In this short video SSE’s HR Director John Stewart is joined by Tommy McDade, Barnardo’s Assistant Director for Employment, Training and Skills, and some Barnardo’s Works graduates, urging other firms to consider what part they could play in supporting more young people into employment.
SSE has won cross party political praise for its work supporting young people in Scotland struggling to access education, employment or training.
The company recently launched its Changing Lives, Growing Value report, which quantified the economic impact of investing in young people and makes the business case for other firms to do the same.
SSE has been working with Barnardo’s for almost a decade to help offer jobs and training to those under 25 who are finding it hard to gain work or training. It’s invested over £1million since 2008 but this has paid dividends.
On Friday, Gordon Macdonald MSP raised a cross party motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating SSE and Barnardo’s on the success of the partnership.
The report found for every £1 spent by SSE, £7.67 is returned on the investment, split between the young people themselves, SSE and other businesses that have gone on to employ them, as well as wider society.
John Stewart, SSE’s HR Director, has urged other firms to consider what part they could play in supporting more young people into employment.
He said: “The energy industry faces two enormous employment challenges; a skills shortage with half of the industry due to leave or retire by 2023 and a stark lack of diversity. These results make a very compelling economic and social case for a business to address these issues and intervene in one of society’s bigger challenges: tackling long-term youth unemployment.
“The success of the young people in this programme is testament to their grit and determination; they just needed a helping hand on the ladder. Different people, from different backgrounds, have different starting points and sometimes they need a different route to get them into their career.
“This report overwhelming demonstrates the value created for young people, for business and for wider society.”
To read the full report, click here.