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Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, the largest early years membership organisation in England, has been recognised for his extraordinary contribution to early years education in the New Year Honours list, receiving the title of ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ (OBE).

Neil has devoted almost two decades of service to the early years through his involvement in the Early Years Alliance. Following a successful career in finance, during which he became a leading voice on financial regulation, Neil was asked to volunteer his expertise to what was then the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±. He went on to become its director of communications and later, its CEO.

Neil’s notable achievements and contributions include fighting for fairer early years funding, raising awareness around mental health and wellbeing of the early years workforce through the Alliance’s landmark Minds Matter report, the successful Rewind on Ratios campaign (which saw the reversal of government plans to relax adult-to-child ratios in early years settings), and his ongoing work championing the early years sector in the national news media. He has also given evidence to multiple government enquiries and advised on early education policy around the world, most notably in Asia.

In 2021, leading early years trade publication Nursery World awarded Neil its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Neil has remained an unrivalled advocate for early education and care providers since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, repeatedly calling on the government to provide fair funding and the same commitment to safety and wellbeing in early years settings that has been given to schools.

He continues to fight for adequate support to see early years settings through a difficult winter, and for the government to commit much-needed resources to the early years as part of the education recovery strategy.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

"I am honoured and humbled to have been included on this year's New Year Honours list.

"Having been lucky enough to spend nearly two decades championing the early years, I can say without hesitation that I have never been prouder to be part of this exceptional sector.

"I know first-hand that the dedication, professionalism and commitment of those working in the early years is second to none – and so I am just grateful to have the opportunity to continue doing all I can to ensure that our fantastic workforce gets the recognition that they deserve for the incredible work they do every day."