Energy’s future should be powered by talent, not background; but for many from disadvantaged communities, STEM careers remain unreachable. To create a truly innovative, inclusive clean energy industry, the talent pipeline must grow: and quickly!

At National Grid (NG), our inclusivity commitment includes support for the disadvantaged through targeted outreach and clear, STEM-focused career pathways.

OUR VISION
Our Social Mobility Team aims to impact 22,500 deprived youths by 2030, via:
-Representation in early careers intakes
-Connecting initial outreach to long-term careers

OUR PARTNERSHIPS
At the heart of our Social Mobility function are strong partnerships formed with like-minded organisations to source and recruit overlooked individuals including:
-Young Enterprise: Building skills for 13-30-yr-olds from low-income/ethnic-minority backgrounds. Activities include career coaching, site visits and work placements.
-Catch22: Building resilience and employability for 16-30-yr-olds from hard-to-reach communities. Via its 160,000-strong network, Catch22 connects participants to NG programmes.
-Generating Genius: Supporting disadvantaged but talented 18-25-yr-olds (especially Black students from state schools) into STEM careers.
-Stem Returners: Helping STEM professionals re-join the sector, offering career coaching and networking opportunities.

We also partner with Making the Leap and the Youth Futures Board to share insights industry-wide, and influence policies which impact social mobility.

HOW IT WORKS
Maximising reach via our partnerships, we’ve devised three core programmes:
-ACCESS (Ages 13-30): Upskills participants from secondary education up to securing non-graduate career opportunities
-EXCEL (Ages 18-22): Targets talented candidates from diverse backgrounds, offering e.g. internships, apprenticeships and graduate support
-ACCELERATE (Ages 30+): Provides routes back into STEM for those with career gaps

Within these programmes, we offer:
-Bespoke pre-apprenticeship/trainee roles
-Six-week undergraduate placements
-Two-week internships for 16-18s
-Two-day tasters for NEET candidates, 18-30

We also engage future STEM talent with, e.g.:
-Student-led interviews with engineers
-Design challenges
-Tailored mentoring
-Tasters/work experience for school students
-12-weeks of mentoring for GCSE students

EXAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities like the below prioritise candidates from non-traditional backgrounds:
-Power Network Craft Assistants (PNCAs): 12-15-month paid training on NG’s underground cable network (leading to full-time Craft Attendant roles) for school leavers with few/no qualifications. 15 roles were filled this year.
-Construction Development Programme: 18-24-month reskilling programme for, e.g., Project Supervisor or Quantity Surveyor roles: no formal qualifications needed. Last year, 60 recruits enrolled.
-We partner with Institution of Engineering & Technology’s ‘Power Academy’, providing students with:
->£3,000 bursary
-Book/software allowance
-Paid eight-week work placement each year of their degree
To ensure fair access to opportunities, we deprioritise grades and dispense with CVs/cover letters, favouring skills-based assessments.
IN-WORK SUPPORT
Once enrolled, we ensure all at NG – especially those joining via Social Mobility opportunities – can access tailored support, including:
-Mentoring via partners, with Social Mobility alumni guiding new joiners via training, mentoring and employability skills
-A Social Mobility Board, ensuring business decisions consider outcomes for those from deprived backgrounds
-An Employee Resource Group, connecting those from low socioeconomic backgrounds to training, coaching, financial aid and more

OUR IMPACT
Since launch, our Social Mobility function has:
-Upskilled 11,000+ youths via targeted development programmes
-Delivered 1,050+ events to raise awareness/build pathways into STEM careers
-Launched the careers of 78 young people at NG
-Supported 397 applicants into long-term NG placements

In the past 12-months, we’ve:
-Upskilled 6,000+ youths through hands-on experience/mentorship
-Partnered with 49 universities, reaching 1,500 graduates from underrepresented backgrounds
-Hired 50% of our total intern intake from disadvantaged backgrounds
-Recruited 12 non-graduate apprentices from underrepresented groups

Through our partnerships, we’ve also seen:
-3,500+ students engaging in our Young Enterprise programme (over two years), supported by 450+ NG volunteers: 21 secured apprenticeships last year
-Catch22 facilitating 50+ placements/15 permanent hires at NG
-2,000+ students engaging with Generating Genius since Oct-2020, producing nine graduate hires and 82 paid internships
-10 STEM returners joining NG following career breaks

By driving sector-wide social mobility, we’re building a more diverse, future-ready workforce reflecting the communities we serve. The difference we make today will shape the industry of tomorrow.