SSE joins leading employers backing new First Chance programme for young people

SSE is among the first major UK employers to support First Chance, a new initiative aimed at helping more young people take their first steps into the world of work.

The campaign, launched by the Young People and Work Review chaired by former Cabinet Minister Alan Milburn, is bringing together employers from across the economy to create more opportunities for young people who face barriers to employment.

SSE joins a group of founding supporters including Royal Mail, Greene King, Lloyds Banking Group and other leading employers committed to expanding routes into work through entry-level jobs, apprenticeships, internships, work experience and mentoring opportunities.

The initiative comes at a time when young people are facing increasing challenges entering the workforce. Without action, the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) could rise to more than 1.25 million over the next five years.

At SSE, creating opportunities for young people is already a longstanding part of the company's approach to developing talent and investing in communities.

Today, around 1 in 20 people across SSE's workforce is aged between 16 and 24, and the company offers more than 40 different routes into employment, including opportunities for people who have no formal qualifications.

As SSE continues investing in the energy infrastructure needed to support Britain's future energy system, it is also investing in developing the skilled workforce required to build, operate and maintain it.