Initiated by defence technology company QinetiQ, the campaign aims to tackle the skills shortage and youth unemployment in Britain, as well as helping the country to remain at the forefront of innovation. By joining, TRL will ensure that 5% of its UK workforce will be apprentices, graduates or sponsored students on structured programmes within the next five years.
“As a knowledge-based business, we’re focused on building high performing teams that push the boundaries of creativity and evidence-based thinking,” said Professor Nick Reed, academy director at TRL. “We have a strong track record of investing in and providing opportunities for young people and have developed many of our recruits into world-renowned experts in their field.”
As well as joining The 5% club, TRL is also focused on developing the next generation of talent through other means. The company is a member of WISE, a campaign to inspire more girls and women to study and build careers in science, technology and engineering, and has committed to awarding three A-level students with scholarships in October via the Arkwright Scholarship Trust. It also has strong relationships with a number of universities as well as professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport; Institution of Civil Engineers; Institute of Physics and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Dr Sam Healy, programme director of The 5% Club added; “We’re delighted to welcome TRL to the initiative. The company’s existing efforts to invest in the next generation are greatly welcomed and together we can strive towards a brighter future for young people in Britain.”
