Our respected colleague, friend and Employability and Health Chief Operating Officer, Paul Hughes, sadly passed away last week.
We have opened an online book so our Seetec colleagues, and those within our partner organisations who he worked with across his 30 years in employability, can pay their respects and reflect on the sudden and premature loss of Paul.
Paul joined Seetec in May 2019 and, in his time with us, played an instrumental leadership role in driving Seetec Pluss to become what it is today, a respected market leader in the employability sector.
Paul’s first action was to play a key role in the successful integration of Pluss into Seetec Group. His ongoing invaluable contributions include helping secure and deliver the JETS expansion of Work and Health Programme (2020) and the addition of a Restart Prime and four Subcontracts (2021), that has seen Seetec Pluss grow from just 24 colleagues back in 2019 to where it is today – with over 1,100 colleagues across the UK.
Paul’s career started in 1991 with a 10-year period at Jobcentre Plus. Over the next two decades Paul went on to have careers with Working Links (2001-08), Powys County Council (2008-14), and Serco (2014-19) before joining Seetec.
Paul enjoyed a fantastic career and in his own words he talked fondly of how he developed from the humble beginnings of “having to take vacancy details from employers, print them out on little cards to stick up in Jobcentres”, through to being Chief Operating Officer for our Employability and Heath pillar.
Paul’s unbounded passion was for helping people, colleagues and participants alike; constantly striving to ensure his colleagues were suitably equipped to effect positive outcomes for participants and he applied his tireless work ethic to that pursuit of making a difference every day.
During Paul’s time at Seetec the numbers of participants supported is well into the tens of thousands. Extrapolate that out into the successful career Paul has had and we will be talking about hundreds of thousands of individuals, families and communities positively impacted by him and the teams he has supported across the UK. It’s a big legacy left by a big personality.
The loss of Paul will be felt by many; his outgoing but caring personality, sharp sense of humour and boundless talents will be sorely missed. Our business and sector as a whole will miss his passion and dedication.
Our thoughts and wishes are with his wife Sarah, his family and close friends.
Share your memories
If you would like to pay tribute to Paul and share your memories, we warmly encourage you to visit our online book and leave a message. Please click here.
Paul’s Just Giving page
Paul’s wife, Sarah, has kindly asked that no flowers are sent, and has set up a Just Giving page for the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust in Paul’s memory.
To donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paulhughesllanidloes
Funeral arrangements
Paul’s funeral will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday 12 April 2022.
It will be held at Emstrey Crematorium, Shrewsbury. Drinks wil be held afterwards at Shrewsbury Town Football Club.
All are welcome.
