Sir Jack Petchey was born into a working class family in Essex in 1925. After leaving the navy, he initially became a taxi driver before moving into the car hire and sales business creating an empire valued at £500m. He set up the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999, which has invested £143m in programmes to benefit young people aged 11-25 in London and Essex. He was awarded a knighthood in 2016 for his philanthropic work.
What was your ambition for the foundation and do you think the needs now are as great as in 1999?
The ambition was the same then as now – to enable young people to believe “If I think I can, I can”. It is a positive attitude and self confidence that enables young people to achieve. Only positive and encouraging leadership can enable young people to develop that sense of self belief that will set them on the right path. I truly believe that a “pat on the back” is far more effective than a “kick up the backside”.
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