Jimmy's Jobs of the Future

AI, Sovereign Compute, and the Future of Family Business in the UK | Steve Rigby on Jobs of the Future

In 2026, Steve Rigby joins Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future to discuss why AI adoption in large companies will be slower than hype suggests because it requires difficult process transformation plus governance and security, while SMEs can move faster with low barriers to entry. He argues the UK is behind on preparing society and government for disruption, citing data that 39% of MPs have never used AI and calling for a multi-department “war footing,” including urgent AI data-center expansion and sovereign compute backed by government offtake. Rigby explains his role as chair of Family Business UK, the impact of new 20% tax charges on intergenerational transfers, and why the UK incentivizes selling businesses over long-term ownership. He outlines the Rigby Group’s scale, family succession planning, his philanthropy and education programs, and his efforts to influence policy via media, LinkedIn, and a new podcast.

00:00 AI Shift Like the 90s
00:43 Why Big Firms Move Slow
01:46 Reskilling and Job Risk
04:14 MPs Not Using AI
06:50 Data Centers and Compute
08:49 AI Sovereignty Plan
10:31 Chairing Family Business UK
11:22 Tax Changes Hit Succession
12:51 Rigby Group Overview
15:14 London Family Office Hub
16:40 Non Doms and Tax Carrots
19:39 UK Incentives and Mittelstand
22:40 First Jobs and Joining Family Firm
25:28 Building Tech Retail in the 90s
27:42 Family Business Life and Succession
29:40 Preparing the Next Generation
32:21 Kids Careers Outside the Firm
33:29 What Intelligence Really Means
34:08 Learning Styles Matter
34:42 Tech Powered Classrooms
36:24 Cradle to Career Impact
38:23 Inspiring Futures Model
40:12 Plural Career Time Split
41:44 Influencing Policy and Media
44:40 Family Business UK Growth
46:39 Podcast for Hard Issues
48:59 Sleep Data and Health Tech
52:22 Competitive Sports Journey
57:12 Giving Values and Dividends
57:58 Future of Family Firms
01:00:40 Mittelstand and UK Incentives
01:02:28 Podcast Pick and Wrap
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Youth Unemployment, Work Shadowing, and the Future of Work | Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future

Thanks to LinkedIn for partnering on this episode. Learn more about how the UK labour market is changing in the age of AI in LinkedIn’s latest report: ⁠https://lnkd.in/labour-market-report⁠

In a special early interview at 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Andy Burnham joins Jimmy to discuss why too many young people are struggling to get their first break, and what government, employers and senior leaders can do about it.

Reflecting on his own journey from an unpaid local newspaper reporter to Prime Minister, Andy explains why family connections often matter more than qualifications, why work shadowing can transform a young person's confidence, and why every leader should help open the door for someone without an established network.

They also discuss the future of education, apprenticeships, AI, recruitment, social capital and why Britain needs to value technical careers as much as university degrees. Andy shares what he looks for when hiring, why creativity and communication remain essential skills in the age of AI, and the leadership lessons that have shaped his career.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:29 Sponsor

01:49 PM Priorities on Youth Jobs

02:50 Early Career and Drift

05:35 Social Capital and Access

06:53 Hiring and Leadership Skills

08:51 Ambition Beyond London

09:42 English Degree and Creativity

12:24 Kids View of Job Market

13:49 Placements and Employer Role

17:26 AI and Future of Work

18:30 LinkedIn Data Break

19:51 Apprenticeships and Reform

21:28 Nostalgia Game and Advice

26:24 Closing Note and LinkedIn

Credits:

Jimmy McLoughlin OBE

Thuy Dong

Aggie Mellor

Annabel Wilcken

Ethan Pearman

Josh Eames

Laura Dunn

Special thanks to:

Sunny Winter

Nguyen Anh Duc
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This week, a special crossover episode: Jimmy's Jobs of the Future meets What We Don't Know.

