ScottishPower Learning provides employability training for young, disadvantaged people in our local communities.

Since its inception in 1996, the venture has helped nearly 15,000 young people. The positive, long term impact of ScottishPower Learning’s work was recognised in July 2007 with a Silver Jubilee Award from Business in the Community, as well as several Big Ticks across its range of programmes. 

Delivering programmes in three distinct areas, school based, community based and work based, during 2007 over 1,500 young people benefited from ScottishPower Learning’s programmes.

School Based Programmes – designed to help pupils prepare for the world of work by gaining a better understanding of the skills required. Our support concentrates on schools in deprived areas and links in with Government education strategy.

During 2007 926 pupils participated in a range of programmes, including School to Work, Young Managers and Looking Forward to Work.

In recognition of the success of the School to Work programme, Business in the Community awarded a Big Tick in the Merrill Lynch Raising Achievement in Young People category.

Community Based Programmes – designed to help unemployed young people build their skills in preparation for work. Community based projects include:

• We have an ongoing relationship as a Delivery Partner for The Prince’s Trust Team programme. During 2007, ScottishPower Learning celebrated the 10th anniversary of its partnership with The Prince’s Trust in Scotland and delivered its 100th Team programme in Scotland and also in our Merseyside and north Wales area.  In this decade, more than 2,500 young people participated in the programmes. In 2007, we facilitated 16 Prince’s Trust Team programmes involving 214 young people
• Continued to support Community Champions awards and recognition sponsorship, which honours community achievers in Merseyside and north Wales
• Our sponsorship of Project Scotland – an initiative that connects young Scots with full-time volunteering opportunities continued

Work Based Programmes – designed to provide young people with vocational training, high quality work placements and nationally recognised qualifications. 

During 2007, 60 young people benefited from our Skillseeker programme. The programme’s success rate has continued to improve over the last three years with more than 80% of participants moving into sustainable employment. To date over 1,300 school leavers have benefited from the programme

The Big Tick in the Investing in Education category that the Skillseekers programme received from Business in the Community in 2006, was reaccredited in 2007.

ScottishPower Learning supports the development of employees by providing unique and inspirational community based activities. These experiential opportunities have a lasting impact for all those who participate.  During 2007, 199 employees participated in Community Based Development (CBD).

Now as an integral part of ScottishPower Development, ScottishPower Learning provides a range of innovative community development interventions designed to support employee development. Examples include:-

• Team leading skills through our Prince’s Trust and Skillseeker Programmes
• Leadership skills through Business in the Community’s Partners in Leadership Programme
• Enterprising skills as a mentor with Young Enterprise
• Presentation skills through our Young Managers Programme
• Interpersonal skills as a Prince’s Trust Development Awards Assessor
• Hundreds of ScottishPower staff participate in Community Based Development Programmes each year. (199 in 2007)

Community Based Development provides opportunities for employees to engage with a cross section of the communities we serve. Raising staff awareness helps the company understand the diverse needs of its customers. 

Community Based Development is not just focussing on the development of individual employees as we are also providing opportunities for teams from across ScottishPower to engage in community activities. Working on a community project can help develop teamwork and can act as an opportunity for cross departmental working.  Employees say that working with their colleagues in a new environment is an excellent way to develop team spirit and gain an understanding of a range of social issues.