National Grid launches £5m fund to open career pathways for 5,000 young people

New Power Within Employability Fund will provide training, qualifications and direct routes into jobs across energy, construction and infrastructure

National Grid is investing £5 million in a major employment programme designed to help 5,000 young people overcome barriers to work and build lasting careers.

The new Power Within Employability Fund will support up to 1,000 young people every year for five years, with a particular focus on those currently outside employment, education or training.

Launching in the first half of next year, the programme will combine practical support with recognised qualifications, mentoring and direct connections to employers, creating pathways into sectors facing growing demand for skilled workers.

The initiative comes as the UK prepares for a significant expansion of its energy and infrastructure workforce, driven by investment in new networks and the transition towards cleaner and more resilient energy.

National Grid says the programme will help ensure young people who may otherwise struggle to access those opportunities are equipped to take advantage of them.

Support will be tailored to individual and local needs and could range from help obtaining a driving licence – where transport is preventing someone from accessing work – to gaining industry qualifications such as Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards.

Participants will also receive employability coaching and mentoring, CV and interview support, workplace and communication skills training and help identifying realistic career pathways.

Crucially, the programme is intended to lead to genuine employment opportunities rather than training alone. Participants will be connected with potential roles at National Grid, within its UK supplier network and across the wider energy and infrastructure industries.

The £5 million commitment follows government plans to strengthen technical and vocational education and create clearer pathways between education and skilled employment.

The Government wants employers, schools, colleges and local leaders to work more closely to ensure training reflects the skills needed by businesses and that young people can access opportunities within their own regions.

National Grid's investment represents an early major employer commitment supporting that ambition.

Zoë Yujnovich, Chief Executive of National Grid, said:

“As the UK invests in the infrastructure needed for a more secure, more resilient and cleaner energy future, we will help thousands of young people build confidence, gain qualifications and take meaningful steps towards employment.“By working with expert delivery partners, colleges and employers, we can shape pathways into rewarding careers while helping to strengthen the communities we serve.”

The programme also arrives against the backdrop of increasing demand for workers across the clean energy sector.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said:

“Demand for skilled workers in clean energy is growing thanks to our drive for clean power, which has attracted over £100 billion in private investment.“Young people up and down the country will benefit from 400,000 extra clean energy jobs by the end of the decade, and we’re working closely with companies like National Grid to make sure people are trained up and taking advantage of these opportunities.”

Specialist employment and skills organisations will deliver the programme across the UK, allowing support to be adapted to the needs of individual communities and local labour markets.

Alongside technical qualifications, the fund will address some of the everyday barriers that can prevent young people entering employment. This will include practical assistance, one-to-one coaching and the development of confidence and life skills alongside formal training.

For National Grid, the programme also forms part of a wider effort to develop the workforce required to deliver Britain's future energy infrastructure while ensuring communities benefit from the investment taking place around them.

With thousands of new roles expected to emerge as the country's energy and infrastructure networks expand, the Power Within Employability Fund aims to turn that investment into an opportunity for a new generation to begin meaningful, long-term careers.