Sky : scoops Responsible Business Award for inspiring young talent

Sky Academy's Starting Out initiative won the Unipart Inspiring Young Talent Award at Business in the Community's 2016 Annual Responsible Business Gala in London last night.

The event at the O2 arena was the culmination of the 2016 Responsible Business Awards, run by The Prince of Wales's charity Business in the Community to celebrate the innovative ways that businesses in the UK and abroad are making a sustained difference and transforming communities. The Unipart Inspiring Young Talent category recognises businesses that go the extra mile to support young people on their journey to a successful working life.

Each year, Sky Academy Starting Out, offers over 1000 young people graduate programmes, apprenticeships, and work experience placements, providing hands on experience and valuable insight into the world of work, helping them to take their first steps towards their chosen career.

Sky Academy is a set of initiatives that use the power of TV, creativity and sport to help young people build practical skills and experience from primary school right through to those starting their careers, and has helped over 350,000young people in the UK and Ireland so far,.

Martha Jennings, Sky Academy Starting Out Manager, commented: 'This is fantastic recognition for everything we are trying to achieve through Sky Academy. Thanks to the hard work of everyone in the Sky Academy Starting Out team, and the support of the wider business, over 1,000 opportunities are provided every single year. We love what we do, knowing that we have a huge impact on young people's lives, and this award really is the icing on the cake.'

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: 'The Responsible Business Awards provide the proof that from the largest global multinational to the smallest local firm, business is a powerful force for good in society. This year we have seen some profound examples of what business can achieve when it puts responsibility at the heart of its operations. I congratulate Sky for the practical action it has taken to build a fairer world and more sustainable future.'

Almost 300 companies entered the 2016 Responsible Business Awards. Over 1,600 senior guests, from SME owners to the CEOs of global brands as well as NGOS attended the Annual Responsible Business Gala which was supported by 2015 Responsible Business of the Year, Fujitsu. The event was hosted by Sky News and Sports presenter Sarah-Jane Mee, and Jason Bradbury who fronts Channel Five's The Gadget Show.

To find out more about Sky's award entry, along with the full list of 2016 winners visit http://www.responsiblebusinessawards.org.uk/

For more information:

Euan Fordyce
Email: euan.fordyce@sky.uk
Tel: 020 7032 3276

For more information about Business in the Community or the Responsible Business Awards contact:
Alex Delaney
PR Manager, Business in the Community
Email: alex.delaney@bitc.org.uk
Tel: 020 7566 8694

About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.

We know that to be successful in the long term, it's not just about what we do but how we do it. We're committed to doing the right thing for our customers, our people, our partners and the communities in which we live and work. We call this seeing the bigger picture.

www.sky.com/corporate

About the Responsible Business Awards
Business in the Community's Responsible Business Awards brings to life how businesses are creating innovative and sustainable solutions to our most pressing challenges, inspiring thousands of others to make a lasting difference and adding value back to their own business.

Now in its 19th year, the awards, rigorously assessed by independent business peers, are widely acknowledged as one of the most respected endorsements of responsible business in the UK and abroad. Open to companies of any size, sector or scale, a wide range of businesses enter, demonstrating the breadth and depth of responsible business.

Each year, over 250 business peers assess the entries, endorsement planters are used by companies to profile their achievement, and over 4,000 people attend our Responsible Business Galas across the UK, inspiring thousands of people to be a motivated part of the Prince's Responsible Business Network.

The awards in numbers:
In 2016, Business in the Community received 297 entries for the Responsible Business Awards, shortlisted 103 and re-accredited a further 82 entries for demonstrating continual impact in their responsible business programme. 52 companies were named finalists.