ScottishPower has been recognised with a ‘Big Tick’ at the regional stage of the prestigious 2013 Responsible Business Awards, run by charity Business in the Community (BITC). As well as this recognition ScottishPower is one of just 59 companies shortlisted to go forward to judging, with a chance to be crowned overall winner in the UK. The final result will be announced on 2 July at BITC’s National Gala Dinner in London.
The Big Tick is the first level of accolade in the Responsible Business Awards, the UK’s longest-running and most respected corporate responsibility awards. The scheme was set up to champion and raise awareness of the best examples from across the UK of business making a positive difference and genuinely tackling key social and environmental issues with award-winning corporate responsibility programmes.
Winning companies are awarded for initiatives across the spectrum of responsible business behaviour: from improving the health and wellbeing of employees, to helping disadvantaged people into employment or building long term partnerships with schools.
ScottishPower achieved the Big Tick in the Workplace Talent and Skills Award, which aims to recognise businesses that are overcoming the talent challenge by meeting the current and future skills needs of their business and their people. The award was given in recognition of the company’s SP Energy Networks Resource Project; a collaboration between the Learning and Development Workforce Programmes team and SP Energy Networks.
Commenting, Sheila Duncan, Director of Human Resources at ScottishPower, said: “We are delighted to have received a Big Tick in recognition of our programmes to encourage more young people into the energy industry. As a company we are seeking to invest billions of pounds in the coming years to carry out major infrastructure upgrades at the same time as delivering substantial investments to generate low carbon electricity. We need a skilled and capable workforce across the board in order to deliver these investments.
“ScottishPower has developed a number of technical programmes which provide students, apprentices, graduates and employees with structured, progressive opportunities that combine both academic study with technical training. Our programmes not only allow for talent identification but also provide up-skilling opportunities for existing employees that will provide future sustainable employment. We also hope by sharing our stories and success it will inspire other companies to develop workplace talent and skills programmes.”
ScottishPower was presented with the Big Tick Award at an event hosted by Scottish Business in the Community on 6 June at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh and will be announced in a supplement in the Financial Times on 12 June 2013.
Commenting Stephen Howard, Business in the Community’s Chief Executive said: “The Responsible Business Awards shine the spotlight on an aspect of business that very rarely gets much public recognition – and that is its ability and willingness to truly transform lives, communities and society for the better. I congratulate ScottishPower for its Big Tick today, which recognises that it is part of a movement of companies creating value by living their values. We hope their example will inspire many more businesses to put responsible behaviour at the heart of how they do business.”
For further information about the 2013 Awards categories including the full list of Big Tick winners and their case studies visit www.bitc.org.uk/awards
For media information about ScottishPower contact: 0141 614 4660 pressoffice@scottishpower.com
For information about Business in the Community or the Responsible Business Awards contact Ochuko Adekoya, 020 7566 9758 ochuko.adekoya@bitc.org.uk
About ScottishPower’s programmes
ScottishPower’s education and employability schemes currently actively include:
ScottishPower Apprenticeship Programme
The multi-skilled three year modern apprenticeship aimed at young people with a minimum of the three GCSE’s/Scottish equivalent at grades A-C.
ScottishPower Engineering Foundation Programme
The UK wide programme is aimed at 16-18 year olds with 2 Standard Grades/GCSE’s or equivalent, in Maths, English or Science. The programme involves studying at a local college and spending a period of time on site with ScottishPower’s Engineers at its training centres in Cumbernauld & Hoylake. The Engineering Foundation Programme acts as a talent feed into the apprentice programme. In 2013 we aim to recruit a further 45 apprentices.
ScottishPower Higher Apprenticeship Programme
Aimed at students with a minimum of 2 A-Levels/Highers the Higher Apprenticeship Programme will last between 2-3 years combing a blend of academic and technical skills training with work-based learning assessment. Higher Level Apprentices will follow a full level 4 framework which will include the ‘new’ bespoke HNC Power. On completion of the apprenticeship apprentices will be in a position to become Design, Planning, Control or Project Engineers.
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community stands for responsible business. We are a unique business movement of 850 member companies - the largest business-led charity of its kind - committed to building resilient communities, diverse workplaces and a more sustainable future. We work locally, nationally and internationally with members to transform businesses and transform communities. We believe that responsible leadership is the ability to balance doing both.
We ask our members to work with us on specific campaigns that make a difference in the workplace, marketplace and community. And we offer a range of services that challenge, support and inspire members and help transform their businesses.
Business in the Community is one of The Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President. www.bitc.org.uk
The Responsible Business Awards
Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards identify responsible business from companies who are transforming communities and in turn transforming their businesses to create a more sustainable future for all.
In numbers:
In 2013 BITC received 267 entries, awarded 106 Big Ticks and shortlisted 59 entries to go forward for final judging and a chance to be crowned overall winner in the UK.