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SSE boosts parental leave policies as part of recruitment drive

SSE has unveiled “significant” improvements to its family leave policies as part of the company’s drive to attract more people into its workforce.

The company already employs close to 11,000 people and plans to recruit at least 1,000 new roles per year to 2025.

In the past year it has hired an additional 1,200 people including a record number of apprentices and graduates.

Changes to its parental leave policies include giving partners of those who take maternity or adoption leave an additional 7 weeks’ paid leave which, together with paternity leave, means they now have 9 weeks’ paid leave in total.

It also includes two weeks’ leave at full pay for employees who suffer a pregnancy loss, including partners.

Additionally employees can get up to two weeks’ leave at full pay for fertility treatment.

John Stewart, director of human resources at SSE, said: “We are racing ahead with our plans to deliver a cheaper, cleaner more secure homegrown energy system for the UK and Ireland.

“Our ambitious plans include building the world’s largest offshore wind farm and the network to deliver the electricity to where it is needed.

“But we know we must attract and retain the best talent in order to achieve our aims. And that means doing things differently.

“In the context of a large electricity infrastructure business these changes are progressive, and I am very proud of the innovative and forward-thinking things our teams are constantly looking at in order to improve our offering.

“These latest steps are about recognising that there are many ways to start a family and we want all our employees to feel they are supported wherever they are on their journey.”