Members

Patrick Hughes
Director for London
Jobcentre Plus

I joined the Department of Employment in 1978 to work in an Unemployment Benefit Office in Manchester. I moved to London in 1980 to manage Bexleyheath Jobcentre and then on to manage Catford and Lewisham Jobcentres from 1981.

After a spell as South London District Manager, I moved to the London and South East Regional Office of the new Employment Service as Performance and Resources Manager in 1987.

These experiences gave me a commitment to delivery through performance and partnerships, which continues with me as my career develops.

Having worked in Department of Employment Head Office from 1990 – 95 on performance management and HR, I returned to the field as Assistant Regional Director for North and East London in the Employment Service.

In 1998 I moved to Head Office working on performance management, and reviewing our corporate structures in the new business.

I was appointed Regional Director for East of England in June 2004, seeing in some big changes including our new organisation; the grouping of benefit processing into 6 new Benefit Delivery Centres; and the completion of Jobcentre Plus rollout in the Region. As chair of the Regional Skills Partnership, I worked extensively with a wide range of regional partners.

I am proud to have been associated with our performance successes in Jobcentre Plus over the years, and I am committed to continue to support the work of colleagues and partners who actually deliver the results we want to achieve.

I try hard to keep a sensible and healthy work-life balance – and when I don’t my three sons soon remind me. I enjoy travelling with my family, cooking for them and quiet reflection listening to blues and jazz.

I keep a sense of perspective by supporting West Ham, to ensure I understand the ups and downs of life.

I am delighted to be Jobcenterplus Director for London at such an exciting time for London as a world city.