Established in 2020, The Hg Foundation has committed over $8.5 million to eight multi-year partnerships year to date and has now appointed an experienced CEO to expand its impact alongside the Trustee group.

James Turner is a leading figure in the world of education and social mobility, having worked in this area for over 18 years. James is currently CEO of leading social mobility foundation The Sutton Trust and was previously the Deputy CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

London, UK. 9 May, 2022. The Hg Foundation today announces that it has appointed a leading figure in the field of education, training and social mobility, James Turner. James has spent over 18 years in this area, most recently as Chief Executive of The Sutton Trust. Previously James was the founding Deputy CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation. James has been appointed as The Hg Foundation’s first CEO, to spearhead the next stage of its development as it continues to build scale and its impact in removing barriers to education and skills in technology.

The Hg Foundation was formed in 2020 and is backed by Hg, a leading software and services investor. Its goal is to make an impact on the development of skills most required for employment within the technology industry, focusing on individuals who may otherwise experience barriers to access.

The Hg Foundation aims to achieve this by providing funding and operational support to charitable schemes across the UK, US and Europe where measurable, long-term and scalable impact can be demonstrated to make a difference to those that need it most. In its first two years, The Hg Foundation has built partnerships with Imperial College London, The Tutor Trust, Impetus, upReach, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, Generation France, The Technical University of Munich and Merit America and is already delivering measurable impact in the development of skills most required for employment within the technology industry, focusing on individuals who may otherwise experience barriers to access this education.

James Turner’s previous roles have seen him develop major education initiatives and sit on the board of a number of new education charities. The Sutton Trust’s own work has grown during his tenure to reach 8,000 young people each year, including developing its first digital offer. James was instrumental in The Sutton Trust’s £135m bid to set up the Education Endowment Foundation in 2011 and more recently was involved in developing the £100m National Tutoring Programme. He therefore brings a wealth of experience in building charity capability at scale to power the next stage of The Hg Foundation’s growth.

James Turner, incoming CEO of The Hg Foundation, said: “I’m excited to join The Hg Foundation as its first CEO. The Foundation’s focus on technology is key to unlocking social mobility for some of our most disadvantaged and building a technology sector which represents society. The Hg Foundation has already made great progress in the past two years and now has a huge opportunity to scale this work in the UK, Europe and the US. I’m looking forward to unlocking its potential to deliver measurable impact for thousands of people and to positively influence the system for many thousands more.”

Tom Attwood, Independent Trustee and Chair, The Hg Foundation, added: “We are already incredibly proud of the impact that The Hg Foundation is having on technology skills education. James’ appointment marks an exciting step in The Foundation’s development as we build mature partnerships and strive to deliver long-term results for those who benefit from our programme.”

About The Hg Foundation:

The Hg Foundation is a grant-giving charity with a defined focus on education and technology. Our goal is to support those who may otherwise experience barriers to access, with the acquisition of skills that are often required for employment within the technology industry. We aim to achieve this by providing funding and operational support to charitable schemes and partnerships across the UK, USA and Europe where we can demonstrate measurable, long-term and scalable impact and make a difference to those that need it most.

These partnerships include Sponsors for Educational Opportunity’s SEO Tech Developer programme in the USA; a partnership with Imperial College London providing a variety of interventions for Further Maths A-Level students; upReach’s Tech500 programme which looks to support 500 undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds who are looking to secure graduate roles in the technology sector; Generation France’s new tech-focused partnership, supporting unemployed and underemployed individuals into life‑changing tech careers in France; The Tutor Trust, which is testing a pilot hybrid online /offline tutoring scheme to support interventions under the UK’s National Tutoring Programme; a partnership with The Technical University of Munich to support mathematics, IT, natural sciences & technology (MINT) education for young women through tailored courses at rural Bavarian schools; and a partnership with Merit America to help low-wage workers access careers in tech. The Hg Foundation is registered Charity no. 1189216.

For more information, please visit the website at www.thehgfoundation.com.