Change of leadership at Jericho

After 20 years, Richard Beard (pictured below right) will be handing over the reins as Chief Executive of JERICHO at the end of March. After a career in engineering, Richard joined the JERICHO staff team in October 2004 to lead a project training people with lived experience of substance misuse, homelessness or offending, in construction skills. In 2005, he was appointed Deputy CEO, becoming Chief Executive in 2006. Richard’s aspiration was to scale and grow the charity, to further develop the social impact and to increase the proportion of income that came from trading, rather than grants.

In Richard’s first year, JERICHO’s trading income was less than 10% of its £420,000 annual income. As Richard steps away from JERICHO, group income is above £4 million, with 80% of that being trading income! Under Richard’s stewardship, JERICHO employment outcomes currently range from 84% to 100% annually for people progressing into employment, education or other positive outcomes, and has generated £2 million of added social value in 2023/24.

Richard’s contribution to the West Midlands regional social economy is not to be underestimated. In the November Social Economy Awards 2025, supported by West Midlands Combined Authority, as he was shortlisted for Overall Contribution to the Social Economy (Individual) category.

Richard says, ‘What am I proud of, aside from all those people who have been involved with JERICHO over the last 20 years, is that JERICHO is now known as leaders in the fields of supported employment and (opposition to) modern slavery.’

From 1 April, the new JERICHO Chief Executive will be Katie Webb (pictured above left). Katie writes, ‘The work to create a fairer society doesn’t stop. There is still so much to do to help level the playing field and providing supported work placements for people who need them most must continue so we can help change lives and improve life chances. My aspiration for my term leading JERICHO is to build on Richard’s amazing legacy, continue innovating and to keep trying to build a fairer society.’