Energy company SGN has secured Gold Membership of a prestigious scheme that recognises workforce development.
SGN has achieved the accreditation as part of The 5% Club’s highly respected 2025-26 Employer Audit Scheme just one year after joining, recognising a dedication to nurturing talent through ‘earn and learn’ opportunities.
The announcement celebrates our ongoing dedication to empowering our people to grow and learn through apprenticeships, graduate programmes and traineeships. This Gold accolade places us among the UK’s leaders in workforce development, showcasing our passion for creating learning environments where every colleague can succeed.
Through hands-on learning and development, we’re shaping the next generation of skilled professionals and ensuring our workforce is ready for a net zero future, with 7% of our workforce on an earn and learn scheme. It’s part of our commitment to continue successfully building our frontline teams to support the communities we serve, while also expanding into our corporate functions to support our business transformation.
As part of this ambition, we’ve developed two new state-of-the-art training facilities. Our new National Training Centre for Scotland, opening in January, will provide us with a modern, dedicated space for technical, practical, relevant and accessible training. It will reduce our reliance on external training providers and enhance our in-house technical training ability. It marks a transformative step in our training capabilities, enabling our colleagues to perform safely and to the highest standard.
This follows our recently opened UK’s first hydrogen training centre for gas engineers. Located at Fife College’s Levenmouth Campus, the facility will train over 100 Gas Safe registered engineers this year, equipping them with the green skills needed to safely convert homes from natural gas to hydrogen.
As a proud member of The 5% Club, we join a movement of more than 1,200 forward-thinking employers who are championing inclusive, accessible, and impactful workplace learning. Collectively, members support over two million employees, with more than 121,000 engaged in ‘earn and learn’ programmes. The rigorous Employer Audit independently validates our achievements and future ambitions, recognising our commitment to social mobility, diversity and inclusion.
Penny Meddes, Chief People Officer at SGN, said: “I’m delighted that our dedication to supporting our people to thrive through earn and learn opportunities has been recognised by The 5% Club. Our Gold Membership highlights our ongoing commitment to development in the workplace and we look forward to welcoming the talent of the future into SGN.”
Founded in 2013, The 5% Club works with UK employers and key influencers to inspire positive action for increased and accessible workplace learning, with a focus on apprentices, sponsored students and graduates. Its mission is to boost youth employment, enhance career prospects, and help the UK build a future-ready, skilled workforce.
Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, said: “We are incredibly proud of the outstanding employers, like SGN, who continue to raise the bar for workplace learning. Their dedication to creating rich and varied ‘earn and learn’ opportunities sets a remarkable example. By achieving Gold membership, SGN has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to investing in people, shaping the skills of tomorrow and driving lasting impact for both business and society.”
