SOCIAL MOBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL IN A TIME OF CRISIS CONTENTS FOREWORD – RT HON JUSTINE GREENING 04 STATEMENT FROM JOHN STEWART, DIRECTOR OF HR AT SSE 06 1 INTRODUCTION 08 2 A PURPOSE-LED PEOPLE STRATEGY 10 2.1 The case for boosting inclusivity and diversity 10 2.2 SSE’s Inclusion Strategy 11 2.3 Boosting inclusivity through flexible working 11 2.4 Greenprint 12 2.5 The Living Wage and Living Hours 13 3 WIDENING PATHWAYS INTO EMPLOYMENT 14 3.1 Improving recruitment: a fairer, more level playing field 14 - Strengths-Based Recruitment 14 - Inclusion and diversity embedded within recruitment channels 14 3.2 Opening access at all levels 14 3.3 Accessibility and adjustments 14 3.4 Supporting all kinds of backgrounds 14 - Armed Forces Covenant 14 - STEM returners programme 15 4 RECRUITING THE GREEN WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE 16 4.1 School engagement: Promoting STEM disciplines and careers 17 - SSE’s STEM Ambassadors 17 - Developing the young workforce 18 - Tackling entrenched inequalities with Teach First 18 - Supporting academic ambition through scholarships 19 4.2 Boosting employability 21 - Barnardo’s Works 21 - SSE Works 23 - Career Ready 23 4.3 Entry-level programmes for all 25 - Technical Apprentice Programme 25 - Technical Skills Trainee Programme 26 - Graduate Programmes 27 5 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT 28 5.1 Direct investment in social mobility 28 About this report 5.2 The Simon Community 29 This report has been produced by the Social Mobility Pledge. It details how energy company SSE plc is working to reduce the opportunity gap in the UK and Ireland through its existing social mobility initiatives 6 INSIGHTS 30 and is committed to further action in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. SSE is a signatory to the Social Mobility Pledge and the C-19 Business Pledge. 7 RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS 32 8 APPENDIX: DATA ANALYSIS AND COMMUNITY GAPS 34 It’s time for business to grasp the nettle and take leadership on levelling up, and help deliver a fairer society as we recover from this pandemic. We face the reality of a deep but centred around decarbonisation . living memory, bringing net zero and Crucially, as this action plan sets recession and potentially rates of Too often, these goals of benefitting levelling up together as one plan has out, SSE is showing what leadership FOREWORD unemployment that haven’t been both people and planet are presented never been more important. in practice really means, through seen for decades. Meanwhile as being in conflict with each other. its sustained work on the ground Rt Hon Justine Greening more broadly across our society, But people and planet are two sides I founded the Social Mobility Pledge and the wholesale way in which it coronavirus has taken many of the of the same coin. to deliver grass roots change through approaches its business day to day. Over the last few months the tragedy of inequalities that existed before, that the organisations that deliver more At a local level, it has demonstrated the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has we already knew we need to tackle We have an opportunity now to opportunities on the ground than the importance of taking its and has made them even worse, energise a recovery that creates another others - businesses. Because challenged us all across virtually every aspect communities with it on its journey deepening the unfairness that exists opportunities for people while ultimately, politicians can only do of an energy transition - its efforts in of our lives - our work life, our home life, and in society for too many people. meeting our promises on the planet so much. Delivering net zero and schools and the skills development our social life. We’ve faced the very grave agenda through a Clean Industrial levelling up requires a national effort, agenda, progression within the History tells us that at such a time Revolution. Our national target for well beyond the walls of Holyrood business. While at a national level it is threats to our public health; and now we’re of challenge, this can be a time of net zero by 2050 requires the best and Westminster and business has a setting out a strategic vision for the beginning to see the socioeconomic impacts. change too. Because what shapes the of all our efforts. crucial role to play. future can be less the challenge we future of energy in its ‘greenprint’, a direction that would create jobs face today, and far more crucially how If this is a time of change, then how It will require substantial investment and opportunities through a Clean we respond to them. This can be a we shape the future lies in the hands in new carbon capturing Industrial Revolution. moment to recast how our economy, technologies, many of which don’t of businesses and business