James is currently the CEO of the charity Steps to Work (STW) which has helped over 34500 people into work by delivering private & public sector contracts. Over the last 15 years he has worked in the private, public and the charity sectors, across a broad range of industries, from telecommunications to social housing and welfare to work. James also Co-Chairs the ERSA / NHF Housing and Employment forum which is made up of strategic partners & senior managers from the Social Housing, Employment support & third sectors, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals.

Prior to these posts, James has worked on developing sector leading housing and employability services for Bromford Housing Group and has gained significant experience working on several other Employment related support contracts including Employment Zone, Action Team for Jobs New Deal for Disabled People, the Longbridge Rescue, and East Side regeneration programme and chairing the Birmingham Social Housing Partnership Financial Inclusion Forum.