Severn Trent has committed to offering 100,000 hours of free training over the next two years to help people get back to work after the pandemic.
The academy is part of a £10 million investment that will include creating 2,500 jobs under SVT’s green recovery projects announced by Ofwat yesterday (17 May).
The business is also taking on 500 young people under the government’s Kickstarter programme for six-month placements to help them get back into work.
Chief executive Liv Garfield said: “Young people in particular have been hugely affected by the pandemic, which is why our Kickstarter programme will really play a big role in delivering this commitment for us, and we’re really leading the way in supporting our communities by providing valuable work placements and training to young people across the region.”
The 100,000 hours of community training sessions will be available at the academy or online to anyone wanting to develop new skills and gain confidence for the job market.
Garfield added: “Given everything that’s happening at the moment, this is one of the key ways we, as a responsible company, can help make a real difference. Whether it’s through joining our Kickstarter or apprentice programme, or simply joining us for a one hour CV skills workshop one evening, we’re committed to supporting our communities and helping as many people as possible get back on their feet.”
The new academy will be used to train SVT staff using virtual reality, technical training, operational rigs and traditional classroom-based learning.