leaders as our businesses and society work. If yet exist; it will require investment much as it does in anyone else’s. In setting out it’s aims to go further we choose we can use this moment in refitting homes, to improve our through this action plan, SSE shows to build a stronger economy that is It’s time for business to grasp the nettle national energy efficiency; and it will that businesses are how this country cleaner, fairer and more resilient. and take leadership on levelling up, require a shift from fossil fuels and and help deliver a fairer society as we can not only rise to the challenge that We can bring together our collective natural resources, towards renewable recover from this pandemic. today presents, but most importantly goal of net zero by 2050 and a levelled power generation. All of these have drive the change that this country up country by pursuing an economic at their core two vital aspects - they I’m proud to have many businesses so badly needs for a sustainable recovery that is focused on both will create a demand for new skills, working with the Social Mobility and successful future. Through the people and planet. One that creates and in doing so create new jobs Pledge that are doing just that, Social Mobility Pledge we will work opportunities that are spread out and opportunities. In the backdrop businesses like SSE that are in collectively to bring more businesses across the country, tackling inequality, of one of the deepest recessions in the vanguard. on that same journey. 04 | FOREWORD FOREWORD | 05 STATEMENT From John Stewart, Director of HR at SSE HR for a business which can create • Working closely with organisations Delivering our promise employment opportunities at this like Skills Development Scotland of a green recovery time. What that means is that I’m to develop guidance for people determined for SSE to use its position looking to transition into At the turn of the year, hardly renewable energy; and anyone had heard of coronavirus to make sure we do things better – now a day does not pass without than we did before and deliver on • Launching of a 12-week ‘STEM hearing of its impact on lives in the promise of a green recovery returners’ pilot to help people with every part of the world. As well as by creating job opportunities that STEM skills restart their career, the direct human cost, there are are accessible to everyone from all with all returners taking part being many more social and economic different backgrounds. In short, we given the opportunity to gain a consequences yet to come. need to seize the opportunity to build full-time position with SSE. back a fairer economy and society. To aid the economic recovery The combination of SSE’s existing needed, there is a powerful social This report details many of SSE’s programmes that support social and environmental case for green social mobility initiatives which mobility, the enhancement and investment to accelerate the race have been an important part of adaptation of those schemes plus to ‘net zero’ carbon emissions and our business for years, from our new programmes will support, in a direct and practical way, the recruit prevent dangerous climate change. Barnardo’s employability programme of a diverse range of new entrants for 16-24 year olds to our partnership Since June this year, SSE has into SSE. These actions reflect the with Career Ready to help support announced over 1,000 new direct, reality of the economic environment secondary school students in areas contractor and supply chain jobs we are in and supports SSE’s future of deprivation gain real workplace Our ‘Opportunity linked to the £3bn Seagreen Offshore growth plans too. Wind Farm near Angus, the £580m experience and mentorship. It is inevitable that the impact of the Action Plan’ seeks Viking Onshore Wind Farm on Our ‘Opportunity Action Plan’ seeks coronavirus crisis will be profound Shetland and the £630m subsea to reassert existing to reassert existing programmes both socially and economically power cable connecting the island this year and beyond, with increases and there is a real risk that its programmes this to the Scottish mainland. These in the number of apprentices and consequences will drive increased are just some of the investments year and beyond, graduates recruited in 2020. inequalities across society. As leaders with increases in which make up part of our five-year for the net zero future, we can £7.5bn programme to spur a green Most of all, supporting a response to invest in the green economy at the the number of recovery from the pandemic, with the current crisis, we are introducing same time as working to limit those other projects including building the new routes into SSE for those who inequalities and play our part to help world’s largest offshore wind farm apprentices and may have been impacted by the the country ‘build back better’.