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Business leader Justin Kelly stepped away from his C-suite role at the international engineering and technology company, Siemens, in 2022 and is now chief executive at Glass Futures, a not-for-profit tech membership organisation.
Glass Futures researches more sustainable glass manufacture across the globe – so this role fits well with Justin's other recent appointment, chair of Sustainable Ventures North, a hub for climate tech business start-ups and entrepreneurs, building on the success of its London beginnings.
Justin explains how he secured a university place, sponsored by Siemens, and how he rose to the top of the organisation before moving on in 2022. As a business leader with a valued voice, particularly in England's North-West region, Justin is using his experience and knowledge to influence, guide and support organisations and programmes in manufacturing, technology, transport, skills and education.
That place on a sandwich course, studying computers, management and electronics at the University of Salford wasn't a given, Justin explains. And though its name implies a German engineering and technology company, Siemens has had an English arm for more than 170 years.
Justin talks about the appeal of coming to Manchester after a London upbringing and liking its ethos of being a 'place to grow up and get on' so he stayed, and his young adult daughters have never seen the appeal of London's bright lights.
Justin joined the governors at his daughters' school and has championed education across all backgrounds. He mentions the Manchester Baccalaureate, the power of apprenticeships and the fact that 5% of Siemens' workforce are in entry-level roles.
Most tellingly Justin discusses the value of young people's voices within their work environment, both in speaking up where they see a practice they don't like, or something they feel could be done more effectively, and in their choice of employer in the first place. As he says, recruitment is a two-way process: does the business want you and do you want the business?
Glass Futures
Sustainable Ventures
Siemens UK careers
Greater Manchester Business Board (Local Enterprise Partnership)
Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc)
Teach First
Now Teach
Season 1 Episode 11: Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer, University of Manchester
Season 3 Episode 7: Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech
Season 3 Episode 2: Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG
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