OCU Group (OCU) has successfully enrolled in the 5% Club, as we continue to foster quality learning opportunities within the energy and utilities sector.
Established in October 2013, the 5% Club was created to tackle the challenges of poverty stemming from low unemployment rates, particularly among the youth, and a deficiency in the essential skills demanded by a fast-changing, more digital environment. The primary objective of the 5% Club is to enhance ‘earn and learn’ training prospects within the UK, fostering the acquisition of employable skills and, consequently, lifting a larger segment of the UK’s population and economy out of poverty.
“We’ve been running apprentice and graduate programmes for a number of years here at OCU. In fact, we currently have 65+ graduates, apprentices and industrial placements at OCU covering a range of schemes and disciplines. They are proving to be making a big difference to the business. We look forward to this growing from strength to strength moving forward, ensuring that our apprentice and graduate schemes are recognised as the best in the industry and the place to learn and develop.”
Lee Firth, OCU Group Learning and Development Manager
By joining the 5% Club, OCU has successfully achieved its requirement of 5% of our workforce in ‘earn and learn’ positions (including apprentices, sponsored students, trainees and graduates on formal training schemes).
OCU currently have five individuals on a Graduate Programme and 60+ apprentices and trainees across the group.
“Apprentices, graduates and trainees are the future of our business here at OCU and we look forward to developing this as a key part of life at OCU.”
Wesley Marsden, OCU Trainer and Assessor
The 5% Club’s success is tracked by gaining widespread commitment by growing their membership. So far, the 5% Club now has 900 members, with over 6,000 apprentices, 17,000 people on graduate programmes and 8,000 sponsored students, in total. This means that over 101,000 workplace people have been given skills based on training opportunities within these members.
What is ‘earn and learn’?
This refers to a set of pathways into and within the workforce that integrate academic study with hands-on experience. This not only allows people to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for their chosen profession but also facilitates a seamless transition between education and practical application in the workplace.
The 5% Club is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year, and OCU Group are proud to be a member of this organisation, and a part of the journey to support those transitioning into the industry.
For more information about ‘earn and learn’ opportunities with OCU please follow the link below to our dedicated Careers Page:
