1,000 Green Jobs Created Nationwide for Young Unemployed

LONDON, February 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

-Global Action Plan, British Gas and Accenture to train and employ young people-

-Hard pressed households to get energy efficiency boost thanks to new jobs-

British Gas has announced plans for 1,000 skilled jobs over the next three years.  All the roles will be filled by unemployed young people.

The jobs, created by a partnership between leading environment charity Global Action Plan, British Gas and Accenture (NYSE: ACN), follows a recent report by the Work Foundation which finds that since the start of the recession, youth unemployment in the UK has risen faster than any other G8 nation.  

The Transform partnership, supported by Jobcentre Plus, will give free sustainability training to 1,400 17-25 year olds not currently in education, employment or training.  Every person that successfully completes the course will earn a BTEC qualification and is guaranteed an interview with British Gas - the UK's largest energy supplier.

One thousand full-time roles have been created by British Gas, as part of its ECO (Energy Company Obligation) programme, to help deliver housing regeneration projects in local communities, enabling hard-pressed households to become more energy efficient.  

Accenture supported the development of the training through its Skills to Succeed programme which will equip 500,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business.  Global Action Plan will help target young unemployed people within the local community and will deliver the training.

Under ECO, British Gas will deliver hundreds of community projects to install energy saving measures in homes- helping to cut energy bills, pulling households out of fuel poverty and saving millions of tonnes of carbon.

In November and December 2012, Transform was successfully piloted in Walsall and Glasgow where all 17 jobs on offer were filled.

The move comes in response to the UK's continuing unemployment crisis with over one million 16-24 year-olds out of education, employment or training.

Trewin Restorick, CEO of Global Action Plan said: "The Transform programme will change the lives of young people up and down the country. The only way we're going to solve the most pressing challenges in the economy is by working in partnership."  

Claire Williams, Managing Director of British Gas New Energy said: "Growth, unemployment and sustainability are big challenges for the country.  Big British companies have a responsibility to make a positive contribution which is why we are taking action to create skilled green jobs in areas of low employment.  

"This training will make a difference to unemployed young people who will get skills and jobs as well as hard-pressed households who will benefit from energy efficiency measures."

Olly Benzecry, Senior Managing Director of Accenture in the UK and Ireland said:

"Accenture's Skills to Succeed initiative equips thousands of young people who are not in employment with the skills they need to get a job.  The Transform partnership reflects Accenture's commitment to improving the communities in which we live and work, not only because it is helping to create employment but also because of its focus on providing sustainability training and green job opportunities."

For more information, and to apply for the training, please visit http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/transform .

Notes to Editors

• Transform is a unique and innovative partnership between Global Action Plan, British Gas and Accenture that has been specifically designed to tackle the issues of youth unemployment, but in a way that helps support households most in need and lowers the country's carbon emissions.
• Operating across the UK, Global Action Plan will deliver an accredited training course through Accenture's 'Skills to Succeed' campaign and British Gas will provide job opportunities to help transform the energy efficiency of local households.
• Recruits will receive free training for a BTEC Level 3 in sustainability, developed by Global Action Plan with support from Accenture
• The Energy Company Obligation was introduced in January 2013 to reduce the UK's energy consumption and support people living in fuel poverty. It does this by funding energy efficiency improvements worth around £1.3 billion every year.  The ECO will run until March 2015, supporting the installation of energy efficiency measures in low-income households and areas, and in properties that are harder to treat. It works alongside the Green Deal to give consumers support and funding for energy efficiency improvements in their homes.

About British Gas

British Gas is the UK's leading energy supplier, and serves around 12 million homes in Britain - nearly half the country's homes - as well as providing energy to one million UK businesses.  British Gas provides value for money, dedicated customer service, innovative energy solutions and the highest quality Home Services expertise in the country.  Find out more at http://www.britishgas.co.uk.  

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with 259,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. Through its Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship focus, Accenture is committed to equipping 500,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The company generated net revenues of US$27.9 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2012. Its home page is http://www.accenture.com.

About Global Action Plan

Global Action Plan is an award-winning environmental charity providing the UK's only environmental behaviour change projects endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Since 1993, we've helped over 750,000 people make practical changes that create environmental savings in businesses of all sizes, as well as communities, schools and with young people. http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk

SOURCE British Gas