Why Michelin Supports The Prince's Trust

What is the connection between making tyres and supporting The Prince's Trust?

The answer is that both are all about people!

For many years, the Michelin Group has had a strong ethos of performance and responsibility but what does this mean? We believe that we have a duty to take responsibility for the wellbeing of our own employees, the environment at large and equally importantly the local communities in which we manufacture and sell our tyres. In fulfilling this duty we will then be able to achieve a sustainable long-term performance for the company. So, what better way to serve our local community here in Tayside than to be involved with The Prince's Trust!

Our particular role with The Prince's Trust Tayside is in support of the Team programme. This is a 12-week course aimed at developing the personal skills and confidence of young people who for whatever reason have faced difficulties in their lives.We convene the Employer Support Group which has the goal of providing employed assistant leaders and employed volunteer young people to participate in the Team programmes.

Having employed participants join the team greatly enhances the effectiveness of the development programme. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Without fail, by the end of each course, the young people have developed their skills and confidence to such an extent that it is impossible to tell the employed participants apart! Equally importantly, the participants have always developed a self-motivation and enthusiasm to build on what they have achieved.

When you attend the final Team presentation, you cannot fail but to be impressed.

Inevitably there is also a positive spin-off for the employed volunteers who in turn develop their own personal skills in such areas as leadership, team working, communication and tolerance and bring these back to the workplace. This is why at Michelin, we consider participation in Team as a development opportunity and regularly send participants.

For us then, supporting The Prince's Trust and in particular the Team programme is a win - win all round. As a company we are fulfilling our duty of care to the local community by helping develop young people who at the end of the day are our prospective future employees or customers. At the same we are seizing an excellent opportunity to develop our existing employees for the good of our own business.

The business case is indisputable and we would invite all employers both in the public and private sectors to discover the difference supporting The Prince's Trust makes. To find out more you can contact:Trevor Haines, General Manager, Michelin Tyres PLC Dundee. Telephone 01382 734400. Email Trevor.Haines@Michelin.co.uk