Johnstons of Elgin awarded for commitment to young people

Scottish cashmere and wool company Johnstons of Elgin has been recognised for its commitment to employing and training young people.

Johnstons of Elgin was awarded with the Investors in Young People (IIYP) accreditation, the only people management standard scheme that focuses on employers’ recruitment and retention of young people.

Launched in July 2014, the IIYP scheme originated through a key recommendation from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led by Sir Ian Wood, and is supported by 1 million pounds of funding from the Scottish Government.

The cashmere specialists received the award at a ceremony attended by Moray MP Angus Robertson for its focus on creating employment and training opportunities, which has included employing and training more than 80 young apprentices in recent years.

Speaking at the presentation, Robertson, said: “Achieving Investors in Young People accreditation for Johnstons really means marrying the traditional with the modern - the traditional weaving skills that are to be found in their iconic woollen mill, delivered through modern apprenticeships by enthusiastic young people building their career.”

Willie Wood, group HR director at Johnstons of Elgin, added: “Achieving this award demonstrates our unwavering commitment to young people and is a culmination of our proactive and strategic approach to increasing the number of young people in our workforce, providing them with high quality apprenticeship and sustainable employment.

“Youth employment is a key pillar of our business plan and I am delighted that our work in this area has been recognised in this way.”