In this episode of the Yorkshire Business Podcast, hosted by Chloe Wallace, and proudly sponsored by OneSource HR, I sit down with James Woods, CEO of Citizens Advice Doncaster, to explore how his 15-year journey through the organisation has shaped his people-first leadership style.

Under James’ tenure as CEO, Citizens Advice Doncaster has transformed its reach from supporting just 3,000–4,000 people per year to an incredible 10,000 last year, bringing £9 million of income into Doncaster’s economy.

But it’s not without challenges. James busts one of the biggest misconceptions — Citizens Advice is not government funded. Instead, as an independent charity, they rely on innovation, collaboration, and partnerships with organisations like the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Centurion to sustain and grow their impact.

We discuss everything from:

• Fighting against “digital by design” and instead championing “digital by choice” to prevent digital exclusion and poverty in South Yorkshire.

• How Citizens Advice Doncaster links directly to employability and employee wellness across the region.

• What it really takes to lead a values-driven organisation in challenging times.

  
  

👉 Listen now to hear James’ inspiring leadership journey and gain insight into how Citizens Advice is changing lives in Doncaster and beyond.

👉 To connect directly with James, you can reach him via email at ceo@citizensadvice-doncasterborough.org