bringing with her a diverse background spanning account management and the dynamic world of theatre. This unique blend of experience has equipped her with a strong skill set in organisation, communication, and problem-solving, all of which are invaluable in her current role.

As Executive Assistant, Kathryn provides crucial support to LJ and Lauren, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of their (many!) daily activities. Beyond her Executive Assistant duties, Kathryn also serves as Office Manager, overseeing the HR and operational elements of the organisation.

Kathryn’s decision to join Youth Employment UK stems from a deep commitment to the organisation’s mission of supporting young people in their journey to meaningful employment. She is particularly drawn to the opportunity to contribute her diverse skills to a cause that makes a tangible difference in the lives of young people across the UK.

Stephan Mink – Business Development & Account Manager

Stephan joined the sales team in February 2025. In his role as a Business Development and Account Manager, Stephan supports and helps employers to create opportunities for young people. Having worked in various industries across sales and marketing, Stephan was drawn to Youth Employment UK’s mission of helping young people find quality opportunities. Stephan utilises his skills to support employers in creating robust strategies to attract and retain young talent.

Penny Davis – Head of Marketing

Penny joined the marketing team in 2024. Penny supports the team, strategising and blending her SEO knowledge to grow our online presence.

Penny has worked across three digital marketing agencies, and in-house, giving her a breadth of experience across multiple sectors, and is now bringing her expertise to Youth Employment UK.

Georgia Williamson – Digital Marketing Officer

Since joining in 2021, Georgia has completed a Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship, and is now working towards a degree.

Specialising in content writing, Georgia supports the team with writing content across marketing channels, including website copy, blog posts, video scripts, and digital and print materials.

Emmanuel Ukponzene – Social Media Marketing Officer

Emmanuel joined the marketing team in April 2024. Bringing valuable experience to our team, he plays a crucial role in growing our online presence and building brand awareness, with a special focus on video production. He is committed to supporting our efforts in achieving the organisation’s objectives by helping to develop and deliver our digital marketing strategy, ensuring a cohesive and impactful online presence.

Emmanuel was drawn to Youth Employment UK’s mission because he believes in the transformative power of providing young people with opportunities and support. Having seen first-hand the challenges young people face in navigating the job market, he is passionate about contributing to an organisation dedicated to empowering the next generation. By using his skills in digital marketing and content creation, he hopes to amplify the voices of young people and highlight the importance of investing in their futures.

Louis Fage – Digital Marketing Officer

Louis completed a Level 3 BTEC in Computing where he developed web design, digital graphics and animation skills. After leaving college he decided to pursue digital marketing and web design as a career.

Louis joined Youth Employment UK in 2021 on a Kickstart placement role and has since completed a Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship. Louis is responsible for posting job opportunities for young people onto the website, as well as supporting the marketing team with creating content such as social media images and animated videos; as well as creating a monthly analytics report.

Stewart Segal – Chair

Stewart has worked in the funded work-based learning sector for over 20 years and has supported Association of Education and Learning Providers since its formation. Stewart worked as an independent consultant within the training sector, working with a number of training providers and colleges specialising in business development and funding issues. Coming from a background in HR and general management in the private sector, Stewart joined the Hertfordshire Training and Enterprise Council in 1994 as Chief Executive. He went on to join Spring Skills as Chief Executive in 1998. Spring Skills was then the largest independent training provider in the sector and involved in the delivery of a range of programmes in service sectors including retail, customer services, hospitality and business administration.

Sharon Blyfield – Vice Chair

Youth Employment UK welcomes Executive Director, Sharon Blyfield, to the board. Sharon is head of the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Early Careers agenda for Great Britain. She has been in the business for 28 years in a variety of functions and roles. Sharon joined the HR team 17 years ago, covering all elements of Supply Chain.

Having spent the majority of her career developing young talent at the start of their careers, Sharon’s current remit fits perfectly with her passion to create opportunities to support the next generation of young leaders. Youth Employment UK, young people, employers and careers educators will greatly benefit from Sharon’s insight and commitment to working with strategic partners who challenge an organisation’s approach to under-representation of young people across all communities. This vital focus will work to create a level playing field in the recruitment process that might unconsciously deselect from underrepresented groups.

Sharon’s dedication and commitment to CCEP’s apprenticeship programme has been recognised by CCEP’s leadership team, as well as her peers and apprentices alike. She has received praise for her outstanding leadership of the programme, which has continued to grow and expand in line with the business’ Early Careers agenda. As well as recognition from the leadership team, Sharon is adored by the apprentices themselves, who see her as a trusted advisor and mentor.

Tom Hadley

Tom is an independent consultant and business coach specialising in high-impact strategic campaigns and workforce issues. Over the last twenty years, Tom has worked with global employers, international institutions, government ministers and two of the UK’s leading business organisations. He reaches into this to provide consultancy services in areas such as reputation management, developing innovative approaches to recruitment, youth employment and employee engagement, taking a lead on the future of work, and boosting voice and visibility. Tom also delivers a suite of bespoke coaching programmes covering media training, public speaking, influencing public policy and written communication.

Tom is the author of over 30 White Papers and research reports on the evolving world of work and is a regular keynote speaker and media spokesperson. During his time as Campaigns Director at REC, Tom established the Future of Jobs Observatory to preempt future skills needs and the implications of AI adoption. His recent work with the International Labour Organization (ILO) involves delivering bespoke training and support to employer bodies from around the world in areas such as story-led campaigning, crisis management, sustainable development goals (SDGs) and championing the positive role of business in society.

