Santander has confirmed its commitment to young people as an employer by signing up to the Young Person’s Guarantee.
The initiative aims to connect every 16 to 24 year old in Scotland to an opportunity of a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training programme or volunteering.
And the UK’s fifth biggest bank is offering direct practical routes with new roles being advertised designed to introduce young people to the industry, through weekend and holiday work.
Santander’s regional manager for East Scotland Scott McLennan said: “Supporting the Young Person’s Guarantee is so important to Santander in Scotland.
“We see it as a great way make a difference in our local communities with a real opportunity to support young people.”
Reach
Santander has thousands of employees across the country and Scott has responsibility for 17 branches across the east of Scotland, including the key financial centres of Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh.
A native of Moray and former Elgin High School pupil, he also sits on the board of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Moray.
DYW Moray business liaison Aimee Stephen said: “Scott has been such an ambassador for this initiative.
“He has connected us with most of the branch managers across the country and inspired them to work with their own regional DYW groups.
“It is brilliant to see so many of them backing the guarantee and creating those links with young people by connecting into their own local support networks.”
Foundations
As well as the new positions being advertised, Santander is reviewing its recruitment process to make it more accessible to young people.
The bank says the new roles are designed to introduce them to the business, invest in their development with a view to offering a longer-term career.
It will also be continuing to deliver existing activities that prepare and inspire school pupils and college students to gain the skills they need for the world of work.
From holding mock interviews and CV building sessions to delivering industry insights and awareness sessions, these aim to make a difference in a young person's life by giving them an opportunity to get education, experience and employment.
These engagements will increase over the next 12 months, and they are currently investigating how they could provide work experience placements and apprenticeships. Mentoring is also a key focus for the banking group.
Potential
Scott said: “Coaching and mentoring is a personal passion of mine, and part of my job that gives me real joy is developing others to realise their potential.
“As employers, we know that we can build a workforce with the right skills and experience and put young people at the heart of what we do.
“There are 25 Scottish leaders supporting this at Santander who will each collaborate with their local Developing the Young Workforce teams.
“We are looking to really make a difference in 2022 and beyond. Our leaders spread the length and breadth of the country so we can have real reach.
“Working together, we are convinced can lead to great benefits but most importantly help shape the futures of many young people.”
The £60m Young Person’s Guarantee initiative is part of a total of £100m for employment support and training announced by the Scottish Government to tackle employment challenges. Ten million pounds of this will be used to support a range of measures to recruit and retain apprentices.
To find out more, contact your local Developing the Young Workforce team. The new customer service adviser roles are currently being advertised across the country.