I'm joining The King's Trust CEO Challenge
In September 2026, I am joining a team of senior business leaders completing The King's Trust CEO Challenge. As part of The Trust's 50th anniversary, we are swapping the boardroom for the wild, testing our own resilience and courage, that the young people supported by The Trust show every day.
There's nearly 1 million young people across the UK not in employment, education or training. They often feel hopeless about their future, struggling with low confidence, poor mental health and barriers to opportunities.
Our team of business leaders are aiming to raise £500,000 collectively, to show that we believe in the next generation, the future leaders of our industries. The funds will enable The King's Trust to continue being there for young people, giving them the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Please donate, and show your support too.
My Achievements
Updated profile photo
Shared fundraising page
Made a self-donation
Reached 50% of fundraising goal
Reached 100% of fundraising goal
Challenge complete!
My Updates
A little discomfort to ease a lot of pain
Friday 14th AugWe’ll be heading up to the Highlands of Scotland soon for the CEO Challenge, in support of The King’s Trust. The rationale is to experience just a glimmer of the hardship that many young job seekers face daily, and at the same time raise much needed funds to turn the tide on youth unemployment.
Over 1 million young people in the UK are now classified as NEET (not in education, employment or training). There are multiple contributing factors, from sluggish growth to a sharp decline in entry-level vacancies, and the rapid deployment of AI across the workplace is likely to compound the problem.
It’s a growing crisis that’s leaving young people vulnerable to long-term financial damage. It’s also straining our public services and risks the creation of a "lost generation", deprived of economic stability and prone to isolation, anxiety, and depression.
My industry (legal services) is definitely experiencing a marked decline in the overall demand for young talent. As a father of 3 daughters under 25, all of whom will soon be out of education and looking for work, it’s a real concern. I would love for them, and all young people, to have the opportunities that were open to my generation. And that’s where The King’s Trust comes in.
The Trust is working hard to reverse the trend, but it needs support. It offers practical courses and work placement programs, provides mentoring, business planning and funding options for young entrepreneurs looking to launch their own companies and runs confidence-building and re-engagement courses for teenagers struggling at school or at risk of exclusion. All critical programmes in the fight against youth unemployment.
If you’d like to make a donation and feel able to do so, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you to my Sponsors
£1.25k
Rob Salter
£1,000
Mark Carney
Oh Canada
£1,000
Charles Severs
£1,000
Colin Wilson
Great endeavour and cause.
£500
Nicola Bishop
Good luck. Enjoy the peace and quiet!
£500
Simon Downing
£500
Sandra Bowker
The things you do in the name of friendship!!
£500
Jon Kenworthy
Sounds like a fun group to be part of - can't wait to hear all about it!
£250
Iain Kennedy
You are an inspiration to larger athletes everywhere. Good luck.
£250
Adrian De La Touche
Great work mate. Awesome cause as well.
£250
Roddy
All the best Bob. Great cause.
£200
Richard Woolich
Wishing you best wishes and success in this important challenge, and beyond.
£200
Magdi
Is this another excuse to let your hair grow more?
£150
Fiddys
Great cause Bob
£100
Luca Gori
£100
Paul Doris
Good luck, Bob. A great cause.
£100
Ollie
Great cause. Enjoy the Type 2 fun in the Highlands!
£100
Jonny Powling
Wishing you luck....we'll prepare a suitable certificate for the desk / seat following completion
£100
Adam Tope
love your desk
£100
James Kerrigan
Well done Bob! Best of luck
£100
Chris Arnold
Best of luck, Bob - all for a great cause.
£100
Donald Rowlands
Go Mongo
£100
Andrew V
Nice one Bish
£100
Hester Wheeley
Best of luck - and what a great cause
£100
Julian Pitcher
What a fantastic cause. All the best for the challenge
£100
Kate Salter
Go get em Bob. Well done
£100
Matt Evans
Intrigued to know what the suffering involves, but at least the midges should have dispersed by mid-September.
£100
Michael Allan
I'll give you another £5.00 if you have a shave and get a proper haircut.
£100
James Gallon
Good luck Bob!
£100
Ben Forgiel Jenkins
Great cause Bob - enjoy the Highlands!
£100
Chris Noble
Good luck Bob! Such important work that you are supporting!
£100
Mike Rooke
Good luck Bob, go enjoy it!
£100
Danny Westmoreland
Go well, Bob - great cause!
£55
Graeme Earle
Good luck!
£55
Becca J
Good effort Bob.
£55
Tracey Renshaw
£55
Colin Hamilton-davies
£55
Amanda & Martin Moores
Great cause.....enjoy!
£50
Irvin Shirvani
£50
Anonymous
go girl
£50
Edward Coates
Enjoy the pain, boss (I know you will…)
£30
Alex
Good luck Bob!
£20
Tina Barwick
Good luck Bob!
£5
Lottie Bishop
Go Bob, get on your bike, Why you chose this, we’d all like to know why. Now here’s some cash for the ride.
Well done for stepping in at short notice