Plymouth jobs champion Emma Hewitt awarded MBE

By hiyastar.co.uk news desk

Published: 13 June 2026

Plymouth skills leader Emma Hewitt has been named in the King’s Birthday Honours, receiving an MBE for work that has helped connect residents with training, careers and jobs across the city.

Hewitt, Plymouth City Council’s Skills Lead, was recognised for her contribution to the city’s skills system and for building partnerships between employers, education providers, community groups and public services.

Why Emma Hewitt was honoured

Hewitt joined the council in 2015 after working in higher education. She led the creation of Building Plymouth, a sector skills partnership with the local construction and built environment industry, which marked its tenth year in 2025.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped shape Skills Launchpad Plymouth. The service began as an emergency virtual offer and later developed into a city-wide partnership involving more than 85 organisations.

That network supports residents moving into employment and helps employers recruit, retain and upskill staff. It sits alongside other sector partnerships, including Caring Plymouth for health and social care and Welcoming Plymouth for the visitor economy.

Skills work tied to local jobs

The council said Hewitt’s work has helped thousands of Plymouth residents access education, training, careers support and jobs. Her approach has focused on joining up services that can often feel separate to people looking for work or trying to retrain.

For residents following local employment support, Plymouth’s wider skills network also connects with schemes such as help for young jobseekers in Plymouth and recruitment activity linked to major projects, including construction and engineering jobs at Devonport Dockyard.

Hewitt has also led voluntary and community initiatives, including Mission Mammoth, support for Shekinah’s community facilities and work to coordinate help for Keyham gardens after the discovery of a Second World War bomb.

Council leaders praise partnership approach

Council leader Tudor Evans described the MBE as a proud moment for Plymouth, saying Hewitt’s work had supported people into jobs and strengthened the local economy.

Chief executive Tracey Lee said the honour reflected more than a decade of work bringing organisations together and creating a joined-up skills system for the city.

Hewitt said she was “thrilled and deeply humbled” by the award, adding that the recognition belonged to the team and partners working across Plymouth’s skills and employment landscape.

Source: Plymouth City Council