BALFOUR Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn has marked the 10th anniversary of The 5% Club with the launch of his Founder’s Pledge, aimed at further supporting and developing young people undertaking apprenticeships.
In October 2013, Leo founded The 5% Club to encourage businesses to tackle the national skills shortage and the resulting poverty trap for the unskilled.
A decade later, The 5% Club is now a registered charity, with over 800 members across all sectors which collectively employ over 1.6 million people in the UK, of which almost 95,000 are in ‘earn and learn’ roles.
The Founder’s Pledge will see Leo personally provide £10,000 to support ten apprentices across Balfour Beatty and its supply chain partners: one apprentice who is currently working at the company, and nine from its supply chain partners.
In addition, Balfour Beatty’s chosen apprentice will be personally mentored by Leo, with Balfour Beatty’s chief executive asking the business leaders of the chosen supply chain partners to do the same.
Leo Quinn said, “Supporting our apprentices – our future leaders – is critical, particularly in the challenging economic climate when many young people face an uncertain future. It has therefore never been more important for business leaders across the UK to step up, take charge and continue developing our talent.
“I hope that today’s Pledge will make each of us stop and think about how we can give something back, and secure the skills and capability required across every sector.”
Leo is also asking CEOs of other member organisations of The 5% Club to make their own pledge, urging them to offer mentoring skills to apprentices.