Over the course of his career, Tom has been a representative on over a dozen government forums and served on the European board of the World Employment Confederation. He has a Masters in International and European Law from Assas University in Paris and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He is a qualified rugby coach and an unrepentant aficionado of 1980s French popular music.

Kathy Jackson

I trained as a Chartered Accountant in Australia and moved to the UK in 1999. I have been fortunate to work in a variety of technical areas: Tax, Accounting, Corporate Finance and Asset Management.

My most recent role was Chief Operating Officer for hedge funds.

Natalie Rogers

Natalie has a background in learning, inclusion, and diversity, having started her HR career as a HR generalist in retail, before moving into branded FMCG where she started to specialise in talent and leadership. She has worked in the field of HR for 23 years and has been a Chartered Fellow of CIPD for the last decade. She continues to have a passion for organisational development and is currently setting the long-term strategy for talent, development and inclusion along with leading a team of HR professionals at Greencore Group, one of the UK’s largest food manufacturers.

Through her career she has been the architect of many award-winning apprenticeship, graduate and development programmes aimed at enabling young people to build a rewarding career in industry. She is known for her creativity, energy, and ability to work at pace. Her passion for inclusion and diversity has always been a feature of her work, and her move to join the board of Youth Employment UK further underpins her commitment to creating more inclusive workplaces for young people.

Clare Boden-Hatton

Clare Boden-Hatton has over 20 years’ experience leading change in employment and skills delivery. She is an expert in managing devolved employment and skills functions and specifically aligning programmes and investment to deliver inclusive economic outcomes. She has an ability to connect policy, strategy and delivery in creative and impactful ways with a relentless focus on people and place. Clare is a passionate and values driven leader who has significant experience of working in partnership across government and localities. Clare recently joined MH&A where she leads the place and economic development practice. She joined after six years at West Midlands Combined Authority where she was responsible for the development and implementation of policy and strategy relating to the Combined Authorities’ priorities on employment, skills and communities, which included successfully delivering £170m of employment and skills training across the region. Mission-driven, Clare was been influential in the refocusing of the adult skills offer in the West Midlands to improve resident outcomes. Clare Joined WMCA in 2018 having previously worked for the Learning and Skills Council in senior  policy roles and for PWC in their public sector practice supporting a range of national and government clients. Clare also spent four years working as a Senior Leader in Further Education.

Jennifer Coupland

Jennifer Coupland has over 20 years’ experience of leading policy and delivery of government skills, education and training policy. She has worked in the Department for Work and Pensions, the Business Department and the Department for Education. Jennifer led the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), where she served as CEO for five years. She has recently taken up a secondment to London South Bank University where she is Pro-Vice Chancellor, Skills Portfolio.

Jennifer has previously served for 3 years on the Council of the University of Roehampton. She is currently a trustee of World Skills UK, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow of the RSA.

John Cope

Before standing for Parliament in 2024, John was Executive Director at UCAS, where he launched a new corporate strategy and led the integration of apprenticeships. Alongside UCAS, John was appointed by the government to the board of the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education, which oversees the skills system in England, and the Digital Skills Council. He was previously a co-founder of the Education Policy Institute, advisor to several Education Ministers, and advised business leaders on labour markets and education while at the CBI.

John’s passion for education and social justice is deeply personal. Born to a 14-year-old mother on a council estate, he spent time in foster care before being adopted – an experience that shapes his commitment to tackling major social challenges and expanding opportunity.

He is currently a strategic advisor to a portfolio of schools, colleges, universities, employers, edtech firms, and charities, as well as serving on the advisory boards of College Online & the Access Project, non-executive director of the Ufi VocTech Trust, and the LGA’s Children & Young People Board. He was recently elected national chairman of the Conservative Councillors’ Association which represents and supports over 5,000 local councillors.

Ciara O’Donnell

Ciara is a Technical Author who specialises in writing engineering documents for a large manufacturing company. She started her career as an engineering apprentice in 2020 (specifically Control & Instrumentation) and qualified in 2023 as a Maintenance Practitioner before moving into Technical Authoring.

Throughout her apprenticeship, Ciara also attended online and in-person recruitment events and webinars to encourage more young people to take up a STEM apprenticeship. In particular, encouraging women to join the STEM industry.

Ciara was a Youth Ambassador for Youth Employment UK for five years and wrote articles/blog posts about her employment journey before, during and after her apprenticeship. She has also spoken at numerous in-person and online events, including All Party Parliamentary Group meetings, the Youth Voice Census launches and the Apprenticeships and Training Conference.

Charlotte Bosworth

Charlotte is Managing Director of Innovate Awarding, which is a regulated Awarding Body and End Point Assessment Organisation focused on providing the best chance of assessment success for Apprentices, Employers and Providers. Charlotte’s career within Education commenced in 1996 with RSA Examinations Board, and she has vast experience in curriculum, assessment and qualification design. Charlotte has spent much of her career working in partnership with thought leaders in education to influence curriculum delivery and development and to ensure best practice is assimilated into the development of qualifications, assessments and delivery. Much of Charlotte’s work has included building relationships and interpreting the needs of employers. In addition, Charlotte is Chair of The Federation of Awarding Bodies, a Board member of AELP and Vice Chair at Walsall College.