National Grid has pledged £5 million ($6.7 million) over five years to help about 5,000 young people who are not in employment, education or training gain skills and find work, the
company said on Sunday.
The programme, called the Power Within Employability Fund, will support up to 1,000 young people a year from the first half of 2027. It will provide practical training, qualifications, mentoring and links to employers, with a particular focus on jobs in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors.
The initiative comes days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced reforms aimed at giving technical and vocational education greater parity with academic routes.
The government says the reforms are intended to strengthen links between schools, colleges and employers and ensure young people have clearer pathways into skilled employment.
National Grid said its programme would be delivered with specialist employment and skills organisations, colleges and employers, with support tailored to local labour markets and the needs of young people facing barriers to employment.
The fund will cover industry-recognised qualifications, employability coaching and mentoring, workplace preparation and practical assistance such as help obtaining a driving licence where transport limits access to jobs.
Participants will also be connected with vacancies at National Grid, its suppliers and other companies operating in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Burnham said the scheme demonstrated the type of employer involvement needed to tackle youth unemployment and expand access to technical careers.
“National Grid’s announcement is exactly the kind of response we want to see,” Burnham said.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said demand for skilled workers in clean energy was increasing as Britain expanded investment in the sector.
The government expects about 400,000 additional clean-energy jobs to be created by the end of the decade, she said, adding that employers would need to ensure workers had the necessary skills.
National Grid Chief Executive Zoë Yujnovich said too many young people were struggling to access the skills and support needed to enter the workforce.
“As the UK invests in the infrastructure needed for a more secure, more resilient and cleaner energy future, we will help thousands of young people build confidence, gain qualifications and take meaningful steps towards employment,” she said.
The company said the fund was part of a wider effort to support communities where it operates and help address skills shortages as Britain invests in energy and infrastructure.
The government's education reforms are intended to align technical training more closely with industries expected to drive regional economic growth, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences and construction.
Ministers have said employers, local authorities and education providers will have a greater role in shaping training programmes to reflect local demand for workers. Photo by Sergeant Tom Robinson RLC/MOD, Wikimedia commons.
