Pret a Manger CEO Pano Christou has been appointed as the first UK chair of Prince William’s Homewards’ New Employment Opportunities Network (Neon).
In the role, Christou will lead the network nationally, spearheading its efforts to unlock job opportunities, strengthen retention and provide long-term stability.
Neon is a business-led group, bringing together major employers, local businesses and public services to create routes into work for young people aged 16 to 24 who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness.
Homewards, which was founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2023, operates six locations across the UK, with Christou to oversee the Neon initiative nationally.
Through its charitable arm, the Pret Foundation, Pret a Manger’s work includes the Rising Stars Programme – a dedicated employment scheme that, in partnership with Homewards, helps people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness by offering them training, financial support for travel, and a pathway to permanent jobs in Pret stores.
Through its role as a Homewards Activator and founding partner, Pret has committed to expanding the Rising Stars programme nationally, aiming to support at least 500 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness into jobs with Pret, including in Homewards flagship locations where Pret has a presence. So far, this has helped around 350 people into employment.
“We are delighted to welcome a business leader of Pano’s calibre, whose long-standing commitment to tackling unemployment and homelessness makes him ideally placed to lead the Neon network,” said The Royal Foundation executive director of homelessness Hazel Detsiny. “This new chair role will play a vital part in supporting businesses to create and strengthen pathways into employment for people across all six Homewards locations, while helping to scale the initiative nationally.
“As we mark three years of the Homewards programme, Pano’s appointment reflects our ambition to build on the progress achieved so far and take Homewards into its next phase. Years four and five will be focused on accelerating our efforts to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.”
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