Nestlé’s youth employment scheme marks a decade of supporting sector job prospects
pic: Nestle
A key employment support initiative co-founded by Nestlé, The Global Alliance for YOUth, is celebrating its first decade of helping young people enhance their jobs skills around the world, with a number of sector businesses engaging with the scheme, writes Neill Barston.
The project, which has also seen engagement from the likes of Buhler, Cargill, DSM-Firmenich and Rockwell Automation, has seen a total of 25 company members help provide a major tally of 40 million professional development opportunities around the world for the 18-30 age category during the past decade.
As Nestlé explained, the venture began in Europe during a challenging economic environment, the Alliance for YOUth was the first private sector movement dedicated to helping young people acquire the necessary skills to thrive in the world of work. Its ambition was to create more than 100 000 job opportunities in the region. In 2019, the Alliance was expanded globally to become the Global Alliance for YOUth.
Among its achievements are initiatives to support vulnerable young people. The Alliance collaborated with JA Europe to address the needs of underserved communities, including refugees and marginalised youth in Germany and Poland.
Also, in collaboration with the Global Shapers Community and Accenture, the initiative launched an annual Innovation Prize, aimed at empowering young innovators to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges.
Moreover, it has enhanced digital skills through programmes including the Code4YOUth hackathon, which was launched in collaboration with HCL Tech, Microsoft and Publicis Group to promote digital inclusion, foster creativity and support young people in developing essential digital skills. The seven finalists, out of 5 000 candidates, had the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of industry experts, with the potential for their solutions to make a lasting impact on communities worldwide.
As for its own efforts, Nestlé has connected 7.7 million young people to jobs, traineeships and apprenticeships as well as training opportunities since 2017. In 2023, it facilitated almost 24 000 job placements and close to 11 000 apprenticeships for individuals under 30, with a focus on developing agripreneurs.
Laurent Freixe, Nestlé CEO, Founder and Chairperson of the Global Alliance for YOUth, commented: “With rapid technological advancements, including AI, the nature of work is undergoing significant changes. Today, our mission is more relevant than ever. By promoting dual education, digital inclusion, and continuous soft skills development, we prepare the younger generation for the professional world. Young people, often digital natives, are uniquely positioned to adapt to these changes and, when empowered, can drive profound and lasting societal change, while deepening the talent pool of member companies.”
Irina Berestova, a Ukrainian beneficiary from the JA Europe HONOUR Project, said: “The HONOUR project provided me with a roadmap and tools to contribute to my ongoing integration into the German labour market. The project’s workshops and the support received have been instrumental in positioning me for future success. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity and would like to express my sincere gratitude for the support given to me and other displaced young people.”
