The '1st Electricity Course' organised by Iberdrola España, concludes with more than half of the at-risk young people participating in Valencia signing for a job

Thirteen at-risk young people have successfully completed the '1st Electricity Course', organised by UNICEF Spain, Iberdrola España and the NGO Cesal in Valencia, under the framework of the Generation Unlimited multi-stakeholder partnership. The programme combines technical training, multidisciplinary skills and internships in companies, a comprehensive approach that has resulted in a high insertion rate: seven of the participating students – 54% – signed job contracts immediately after completing the course. This course has been carried out thanks to the participation of the Valencian Community’s Fundación Laboral de la Construcción and the companies Ainyma Técnicos Asociados, Inartel Ingeniería y Obras, Electrofernández and Eiffage. 

‘This initiative has demonstrated, once again, that the combination of practical training, personalised accompaniment and the involvement of the business network is key to carving out successful pathways for at-risk young people. We are grateful for the involvement of the Foundation and the four companies that have made this training and its results possible’, said María Carmen Martín, head of Employment at Cesal in the Valencian Community. Martín and Aranzazu Valero, head of Training, led the presentation of diplomas to the students who completed the programme.  

The 'Electricity Training Programme' was born as a continuation of the 'Youth Talent in the electricity and photovoltaic sector conference' that took place in 2024, also organised by UNICEF Spain, Iberdrola España and Cesal, under the framework of the Generation Unlimited Spain partnership. That meeting was the starting point of a new stage of partnering to generate real opportunities for youth employment in clean energy. Thanks to the contributions at this meeting, Iberdrola España's expertise in the industry and Cesal's expertise in training programmes with company internships, electricity was identified as a strategic area with high job demand and this new training itinerary was designed. 

‘Working in multi-stakeholder partnerships is key to tackling the major challenge of including at-risk young people in society and securing them jobs’, explained Marta Conteras, manager of Sustainability and Social Impact at UNICEF Spain and coordinator of the Generation Unlimited Spain partnership. ‘By involving young people, companies, the public sector, academia and community organisations that comprehensively accompany the whole process and focusing on young people and their talent, we are achieving real inclusion. This translates into real opportunities for thousands of young people who did not have them and allows companies to gain trained, highly motivated and committed talent’, he added.