Scottish social care charity, Cornerstone, has achieved the Investors in Young People accreditation, the only people management standard that focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people.
This represents a commitment to the training and development of young people and demonstrates Cornerstone as an employer of choice for young people.
Launched in July 2014, Investors in Young People originated through a key recommendation from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led by Sir Ian Wood. The accreditation is offered to all businesses across Scotland and exists to recognise and support organisations across Scotland in the employment of young people.
Having achieved the accreditation, Cornerstone is now eligible to use and display the Investors in Young People logo and plaque, and enjoy its benefits.
Commenting on the award, Edel Harris, Cornerstone chief executive, said: “Having been recognised as Investors in People for the last 20 years, it’s an honour to be accredited as Investors In Young People.
“We are dedicated to the development of our young employees because they are the future of our sector and they bring so much to Cornerstone.
“It’s brilliant to be recognised with the IIYP accreditation and we look forward to supporting more young professionals to advance their skills and careers within Cornerstone.”
Peter Russian, chief executive of Investors in People Scotland, said “This is a fantastic achievement for Cornerstone, and I and the whole IIYP team would like to wholeheartedly congratulate them.
“The Investors in Young People framework not only recognises and supports organisations in the employment of young people, but marks them out as an employer of choice. I envisage that many more organisations will wish to follow in the footsteps of Cornerstone and demonstrate their commitment to young people by working with the Investors in Young People framework.”
He continued: “The benefits of recruiting and developing young people are countless. These include the creation of a talent pool for the future, new and increased skills in areas such as IT and social media, fresh eyes and mind-sets into business operations along with enthusiasm and unique talents.”
Cornerstone provides care and support services for adults, young people and children across Scotland who live with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, dementia and other support needs.
Since 1980, it has grown to become a leading charity, supporting over 2,000 people each year and delivering services within 18 local authority areas in Scotland.