We have received another award from the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership.
The Procurement Skills Accord award recognises our investment in sustainable talent for essential services and infrastructure.
Thank you to HSQE adviser Fiona Dowling who led our submission, with support from Stephen Burns, client engagement director, Ciara Pryce, chief operating officer and Laura Perry, head of HR.
The award report identifies our commitment to continuous improvement in sustainable procurement and workforce development. It noted we exceeded the target of 12.5% of our people enrolled on relevant skills development programmes. It also noted the VGC Academy’s contribution to addressing industry skills issues.
Ciara Pryce, VGC’s chief operating officer, said: “We know how important it is to invest in people, and to develop the technical and operational skills that the sector needs.
“Last year we moved much of our training online, and we continue to work with partners and trainers to ensure the VGC Academy helps everyone at VGC to achieve their potential.”
VGC also received a Procurement Skills Accord award last year for 2019-2020.
Kevin Fowlie, executive director of United Utilities said: “I am delighted to be presenting the Energy & Utilities Procurement Skills Accord Awards this year. This initiative has a critical role in supporting the overall delivery of the 2020-2025 workforce renewal and skills strategy. With the sector collaborating on supply chain sustainability we move ever closer to realising the UK ambition of achieving Net-Zero.”
About the Procurement Skills Accord
The Procurement Skills Accord is a national initiative from the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership to encourage increased investment in targeted training and skills across the supply chain.
VGC was accepted as a signatory to the PSA in 2019. As a signatory organisation, we are working collaboratively within the sector to drive continuous skills improvements.
The PSA aims to improve procurement practices to deliver a sustainably skilled workforce for the future. It focuses on formal training programmes, targeting areas of current and future technical skills shortages, to ensure impact in the right place.
A series of five commitments requires companies to drive skills development within their own business, and to encourage their supply chain to do the same.
- Address sector-wide skills gaps and shortages
- Promote signing up to the accord through the supply chain
- Promote relevant skills development across the supply chain through procurement
- Continuously improve performance
- Monitor and report
Since the PSA’s inception in 2017:
- Skills are now a key consideration within procurement.
- Skills embedded into procurement processes provide real support to supply chain organisations.
- Training activity has increased significantly with more apprenticeship training in the supply chain.
See the Energy & Utility Skills website for more information. The website has a list of all the companies which have signed up to the Procurement and Skills Accord.
