Sajid Butt

Head of Policy, Intelligence and Communications

Sajid has spent much of his career in the realm of strategy, policy development and project delivery – at national, regional, and local level – on a range of themes from smart cities, innovation, and business growth to skills, lifelong learning, and community cohesion. His extensive network spans public, private and 3rd sector organisations, innovators, investors, academia, and think tanks.  

Sajid has also had two stints at school leadership, and he has professionally supported leaders in education and enterprise, including a national network of high growth businesses. A passionate advocate for social justice and economic equity, Sajid brings a ‘design’ mindset to every situation to generate high impact, long-term outcomes. Sajid joins EM3 from Southampton City Council where he led on the skills agenda and was instrumental in conceptualising, initiating, and piloting the city’s digital roadmap through the Future of Work programme. This covered education, skills, business growth and transformational place making.

Sajid has been drawn by EM3’s track record, dynamism and its vision for a Low Carbon, High Growth region through innovation and enterprise, which he believes is fundamental for progressive economic development policy and practice.