Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, Leo Quinn, has been appointed Life President of The 5% Club, the national charity he founded in 2013 to drive skills development and combat youth unemployment.
The appointment marks a significant milestone in The 5% Club’s evolution – reflecting its transformation from a bold idea into a UK-wide sustainable movement for employer-led skills development. Founded on the principle that businesses should aim for at least 5% of their workforce to be in “earn and learn” roles, The 5% Club now represents over 1,200 member organisations, collectively employing more than 1.95 million people, including 88,000 apprentices, 22,000 graduates, and 10,000 sponsored students.
As one of the founding members of The 5% Club, Balfour Beatty currently has 7.4% of its workforce in “earn and learn” roles – exceeding the Club’s original target and contributing to its wider goals around skills development and employability.
The new honorary position recognises Leo’s pivotal role in establishing The 5% Club’s purpose and impact, and formalises his continued involvement beyond governance – enabling him to contribute to strategic dialogue, act as an ambassador, and inspire the next phase of growth.
Speaking at the House of Lords, where the appointment was announced, Leo Quinn said:“I founded The 5% Club in 2013 to address the twin challenges of persistent youth unemployment and a growing national skills gap. More than a decade later, I’m proud of what our members have achieved – real opportunities, measurable progress, and a lasting shift in employer mindsets.
“But the mission isn’t finished. Nearly one million young people in the UK are still not in education, employment or training. For me, the Life Presidency is not only an honour – it’s a call to action. I’m as committed today as I was a decade ago to building a stronger, more inclusive workforce for the future.”
The role of Life President includes a permanent seat on The 5% Club’s Business Leadership Council, and ambassadorial duties representing The 5% Club across industry, government and policy forums.
Ozlem Gunduz Robinson, The 5% Club’s Chair of Trustees, said: “Leo Quinn’s belief in social mobility and the responsibilities of businesses has inspired an entire generation of leaders. His appointment as Life President marks not only a personal tribute, but a commitment to carrying his founding ethos into the future.”
With over 987,000 young people in the UK aged 16–24 still not in education, employment or training, The 5% Club’s work remains more urgent than ever. Data shows that 94% of Level 2 apprentices go on to employment or further education, and 78% report significant personal growth – underscoring the value of investing in early careers.
ENDS
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Notes to editors:
- Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with over 27,000 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.
We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities.
Over the last 116 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world. Currently, we are working to deliver Hinkley Point C, the first UK nuclear power station in a generation; constructing the world-class arts and cultural facility, the Lyric Theatre, in Hong Kong; and designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the Automated People Mover superstructure at the fifth busiest airport in the world, Los Angeles International Airport.
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive and Life President of The 5% Club attends the 5% Club Summer reception
