Sir Alec Reed, the visionary entrepreneur who founded the global recruitment giant Reed, has died at the age of 92. His family confirmed his passing, marking the end of an era for one of Britain's most influential and pioneering business figures.
From a Single Office to a Global Empire
Born in 1933, Alec Reed left school at 16 with just three O-levels. His journey into business began not in recruitment, but with a failed attempt at chicken farming. The pivotal moment came in 1960 when he invested £75 to establish a one-man employment agency in a small office on London's Hounslow High Street.
His innovative approach was to charge job seekers a fee, a model he later abandoned. This single office was the seed from which Reed Employment grew. The company pioneered the concept of temporary staffing in the UK, a revolutionary idea at the time. By the 1980s, Reed had become a household name, synonymous with finding work, with its distinctive blue and yellow branding adorning high streets across the nation.
A Philanthropist and Educational Champion
Sir Alec's impact extended far beyond the boardroom. He was a committed philanthropist, driven by a belief in giving back. In 1985, he established the Reed Charity, which later evolved into the Reed Foundation. His most significant philanthropic legacy is the Reed's School in Cobham, Surrey, an independent boarding school for which he provided substantial financial support.
His passion for education also led him to found the Alec Reed Academy in West London in 2008, one of the UK's first state-funded academies. He believed firmly in providing opportunities, stating his motivation was to "help people to help themselves." His charitable giving was estimated to total over £50 million during his lifetime.
Personal Life and Lasting Legacy
Alec Reed was knighted in 2011 for his services to business and charity. He was predeceased by his first wife, Elisabeth, and is survived by his second wife, Nicola, his six children, and numerous grandchildren. Despite building a vast commercial empire, he remained a private individual, known for his thoughtful and modest demeanour.
The business he founded, now known as Reed Global, continues under the leadership of his son, James Reed. It stands as a testament to his vision, having placed millions of people into work over six decades. Sir Alec Reed's story is a classic British tale of entrepreneurial spirit, from modest beginnings to creating an institution that reshaped the UK's labour market and supported countless lives through education and charity.
