Newport Businesses Unite to Tackle Youth Homelessness 2026

Key Points

• Premier Forest Products’ founder and CEO, Terry Edgell, launched a NEON Employer Breakfast Briefing at a Homewards event in Newport that saw 55 local businesses participate.
• This particular meeting took place at Coldra Court Hotel in collaboration with Chambers Wales South East, South West, and Mid.
• In NEON Newport, the aim is to assist 16 to 24-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in gaining sustainable employment.
• The event discussed the obstacles faced by such young adults in acquiring jobs and retaining them, as well as what can be done on the part of employers to assist in this process.
• The speakers presented their stories and highlighted the importance of employment as an income generator, as well as offering routine and independence to these individuals.
• Mr. Edgell heads NEON Newport, which brings together employers, local businesses, and partners from the public sector.
• NEON Newport is associated with Homewards, which operates in six places in the UK, including Newport, in order to develop locally-based solutions to homelessness.
• NEON Newport was initiated in October 2026.

Newport (Wales Times) November 09, 2026 — More than 50 uk/local/newport/">Newport employers have been brought together in a bid to help young people facing, or at risk of, homelessness move into sustainable work.

As reported by Wales247, Premier Forest Products chief executive and co-founder Terry Edgell welcomed 55 businesses to the Homewards’ New Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) Employer Breakfast Briefing at the Coldra Court Hotel in Newport. The event was delivered in partnership with Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid.

What did the Newport briefing aim to address?

The briefing focused on the practical barriers that vulnerable young people can encounter when trying to enter and remain in employment. Organisers said the discussion also considered how employers and the wider business community can help remove those barriers.

According to Wales247, attendees heard from speakers who shared personal experiences and described the effect work can have on young people’s lives. The reported benefits included income, routine, a sense of belonging and the opportunity to build a more stable and independent future.

The event forms part of NEON Newport, an employer-led network that brings together major employers, local businesses, public services and community organisations. Its stated purpose is to create sustainable employment pathways for young people aged 16–24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Who led the Newport employer event?

Terry Edgell, chief executive and co-founder of Premier Forest Products, chaired the briefing in his role as chair of NEON Newport. He was appointed to the position in October 2026, according to an announcement published by Premier Forest Products.

As reported by Builders Merchants Journal, Edgell said he believed successful businesses have a responsibility to support the communities around them.

“I’ve always believed that building a successful business brings a responsibility to support the communities around us,” Edgell said, as quoted by Wales247.

He added: “We recognise that offering someone a job is only the beginning. Providing the right support, guidance and encouragement can make all the difference in helping them overcome challenges, thrive at work and realise their potential.”

Edgell also set out his ambition for the network: “My ambition for NEON Newport is simple: to bring businesses together to give more vulnerable young people a fair chance. By working together, we can help them build the confidence, independence and stability that meaningful, lasting employment can provide.”

How does NEON Newport support young people?

NEON Newport is designed to connect young people with employment opportunities, practical support and employers prepared to invest in their potential. The network also aims to help businesses access talent they may otherwise miss, while supporting staff retention and strengthening local community links.

According to Homewards, the programme brings together employers, employability organisations, public services and community partners. It seeks to create routes into work and coordinate support for both young people and employers before and after recruitment.

Premier Forest Products said that, through NEON, young people can access jobs, apprenticeships, training and tailored support. The company said the initiative is intended to help individuals overcome barriers to employment and build more secure, independent futures.

The network is also intended to provide ongoing support to employers and young people, helping participants not only secure work but sustain employment and progress in their careers.

What role does Chambers Wales play?

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid partnered with Homewards and NEON Newport to deliver the employer breakfast briefing. The organisation said it helped welcome 55 businesses to the event, which was chaired by Edgell.

The Celtic Collection also publicised its involvement in welcoming businesses to the briefing. Premier Forest Products said the event took place on Wednesday, October 21, although the report published by Wales247 on November 9 did not state the date of the briefing.

Why is Newport part of Homewards?

Newport is one of six flagship locations across the United Kingdom selected by Homewards, a programme established by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. The programme provides participating locations with space, tools and expertise to develop and demonstrate approaches intended to prevent homelessness.

The other locations are Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield and the neighbouring Dorset towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.

Homewards describes its objective as making homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated”. Its work includes supporting people earlier, including in schools, workplaces and communities, before a housing crisis becomes entrenched.

What has NEON Newport already achieved?

NEON Newport was launched on October 8, 2026, when Homewards brought organisations from across the city together for an employability workshop. The session examined existing support in Newport, identified opportunities for closer collaboration and highlighted areas where further action could have the greatest impact.

At the launch, Edgell said it was a “huge honour” to be invited to chair Homewards’ NEON programme in Newport. He said businesses have a responsibility to give back to their local communities and that helping vulnerable young people into employment was a meaningful contribution.

Following his appointment, Edgell established the NEON Newport Board and began recruiting local employers willing to open their hiring processes to young people facing barriers to employment.

What did other coverage report?

Builders Merchants Journal reported that the briefing explored how employers and the wider business community can play a role in helping young people overcome challenges in entering and sustaining employment.

Facilities Management Now also reported that Edgell welcomed 55 businesses to the NEON Employer Breakfast Briefing and that the event was held in partnership with Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid.

Timber Media reported that Edgell’s appointment as NEON Newport chair formed part of a Homewards initiative bringing businesses together to tackle homelessness through employment opportunities.

Professional Wealth & Lifestyle Magazine described NEON as an employer-led network that provides wraparound support for employers and young people, with the aim of helping people access work and build long-term careers.

Background of the development

Homewards is a homelessness-prevention programme established by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. It works with six UK locations, including Newport, to develop locally tailored responses to homelessness.

NEON, or the New Employment Opportunities Network, is one element of that approach. It brings employers, employability organisations, public services and community partners together to create employment routes and coordinate support for young people and employers.

In Newport, the network is chaired by Terry Edgell, chief executive and co-founder of Premier Forest Products. Its focus is on people aged 16–24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with support including jobs, apprenticeships, training and tailored assistance.

The October briefing followed NEON Newport’s launch earlier that month. It brought together 55 businesses to discuss employment barriers and the practical role employers can play in helping young people secure and maintain work.

Prediction: What could this mean for Newport employers and young people?

For young people in Newport who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the development could increase access to employers willing to consider candidates who face barriers to work. If NEON Newport continues to connect businesses with employability organisations and public services, participants may receive support alongside job opportunities, including training, apprenticeships and help after recruitment.

For Newport employers, the initiative may create a route to local talent while providing structured support to help new employees remain in work. Homewards says the programme is intended to benefit businesses through recruitment, retention and stronger community connections.

For the wider Newport business community, the briefing may encourage more employers to join the network and adopt recruitment practices that account for the challenges faced by vulnerable young people. The outcome will depend on whether participating firms convert the discussions into sustained job opportunities, apprenticeships and long-term workplace support.