Through apprenticeship and graduate programmes, Royal Mail is helping to end unemployment and underemployment for many young people in the UK – at the same time making sure the organisation has the skilled people and senior leaders it needs to safeguard the sustainability of its business.
As one of the UK's largest employers, Royal Mail recognises that it is in a strong position to tackle youth unemployment.
In 2013, the company ran three main apprenticeship programmes: these were a Vehicle Technician Apprenticeship, an Operational Management Apprenticeship for people aged between 18 and 24, and an Advanced Apprentice Engineer programme, providing training for those who wish to develop postal technology.
Royal Mail apprentices are paid around 15% more than the average UK wage for their age group, which is comparable to the salary premium associated with a university degree.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research found that Royal Mail's apprenticeships have contributed £21.2 million to UK productivity since 2006.
Royal Mail also runs graduate programmes, and took on 100 in 2013.
In the same year, all commercial and professional graduates who joined in 2009 had progressed to senior management positions. Over the past five years, almost a third of graduates have been female and since 2011 almost 18% have been Black, Asian and minority ethnic. Royal Mail's graduate retention is over 40% higher than the industry average.
Lorna Thorpe is part of the wordworks network
The Guardian Sustainable Business Sustainability Case Studies contain articles on all the initiatives that met the criteria for the GSB Awards.
