Yorkshire Water Announces New Job Creation Scheme

As part of the government’s Kickstart scheme, Yorkshire Water has announced it will employ 75 young people in the business.

The company is working in partnership with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and trade unions to deliver the jobs, which will be offered to young people aged 16 to 25 years old who are on universal credit. The aim of the scheme is to help them secure fixed-term contracts that will provide them with valuable work experience.

The roles available at Yorkshire Water are spread across its various departments, including customer experience, property and land, and flooding resilience.

Any young person who completes the Kickstart programme will be guaranteed a job interview for a permanent role within the business.

The trade unions will provide support to the young people on the programme in the form of monthly career workshops and sessions to specifically assist with the challenges those facing a return-to-work situation or who are in first-time employment are likely to encounter.

Just under half (30) of the new roles will begin this summer, with the remainder starting in 2022.

Chief people officer at Yorkshire Water Jenni Morris commented: “This scheme has allowed us to open additional vacancies and provide opportunities to people that might not have crossed our path otherwise.”

Bill Adams, from the TUC, was also enthusiastic about the scheme, noting that it’s young people who have been hit hardest by the pandemic and that this programme is an opportunity to help them get back on their feet.

“Good training and mentoring by the company and the trade unions is vital to secure the good green jobs of the future and makes sound business sense,” he stated.

Earlier this month, WWT Online explained that the water industry has a key role to play in the government’s levelling up and green agenda. CEO of Clancy Matt Cannon told the news provider that there are many advantages for those looking for a career in the sector.

He explained that the water industry “offers stable, skilled employment in a sector with a tangible benefit to communities”.

A further benefit is that wages can often be considerably higher than the local living wage in some parts of the country. This is a further reason for young people to consider engaging with the Kickstart scheme that’s being implemented by Yorkshire Water.

Mr Cannon also noted that it’s essential for the water industry to attract more young talent, due to the number of experienced professionals who are expected to retire in the coming years. He noted this could potentially lead to a shortage of workers in the not too distant future.

“To redress the balance, we need to champion careers in our sector and the range of opportunities on offer,” he asserted.

This is exactly what the Kickstart scheme aims to achieve, which could be a great way for Yorkshire Water and other firms to develop its young talent.

Businesses in any sector will know the importance of developing new talent. If your company is looking for ways to streamline its operations and reduce costs to help it employ more people, take a look at Switch Water Supplier to see how you could cut the amount you’re spending on your business water bill.