Today I had the chance to meet with the Labour Minister for Poland Anna Kalata, she has a very large task in front of her; tackling the unemployment and re-skilling of the Polish Labour Market. We have spent the last 12 months developing networks and relationships in Poland so that we can develop our concept of Improving Peoples Lives in Poland. Official unemployment figures have been coming down for the last few months, but the number of people in work is not increasing. This means that there is a big impact in the number of Polish people leaving their home to seek work in the UK and Irela..Roy NeweyView Complete Post

It is time for all would be bloggers to get themselves heard. I have asked the techno team at A4e to make it possible for everyone that comes into contact with A4e to have their blog posted on our website. Starting in the New Year - everyone will be able to send their blogs to a special email address - and hey presto - they will be posted on the A4e website.

A big plea goes out to all our tutors and trainers around the world - please, please help your clients to do this. It is great to see your thoughts and name in lights. The suggestion for this came from four lads I met in our Swa..eharrisonView Complete Post

I have just returned from my two day trip to Wales. I had a great time - visiting some A4e offices and meeting learners, clients and staff.

A big hello to Leon Campbell and Aaron Dawes (see I did give you a mention). Two young men who asked me some smart questions and had plenty of confidence and opinions. I thought Leon and Aaron ought to think about starting a business. They definately had the ability to create their own exciting future. Good luck to you both.

Leon and Aaron were based in our Newport centre. A superb place. I told the managers Maria and Fran that I th..eharrisonView Complete Post

A question from Rhys Morgan in Wales - 'i know you are coming to sunny wales - what are you looking forward to seeing and why?' 

Thanks Rhys - quite simple really - when I am on tour I spend all my time listening to staff and clients - trying really hard to get a good sense of the issues - good and bad. Hopefully people are brave enough to share their thoughts with me (and/or ask tricky questions) and perhaps I get to inspire and encourage them in return.

Last week in Gateshead I met a group of young people - some familiar stuff - no one cares - who is g..eharrisonView Complete Post

I read once that we are the “sum total of everybody we have ever met”. I have thought about this a lot and started to realise many years ago that I had been very lucky to meet some amazing people who have left me with a gift of their knowledge, values and experiences. Frank Blamey is someone who has made a big impact on me in my life. He is a wonderful guy who at 75 can still wrestle me to the ground during a debate. He is an angel on earth who is kind, caring, interesting and never makes a judgement. I met him during some voluntary work and we shared a passion for chocolate. Si..Roy NeweyView Complete Post

This week I had an opportunity to give an interview to the Jerusalem Telegraphic Agency whilst on a train coming back from London. Anybody who has tried this will first of all know that you can’t do this whilst in the “Quiet Coach”, but actually you can’t do it anyway as the signal drops every few minutes. Eventually we gave up and instead I conducted the interview whilst in a taxi dashing to get to my son’s school.

The reporter was very interested to understand how we help people in Poverty and we had a really good debate about how this can be done..Roy NeweyView Complete Post

On Wednesday I had the chance to visit the House of Lords. I was invited to take part in an event hosted by the British Polish Chamber of Commerce to promote Poland in the UK. There were many people there and it was amazing to be inside a building that you see on TV so much. There were business people there trying to understand what market opportunities may exist for them in Poland and how they can go about entering Poland.

There were also some Polish representatives including the Mayor of Katowice, Piotr Uszok, who I met earlier this year in Poland. He is very proud of his city an..Roy NeweyView Complete Post

Another question from my mate Edd in County Durham.   He asks:

''What inspires you? Most people will say that inspiration comes from seeing how you can make a difference and reflection on making that difference - hence the company motto 'improving people's lives.' But I think people would like to know what keeps you inspired, motivated etc.''

I am inspired by many things - I seek and find inspiration everywhere.

Meeting someone who tells me their story. Watching a person work  - a person who has passion, creativity and ..eharrisonView Complete Post

In answer to a question from one of A4e's employees - 'Emma tell me 10 ways to kill a business (or idea), things that people should avoid when either setting up or growing a company' - sent to me by Edd Smith from our County Durham office.

Great question - a good reversal on the stuff i normally get asked - so I thought I'd spend some time and give it a go - you have made me think  - thanks. 

My ten ways to kill a business ( remember - I am telling you ways to kill a business - please, please don't read them as things you should do! ..eharrisonView Complete Post

I have been very involved with the NSPCC for several years. I was asked to take on the role of Chairman of the Regions for the Full Stop to cruelty campaign. It is a national role that  has involved me leading the effort to raise £50 million for the cause. Just recently the great news came through that we had done more than £55 million. I am so grateful to all the amazing people who gave so generously and to the truly phenomenal team of voluteers and fundraisers that did all the work. So many people were involved in this achievement for children - and I have ..eharrisonView Complete Post

A few weeks ago I returned from Dagenham ( East London). I had been living there for ten days - filming for Channel Four - a new programme called the Secret Millionaire. (it will be aired around the 2nd or 3rd Jan at 9pm.

Crikey - what an experience -  a life changing event  - I am totally lucky that I got the chance to be a part of the programme - I have learnt so much and I am able to make better decisions.

My job was to live undercover in a very disadvantaged area - discovering people who I felt I could help - and then working out what I could do to help. ..eharrisonView Complete Post

Just got back from two weeks of touring the UK - catching up with some of A4e's new and not so new offices. Meeting loads of new staff and some old timers.  I have had a great time - very exhausting - but - I learn so much. 

Some of the stuff I learn means I can get little things put right quickly - some of the stuff makes me think about much bigger long term things we can do. I met a great tutor called Stephanie in our Newcastle office - doing inspirational work with our clients. I just hope that other people take the time out to see her work - and use all the b..eharrisonView Complete Post

Last week (30th November 2006) I had the chance to visit Stockholm to review the opportunities to spread the work of A4e into Sweden. After the recent national elections there has been a shift in government policy towards seeking to bring new innovative ideas to tackle the high levels of unemployment. Although at 5% unemployment does not seem high compared to some of the other countries we are working in (Israel and Germany are hovering around 10%) it is much higher than Sweden has experienced over the last decade. There is also an issue that the level of unemployment has proven to be stubb..Roy NeweyView Complete Post

 Welcome to my new blogging site.

Over the coming weeks and months I’ll be using this blog to share with you my views on the issues that I’m passionate about and that are close to my heart.

This is a fantastic way for me to have a good rant about the things I care about - and to share some gossip about the things I get up to - and the people I meet.

So, starting at the beginning - why do I do what I do? For a lot of my life I have noticed that there are a lot of problems that are stopping people from realising their potential.  I love seein..eharrisonView Complete Post

My name is Roy Newey and I'm delighted to welcome you to my inaugural A4e blog.

I am really happy to have the opportunity to develop the A4e business internationally. I am very excited about the opportunity to establish A4e in many new countries because our mission is to 'improve people's lives'.

We have recently added to our first international delivery contract in Israel, by winning new business in France and Germany. Using our welfare to work expertise, we are helping hundreds of local people gain new skills and return to employment.

I am currently work..Roy NeweyView Complete Post