MEDIA

February 2026: Steve speaks on The World at One, warning that youth unemployment is rising sharply, with nearly 18% of young people effectively outside the workforce. He argues that higher employer costs, wage changes and added regulation are collectively discouraging hiring and risk entrenching long-term youth unemployment.

February 2026: Steve writes in The Times that the UK must shift into “next gear” on training and education if it’s going to close the widening artificial intelligence skills gap so that businesses can harness AI effectively and stay competitive.

February 2026: Steve speaks to Radio 5 Live Wake Up to Money, arguing that greater political stability, a more pro-business approach and a serious focus on AI-driven reskilling are essential to restore confidence and protect jobs in the UK. (Listen from 32 mins)

December 2025: Steve writes an opinion piece in The Times outlining the fundamental business principles that create strong business leaders and enable companies to grow even amid difficult economic conditions.

November 2025: Steve dissects the Budget alongside leading commentators, including Helen Miller from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Richard Fletcher, Business Editor of The Times.

November 2025: Steve is a guest commentator on Sky News, offering his take on the newly announced Budget, specifically the so-called U-turn on the Employment Rights Bill.

November 2025: Steve discusses the Budget, arguing that despite the scale of the tax measures announced, the Budget has helped restore a sense of confidence among businesses after weeks of uncertainty.

November 2025: Steve spoke to TheBusinessDesk.com outlining how businesses in the UK now face a critical choice about how fast they want to embrace AI. What once seemed optional is increasingly urgent, and companies that hesitate risk being left behind as AI becomes the backbone of competitive infrastructure.

November 2025: In the first episode of The Policy Fix, Steve speaks with Rupert Soames OBE, Chair of the CBI, for a candid conversation on fiscal discipline, the relationship between business and government, and how the UK can rebuild confidence and momentum.

November 2025: Steve joins leading commentators to discuss the week’s biggest stories, offering a business perspective on the UK Government’s recent announcements on tax and immigration, as well as the upcoming Budget.

November 2025: Steve writes an opinion piece in The Times warning that the UK government’s planned overhaul of Business Property Relief (BPR) risks dismantling the foundations of family-owned firms, undermining succession, stalling investment and jeopardising 208,000 jobs and £14.8 billion in output.

November 2025: The Rigby Foundation, alongside regional and philanthropic partners, launches Cradle to Career, a major new place-based initiative, highlighting the Foundation’s long-term commitment to investing in systemic change and improving outcomes for children and families across the region.

November 2025: Steve writes in City AM that as corporations outspend nations, they increasingly shape political and economic agendas. He calls for bold government investment to lead the UK’s AI industry and drive future savings.

November 2025: Steve joins business leaders warning against a potential raise to the UK minimum wage in the upcoming Budget. He argues that such a rise could inadvertently reward non-skilled labour over university-educated and indebted labour.

October 2025: In his role as Chair of Family Business UK, Steve gave evidence to the Finance Bill Sub-Committee on the forthcoming changes to Business Property Relief, cautioning that the reforms could deter investment and create challenges for older business owners navigating succession planning.

October 2025: Talking at Birmingham Tech Week, Steve emphasised the opportunities AI presents smaller businesses. He described how SMEs have the agility to pivot fast, allowing them to out-pace larger businesses with AI adoption.

October 2025: Steve writes in The Times that the current AI boom shouldn’t be feared as a speculative bubble but embraced as a driver of progress, just as past frenzies around railways and the Internet laid the groundwork for lasting innovation. While many ventures will fail, he argues, their legacy will mark the beginning of the next technological era, not its collapse.

September 2025: Steve talks to the Today programme about the upcoming Budget, following his meeting with the Prime Minister, Chancellor and other ministers. He welcomed the Government acknowledging the crucial role of business in driving the economy and reassurances that business taxes won’t be targeted in the Budget, while warning that any new tax pressures could hinder growth.

September 2025: Steve writes in The Sunday Times about the deeper issues driving school absenteeism across the UK. Drawing on a CSJ report commissioned by The Rigby Foundation, he highlights practical recommendations to reduce distractions for pupils and reinforce the valuable benefits of regular attendance.

September 2025: Steve contributes to The Global Growth Report 2025, commissioned by WMCA. His case study looks at the US tariffs which could cost the West Midlands £6.2 billion. He outlines how he led a taskforce to assess risks and shape policy, which helped secure a deal reducing tariffs and protecting the region’s economy.

September 2025: The Rigby Foundation, chaired by Steve Rigby, funds the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ)’s landmark report, Absent Ambition, exposing the deep-rooted crisis of school absence across the UK—and calling for a national reset in how we support families, schools, and communities.