ScottishPower welcomed Minister for Youth Employment and Training Jamie Hepburn to its central Scotland training centre as the Scottish Government celebrates 500 firms now backing the Young Person Guarantee scheme.

The programme aims to ensure all 16-24 year olds in Scotland get the chance to succeed through an apprenticeship, job, training, further education or volunteering.

ScottishPower has a range of successful apprenticeship schemes, scholarships, internships, summer placements and other opportunities to support people either entering the workplace for the first time, from school leavers to graduates, or those returning after career breaks.

Under Young Person’s Guarantee, it is furthering opportunities for young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds around the UK. This includes grassroots pre-employment schemes in local communities for young people in and around Glasgow.

The company offers around 200 quality pre-employment opportunities each year and is also currently recruiting for 280 trainee opportunities for apprentices and graduates.

Minister for Youth Employment and Training Jamie Hepburn said: “The Young Person’s Guarantee has provided a Covid lifeline for many aged between 16 and 24 offering the opportunity to study; take up an apprenticeship, job or work experience; or participate in formal volunteering.

“Companies across the country, big and small, are helping build the workforce of the future and by signing up are giving Scotland’s young people hope for the future as the country recovers from the damaging pandemic.
“It also helps connect employers and young people, which is a big benefit to companies wishing to access a future workforce and help tackle recruitment challenges.”

Melanie Hill, ScottishPower’s Director of Social Projects and Sector Education, said: “We are investing £10bn in the UK over the next 5 years to support a green recovery from Covid and speed up the transition to net zero. That brings lots of opportunities for young people to join us and make a difference on their career journey.

“Young people are quite simply the future of our business and we already know how successful our apprenticeship and employability schemes can be in terms of attracting, training and retaining talent.

“The pandemic has made it harder for young people to access opportunities to help energise their careers and we’re determined to make sure starting a career in our industry shouldn’t seem out of their reach. I’m delighted we’re supporting the Guarantee and we’re fully committed to ensuring there are a wide range of exciting opportunities available as we strive to deliver a better future, quicker.”

ScottishPower is one of the largest employers in Scotland and currently has around 5,500 staff at sites across the UK, including 1650 at its Glasgow-based HQ. It is the UK’s only integrated energy company and generates 100% green electricity.

The Young Person’s Guarantee has been backed by more than 500 firms by offering all young Scots a job, apprenticeship or college place.  

A wide variety of industries and business size, with 73% SMEs, have pledged opportunities for approximately 9,000 young people.