Check out What We Don't Know here

Hayaatun Sillem, host of What We Don't Know, spent eight years as CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering - the first woman, and the first person in over two decades, to hold the role. Before that: 8 years of biochemistry, a walkout from the lab that ended her PhD overnight, and a stint advising Parliament on everything from forensic science to carbon capture.

She also co-chaired Lewis Hamilton's commission on the representation of Black people in UK motorsport, and is now a founding trustee of his charity, Mission 44.

In this conversation, Jimmy and Hayaatun cover the moment people mistook her for anyone but the CEO, the leadership skill she thinks is most underrated, the decision to leave a job she loved while she was still doing her best work, and why she thinks "more jazz than classical" is the only way to lead through uncertainty now.

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Follow us on socials!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture
Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/

Want to come on the show?
hello@jobsofthefuture.co

Sponsor the show or Partner with us:
hello@jobsofthefuture.co

Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips

Credits:
Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE
Producer: Sunny Winter

Producer: Thuy Dong
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Johnny Reynolds on Jobs of the Future: Skills, Scale-Ups, Net Zero and AI

This is a replayed 2023 interview with Johnny Reynolds, now returning to run the Department for Business amid major UK government reshuffles under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, including moving AI to the Cabinet Office.

Jimmy and Johnny discuss visiting businesses such as Football Manager’s studio and Nissan’s Sunderland plant, arguing the state should help people manage economic change, especially through net zero, automotive transition and opportunities like green steel.

00:00 UK Government Shakeup
00:32 Why Replay This Interview
01:54 Football Manager Visit
04:19 Factory Tours and Learning
05:47 North East and Change
08:38 Future Sectors and Trade
13:27 Workplace Flex and Hybrid
15:41 Manchester Boom Story
18:00 City and Listing Concerns
20:57 Scaling Up UK Startups
24:52 How Reynolds Works
28:29 What Business Wants Most
30:12 Policy Levers for Growth
30:39 Skills Shortages and Immigration
32:25 Reforming the Apprenticeship Levy
34:06 Devolution and Local Skills Planning
35:12 From Law to Parliament
38:42 How the MP Job Changed
42:24 Working-Class Roots and Values
45:36 AI Disruption and Regulation
49:18 Entrepreneurship and Risk
51:25 Dream Jobs and Capital Allocation
53:15 Books Podcasts and Wrap-Up
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Heathrow isn't just an airport - it's one of the UK's largest workplaces.

Every day, more than 200,000 passengers pass through Heathrow, supported by around 100,000 people working across hundreds of different roles. From firefighters and engineers to security teams, baggage handlers and AI specialists, it's a city-sized operation that has to work flawlessly, every single day.

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, to explore what it really takes to run one of Britain's most complex organisations.

They discuss:

Why Heathrow employs around 100,000 people

The leadership challenges of running a 24/7 operation

How AI is changing the future of airports

Why security queues have fallen to under five minutes

The case for Heathrow's third runway

How Heathrow balances growth, sustainability and passenger experience

What makes a great leader in high-pressure environments

Whether you're interested in leadership, infrastructure, business, operations or the future of work, this conversation offers a rare look behind the scenes of one of the world's busiest airports.

Chapters:

00:00 The UK's Biggest Workplace
01:28 Why Heathrow Is Britain's Biggest Workplace
05:12 What Does the Heathrow CEO Actually Do?
09:45 Leading 100,000 People
15:34 Behind the Scenes of Running an Airport
20:48 Security, AI & The Future of Travel
27:41 Why Heathrow Wants a Third Runway
34:26 Can Heathrow Keep Growing
40:55 Sustainability vs Growth
47:18 Crisis Leadership & Decision Making
53:07 Careers at Heathrow
58:14 Leadership Lessons from Running Heathrow
01:03:10 Quick Fire Questions

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Follow us on socials!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture
Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/

Want to come on the show?
hello@jobsofthefuture.co

Sponsor the show or Partner with us:
hello@jobsofthefuture.co

Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips

Credits:
Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE
Producer: Sunny Winter

Producer: Thuy Dong

This is a partnership with Heathrow Airport.
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