Alan McLeish is Managing Director of QTS which is YPI’s principal funder in Ayrshire. Here he explains why his business has been a long-term partner of empowering #generationchange.
Why do you continue to support YPI?
We are now into our 4th year as principal funder in Ayrshire, and it has been a really positive experience for us as a business and for our team. We appreciate the structure of the programme that helps to create young, active citizens in our communities and also provides financial support to some really great charities. It’s not just a case of handing out money – the young people have to learn about the causes that affect where they live and engage with the charities to help secure the funding.
What has inspired you about Ayrshire’s young people?
We have been fortunate enough to attend almost all of the YPI finals across the Ayrshire school network and it is great to see so much talent here on our doorstep. It is inspiring to see how many of the young people stay involved with their charities and who get so passionate about the cause they are campaigning for. Their creativity and enthusiasm is infectious and we really enjoy getting to see all of the presentations.
Why does QTS commit so much time, energy, and vital resources to the programme delivery in Ayrshire?
When we invest so much money into an initiative like YPI, it’s important to us to make sure we harness the opportunities that it brings. Not only does being involved in YPI provide good stories for us to share on our social channels and local media, but it also helps the development of our staff. We have a team of individuals from across our business who get involved in the finals and also in the mentoring process and each of them has found it to be an incredibly positive experience. It helps them with their own confidence with regards to leadership and mentorship and they can bring these skills back into the business.
Why is it more important than ever for companies to focus on their communities?
The coronavirus crisis has definitely created a gap in funding for charities in our local communities and I feel that it is important for us, and other local businesses, to step up and help. There has been a marked rise in people that are relying on the services that these charities and with the pandemic making it harder to fundraise, we should be using our corporate power to help where we can.
