From recruiter to Royal recognition, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry appointed OBE

The Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Neil Carberry has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Neil Carberry was appointed Chief Executive of the REC in June 2018 having previously been Managing Director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Neil is one of the most respected figures in public debate about employment matters, with his expertise and insight regularly sought by recruiters, businesses, governments, politicians and the media.

He is the voice of the recruitment industry, which the most recent statistics show contributed £44.4 billion to the UK economy in 2023, accounting for 1.8% of the UK economy’s Gross Value Added. The sector is a key part of UK Professional Services, which is a domestic and exporting powerhouse of the UK economy.

Paying tribute to Neil Carberry, REC Chair Michelle Mellor said:

“Working closely with Neil over the last 18 months as Chair of the REC, he brings a rare and powerful combination of deep labour market insight and sharp business acumen. With a career spanning both recruitment and high-level policy leadership, Neil understands the human side of economic growth better than most.

“Neil’s work at ACAS, the CBI and now as the REC’s Chief Executive, reflects a clear vision: that a well-functioning labour market is not just a policy issue, it is the engine of a thriving, competitive economy. He consistently champions the value of good work, pragmatic regulation and employer responsiveness with the ability to connect workforce strategy to wider business outcomes. This makes him not only a leading voice in the recruitment industry, but a crucial contributor to the national conversation on economic resilience and inclusive growth.

“In a time of disruption and transformation, Neil’s voice is one of experience, clarity, and forward-looking leadership. I and the whole REC board, could not be more thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved honour, recognising not only his remarkable talent and unwavering passion for this exceptional membership organisation, but also his outstanding contribution to the broader business and economic landscape throughout a distinguished career.”

Honours such as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) are awarded to people who have made significant achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.

Commenting on the award, Neil Carberry said:

“I am deeply honoured to be nominated for the OBE and would like to thank His Majesty the King. At a time when the growth of our economy is the only way to raise living standards, this award is a recognition of the vital role that British business, and our talent firms in particular, play in changing lives for the better. Any contribution I have made to this is dwarfed by the work of my fabulous colleagues at the REC, Acas, the Low Pay Commission and the CBI over the past two decades.”

In 1999, Neil began his career in recruitment working for executive search firm Fraser Watson before doing a post-graduate degree in Human Resources at the London School of Economics and joining the CBI in 2004. He is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a Freeman of the Company of HR Professionals and a Fellow of the RSA. He spent a decade as a member of the council of the conciliation service Acas and is also a former member of the Low Pay Commission, which recommends UK minimum wages. A six-time nominee to the SIA Staffing 100 in Europe, he is also on the board of the World Employment Confederation and a multi academy trust in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Neil is an RFU rugby coach and referee and is one of the 8000 co-owners who made Heart of Midlothian the UK’s biggest fan-owned football club, and his lifelong passion. Neil was born in Edinburgh, grew up in Drylaw, Edinburgh and Cumbernauld, before moving to rural Oxfordshire. Today he lives with his family in Wallingford.

Notes to editors

For photographs of Neil Carberry, please contact Hamant Verma, REC Communications Manager, on hamant.verma@rec.uk.com / hamant.verma@rec.uk.com.

Click here to view all REC press releases and for more information and interview enquiries, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157, 020 7009 2129 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.

The REC is the voice of the recruitment industry, speaking up for great recruiters. We drive standards and empower recruitment businesses to build better futures for great candidates and themselves. We are champions of an industry which is fundamental to the strength of the UK economy.

Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.