Robertson Group is celebrating a double award win

As part of the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, Robertson won the Developing the Young Workforce award, which saw them fend off competition from two other local finalists.

Robertson Northern was successful in securing a regional win on behalf of ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ for its work in Inverness and Central Highlands.

Both awards were won as a result of Robertson’s commitment to creating a progressive workplace environment where young people can develop.

The Group’s ‘Young People Strategy’ was created and embedded across all divisions and has been the driving force in the Groups commitment to developing a skilled workforce of tomorrow.

Michelle Cook, General Manager, Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, said: “Robertson deservedly won the Developing the Young Workforce award in the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. They have been innovative in their approach to developing the skills of our young people and encouraging a collaborative environment for them to put these skills in to practice.”

Stewart Nicol, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce said: “Robertson won this regional award in Inverness and Central Highlands because of its commitment to engaging with young, local people through the implementation of their Young People Strategy.”

Executive Chairman of Robertson Group, Bill Robertson, has been at the forefront of the company’s pledge to young people over the last 50 years. Having, himself, started his career an apprentice joiner in Elgin, Bill advocates the importance of educating young people about the variety of rewarding careers available to them in the construction industry.

Jillian Nelson, the company’s Head of Talent, who is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the Group’s Young People Strategy said: “I feel so proud of everyone at Robertson for getting behind the strategy and successfully welcoming a new generation into our workforce. It’s now part of our culture to recruit and develop Generation Y and Z and I think that’s why we are receiving recognition as an employer of choice. It’s been such a rewarding journey to understand their workplace behaviours and what they really want from their employer.”

“During the course of last year, we engaged with more than 31,000 young people through a range of specially designed activities and events aimed at inspiring the next generation to join our industry.”

The Group have adopted a variety of methods which allow them to develop the young workforce; a consistent approach to building relationships with key educational partners allows the Group to engage younger generations and bring them into the workplace. This includes a bespoke online platform which shows the career paths available, as well as opportunities for progression.

In addition to its wins at the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Awards and Highland Business Awards, Robertson has previously been awarded the Investors in Young People Silver and Investors in People Gold accreditations.

Developing the Young Workforce forms part of the wider Scottish Government Youth Employment strategy and aims to promote a culture of collaboration between education, partner agencies, employers, parents and young people to bridge the gap between learning and working.

For more information on Robertson visit www.robertson.co.uk or find them on LinkedIn.