ScottishPower has been recognised in the 2015 Responsible Business Awards, run by Business in the Community for the continual positive impact of its PowerSkills Programme which supports young adults from deprived backgrounds through accredited training, life skills and real job prospects.
The Responsible Business Awards is the most prestigious and respected awards championing responsible business in the UK and abroad. It celebrates inspirational companies that are taking action to address social and environmental issues and transform their communities.
Today’s announcement coincides with Responsible Business Week (20-26 April 2015) an annual initiative to increase awareness of the positive contribution of business in society. The Responsible Business Awards celebrate the variety of ways that businesses are making a difference – from investing in the wellbeing of employees, to helping young people develop skills, or supporting small businesses to grow. 145 companies have been shortlisted in total across the UK, across the 13 award categories.
Every year as part of the Responsible Business Awards, Business in the Community ‘reaccredits’ a number of companies who are able to demonstrate the continual positive impact of a programme that has received an award accolade. ScottishPower was initially recognised in 2014 for contributing to the development of young people deemed at risk of exclusion in the Work Inclusion Award Category. Since then, the programme has continued to make an impact for both for the young people and the business, with students progressing on to ScottishPower’s Engineering Foundation and Apprenticeship level programmes.
Ann Loughrey, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at ScottishPower, said: “We are delighted that the PowerSkills Programme has again been recognised for providing opportunities for young people to foster a career in energy. The enthusiasm, motivation and commitment of the young people is real testament to the opportunities that this type of grass roots programme can offer. Since the project began in 2011, twelve students have progressed to our Engineering Foundation and Apprenticeship programmes.”
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community, said “The Responsible Business Awards celebrate the very best of business and raise awareness of business as a powerful force for good. We congratulate ScottishPower for playing its part in creating a fairer society and more sustainable future and demonstrating that business has a greater purpose then simply generating profit.”
For further information about the 2015 Responsible Business Awards visit www.bitc.org.uk/awards.
Notes to Editors
PowerSkills is a unique award winning programme developed through an alliance between ScottishPower, Glasgow Clyde College and the Scottish Government.
It provides a “life changing” opportunity for young adults (16-19), who have been identified as being on the fringes of social exclusion, by supporting them through a 6 month NC Engineering qualification.
The programme is complimented with life-skills training and worksite visits to prepare the students for the opportunity to further their job prospects and move on to the Engineering Foundation programme as part of ScottishPower’s Apprenticeship & Recruitment Talent Pipeline.
For more information about ScottishPower’s PowerSkills programme please contact: ScottishPower Press Office - 0141 614 4660
For more information about Business in the Community or the Responsible Business Awards contact: Ochuko Adekoya - 020 7566 8758
About the Responsible Business Awards
Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards celebrate the powerful and positive role of business in society. The Awards are the most prestigious and respected corporate responsibility awards, set up to identify and celebrates businesses of all sizes in the UK and abroad, whose programmes are tackling key social and environmental issues to create a fairer society and more sustainable future for all.