Pentland Brands partners The People to form new youth advisory board

Pentland Brands, owner of brands including Ellesse, Berghaus and Speedo, has partnered with mission-led start-up The People to form a new youth advisory board to act at the heart of its employee experience, and its internal diversity and inclusion (D&I) networks.

Bringing youth insights into its boardroom, Pentland Brands is seeking people under the age of 30 in its key markets – the UK, USA, India, Vietnam and China – to act as a focus group and inform on key strategic decisions, as well as shape how the business supports, nurtures and develops its current and potential employees.

The move comes following recent research by the Corporate Counsel Business Journal, which showed that while over 50% of the global population is under the age of 30, the average age of a board of directors is almost 60.
The People’s mission is to amplify the voices of young people and underserved communities and help companies build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Alongside the young changemakers who form part of The People’s network, the board will be made up of Pentland Brands employees from internal diversity and inclusion networks, “including LGBTQ+ communities, black colleagues and their allies, women and wellbeing”.

The group will offer diverse perspectives to tackle key business challenges, redefining the employee experience “from reward to recruitment”.

Sara Brennan, Positive Business Director at Pentland Brands, said: “Our partnership with The People is designed to make positive changes for the next generation of talent entering the workplace, as well as supporting our current employees to make a real difference.

“Exploring fresh perspectives allows us to take action in a way that supports, reflects and celebrates the diversity of our teams, both now and in the future.”

The Pentland Collective, which was co-created by Pentland Brands, The People and young changemakers, was first developed in 2022 as a way of addressing the career barriers faced by young people from underrepresented communities.

Kian Bakhtiari, Founder of The People, commented: “We are proud to partner with Pentland Brands, a company that is engaged and willing to listen, learn and support a new generation of global talent.

“The Pentland Collective brings young and diverse voices into the boardroom and delivers fresh-outside perspectives into the business. This is a vehicle for positive social change.”

Applications to join the new youth advisory board are being taken from today, 25 July, until 18 August 2023.