In 2014, leading public and regulated services provider Amey and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) began a pioneering partnership to support 12,735 DofE centres across the UK - strengthening the 13 year relationship between the two organisations.
One year on, the partnership is continuing to help young people, many of whom live in the most deprived areas in the UK, to maximise their future job prospects.
With Amey’s support, over 240,000 young people start a DofE programme in the UK each year, equipping them with valuable skills and attributes that will make a positive difference to their personal, educational and working lives.
A survey of almost 850 DofE participants showed that 76% think that achieving a DofE Award helps them stand out from the crowd when looking for a job. The survey also showed that 88% of participants reported better team working skills, 76% said they are more determined and 72% denoted better communication skills.
Mel Ewell, chief executive for Amey said:
“As a responsible business we believe it’s important to support the communities in which we work.
“We’ve partnered with the DofE for over 13 years because we feel that together we can help make a difference to the career prospects of young people, providing them with the skills and experience that many employers look for. We’re delighted that our partnership with the DofE is continuing to deliver tangible benefits to young people across the country.”
Peter Westgarth, Chief Executive Officer of the DofE, said:
“It’s clear that the DofE sets young people up for a successful future, whatever their background or circumstance. I’m delighted that, through our important partnership with Amey, we’ve been able to give more young people the opportunity to do their DofE and experience its life changing benefits. It’s been an incredible year and we’re grateful for Amey’s unwavering support.”
Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD, said:
“The DofE Award is recognised by many employers, who understand the huge amount of work that individuals put in to achieving it. Employers tell us that there are certain skills they look for when recruiting, such as team working and resilience, both of which individuals demonstrate by completing the DofE Award. It can help young candidates stand out to potential employers, particularly when applying for entry level positions.”