SCOTTISHPOWER has secured the Employee Volunteering Award at the Business in the Community Wales Awards 2011.

The energy supplier won the award for its volunteering activities in Wales and has been recognised as a company which plays a large part in supporting communities in the area through its employee volunteering programme.

ScottishPower is focused upon developing sustained relationships with key organisations and understanding their needs and the areas in which they require assistance.  The company offers its help by sharing skills and resources of staff which in turn facilitates employee development and engagement.  Employees have supported projects including enterprise challenges, employability workshops, and community projects and worked as business mentors, trustees and board members within the local community.

The energy provider has also been reaccredited with a Big Tick in the Education category for its public safety campaign, PowerWise, which takes place throughout communities in North Wales1.  ScottishPower’s reaccreditation for this programme highlights three educational initiatives which teach children how to stay safe around electricity - classroom education programmes, safety events facilitated by the emergency services and support for two safety education centres.

Furthermore, the company’s Young Apprenticeship programme2 has also been shortlisted in the National Example of Excellence in the Work Inspiration category – with the winner set to be announced on 5th July 2011.

Ann Loughrey, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at ScottishPower, commented:  “We are delighted to have secured the Employee Volunteering Award and to be recognised as leading the way in this field. 

“ScottishPower has remained committed to CSR and we aim to create real and long lasting benefits for all our stakeholders and society.  Our volunteering programme not only develops ScottishPower staff but is also of great benefit to the communities where we are based.  We will continue to work with schools and community groups in the area and develop our initiatives.

“It is also great news to receive a Big Tick reaccreditation for our PowerWise public safety campaign in which we educate people about electrical safety. 

“ScottishPower prides itself on placing health and safety as a core value within the company. We recognise that it is not restricted to the workplace, but is equally important in local communities. “
 
Simon Harris, Wales Director for Business in the Community said: “I congratulate ScottishPower on winning the Employee Volunteering Award and praise the company for its Big Tick reaccreditation in the Education category.

“This is a challenging time for all businesses, but this is a sign that companies are not losing their focus and are still transforming their businesses to make a positive impact on society and are prepared to lead by example.”

The best of the National Big Tick winners will go forward to judging panels to identify an overall Example of Excellence award in each category. The overall winners will be announced in London at the Awards for Excellence Gala Event on 5 July.

Media information:  Simon McMillan 0141 566 4875/ 07753 622 257

Notes to editors

ScottishPower

1. PowerWise programme -  ScottishPower prides itself on placing health and safety as a core value within each business. We recognise that it is not restricted to the workplace, but encapsulates all areas where operations impact the wider society.

The Electricity (Safety, Quality and Continuity) Regulations 2002 require Distribution Network Operators to take proactive measures to advise the public of dangers. ScottishPower goes beyond this with its public safety education campaign, ‘PowerWise’.

Focussing on three educational initiatives ScottishPower aims to educate all children in its operating area on staying safe around electricity and thereby reduce future incidents.

PowerWise Classroom Education Programme
Professional teachers present interactive lessons in all primary schools across our operating area. Tailored for Key Stage 1 and 2 and curriculum linked, they deliver potent messages about electrical safety in the home and outdoors. The school receives a PowerWise Resource Pack from which teachers can deliver future lessons. ScottishPower proactively contacts schools and the programme is FREE OF CHARGE. Since its inception in 2003 over 338,000 children have experienced PowerWise lessons.

Crucial Crew Safety Events
Facilitated by emergency services, experiential safety events afford children the opportunity to take part in a range of scenarios designed to increase safety awareness. In 2010 ScottishPower personnel took part in 8 events, educating over 13,000 children.

Safety Education Centres
ScottishPower supports two centres designed to raise awareness of safety hazards. Support is provided through provision of equipment; electricity awareness training and advice; attendance of Steering Group Meetings; and, annual financial contribution. The centres allow us to extend vital safety messages to over 13,000 children each year.

As well as satisfying legislative requirements, there are other benefits; skills development; community interaction; and, voluntary work contribution. Schools receive a FREE safety lesson and resources.

Ultimately it is hoped that children share safety messages at home, remember them into adulthood and fatalities and injuries involving electricity reduce.

2.  The ScottishPower Young Apprenticeship (YA) engineering work experience programme is a unique vocational programme delivered on Merseyside and Glasgow in partnership with local schools/colleges and Glasgow City Council.

It encourages 24 14-16 year old students to complement their school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) studies by spending 50 days work experience in a safe, controlled work environment. Students attending the programme will have a clear interest in science & engineering and anticipate achieving high GCSE/Standard grades in their related qualifications.

ScottishPower is strategically supporting this formal 14-16 employer led work experience programme to encourage progression into advanced apprenticeships, whilst it increases talent pools and develops new recruitment streams.

The programme provides development opportunities in the following ways:

• Students convert classroom theory into practice demonstrating the relevance of engineering principles within the workplace;
• Students gain industry awareness;
• Students achieve the Diploma in Engineering & Certificate of Employability (England), Intermediate Certificate Engineering Skills (Scotland)
• Students provided with opportunities to explore future employment opportunities and career progression routes within our sector.
• What does the work experience programme cover for students?
• Work experience in utility related occupations in areas such as fitting, overhead lines, jointing, metering, operational safety and engineering;
• Health & Safety (H&S) awareness by completing HSE 4-day first aid course
• Work related experience in electrical installation achieving skills and knowledge in alarm installation and different types of lighting circuits;
• Multi Skilling Training covering the dangers of electricity, legislation and regulations;
• Site visits to 2 Power Stations Electric Mountain & Whitelee Wind Farm;
• Work related experience in a ScottishPower control centre, which monitors the electricity network;
• Customer Service skills required by our workforce.

Key Business Benefit (1): Increases sector attractiveness and the flow of potential young talent into the workforce and supports the business recruitment requirements.
Key Business Benefit (2): Provides the potential to increase and maximise development opportunities for existing employees.
Key Society Benefit (1): Raising the aspiration of young people through practical work experience and gaining of qualifications.
Key Society Benefit (2): Supports the economic sustainability of our local communities.

Awards for Excellence
Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence identify and celebrate companies having a positive impact on the community, environment, marketplace and workplace.

The Big Tick winners demonstrate significant impact and high quality management of their responsible business practices and can show a positive impact both on society and on the business. Now in their 14th year, they are the UK’s leading awards for responsible business practice. BITC received over 370 entries for the national Awards for Excellence.