Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Premier Forest Products has seen success with its corporate parenting programme launched to support UK care leavers.
Working closely with Newport City Council’s Children’s Services, the programme takes on up to six young people each year, offering paid work placements across departments including finance, operations, logistics, and manufacturing. Two years after launching its Premier Forest Corporate Parenting Programme, Premier Forest has supported 12 young people through tailored work placements, mentoring, and educational support, providing the confidence, structure, and opportunity to move successfully into the world of work.
Each mentee is matched with an in-house mentor and receives wraparound support, including educational tutoring where needed.
Premier Forest Products CEO Terry Edgell said: “As a business, we have always believed that commercial success comes with social responsibility. The idea behind our corporate parenting programme is simple: if we can give these young people the same care, encouragement, and structure we would give our own children, we can change their life chances. Young people are now thriving, working, and believing in themselves again. Our goal is to roll this out nationally, and to inspire other employers to do the same.”
