Announcing Our 5% Club Membership
Announcing Our 5% Club Membership
We’re delighted to announce we have joined The 5% Club, an employer-led movement focused on creating meaningful earn and learn career opportunities for people across the UK. Membership of the 5% Club further reinforces our long-standing commitment to attracting and developing talent from diverse backgrounds into the telecoms, connectivity and power infrastructure sectors. Working with The 5% Club, we’ll actively support early careers and alternative pathways into the industry.
The 5% Club exists to increase the employment and career prospects of today’s youth and to help equip the UK with the skilled workforce it needs for the future. Member organisations commit to building a workforce where at least 5% of their employees are engaged in earn and learn roles, including apprenticeships, graduate programmes, sponsored students and traineeships, within five years of joining.
Across Clarke Telecom and Clarke Connect, and as a 5% Club member, we will measure and report progress annually, embedding accountability and transparency into how we invest in youth employee development.
We already support a wide range of early-career and development opportunities, with 17 of our employees falling into the 5% Club status, which is around 5.5% of our total workforce, including:
- Apprenticeship programmes
- Graduate and traineeship pathways
- Company-funded learning and development opportunities
Looking ahead, we’ll further expand these pathways with the introduction of T-Levels from 2026, helping to strengthen technical education routes and address ongoing skills shortages within the infrastructure sector.
The telecoms, connectivity and power infrastructure sectors face a well-documented industry-wide challenge: an ageing workforce alongside increasing demand for new technical, digital and commercial skills. Addressing this requires long-term investment in early careers and structured development that prepares the next generation to step confidently into critical roles.
In collaboration with Renew Holdings PLC, our Emerging Talent Programme plays a key role in tackling this challenge. The Programme combines academic learning with hands-on experience, providing early-career colleagues with a clear development pathway that builds capability, confidence, and understanding of how their contributions support our business and the wider industry.
Delivered through a structured one-year framework, the Programme includes five core development modules and a collaborative project, supporting the development of essential technical, behavioural and commercial skills alongside real workplace experience. Following completion, individuals continue to focus on their role and academic studies, with degree apprenticeships typically taking around five years to complete.
Degree apprenticeships are fully funded by us and supported through coaching, development and mandatory role-specific training, including industry learning such as working at height and radio frequency awareness. Participants also have opportunities to work towards professional qualifications and chartership, where applicable.
Demand for these pathways continues to grow, with degree apprenticeship vacancies attracting between 150 and 200 applications per role each year.
In 2025, we welcomed two colleagues onto the Emerging Talent Programme:
- Beau Coffey, Apprentice Acquisition Surveyor, and
- Liam Wiezniak, Apprentice Quantity Surveyor.
Their progression reflects our continued investment in future capability and the long-term skills pipeline across the infrastructure sector.
A people-first approach to tackling the skills shortage
Tackling the skills gap and diversifying the workforce remain key priorities for us. By investing in structured learning, hands-on experience, and long-term development, we’re continually supporting individual career progression and strengthening the resilience and capability of our business and the wider industry.
Sergio Pinguinha, HR Advisor at Clarke, commented,
“Joining The 5% Club is a natural progression for us. We are passionate about creating opportunities that allow people to learn, grow and build meaningful careers with us. By committing to earn and learn pathways, we are investing in the future of our people and the future skills our industry depends on.”
Part of a wider commitment to responsible employment
Founded in 2013, The 5% Club works with more than 1,000 employers across the UK, from SMEs to FTSE organisations, to champion skills development with measurable social impact. Through its platform, they also engage with policymakers and industry leaders to promote the value of long-term skills investment.
As members, we join a community of employers who share a common ethos focused on structured development, education and opportunity. We are proud to be recognised as part of this club and movement and look forward to working alongside The 5% Club and its members to continue building a skilled, inclusive and future-ready workforce.
For more information about The 5% Club, visit www.5percentclub.org.uk.
Clarke Telecom Named One of the UK's Top 100 Inclusive Employers for 2025
Clarke Telecom Named One of the UK's Top 100 Inclusive Employers for 2025
We are proud to have been recognised within the Top 100 Inclusive Employers in the UK for 2025, assessed by the National Centre for Diversity (NCD). This year, we placed 62nd, a significant rise from last year’s 89th place, and recognition of our continued commitment to building an inclusive, supportive, and equitable workplace for all employees.
The National Centre for Diversity champions fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement (FREDIE) across UK workplaces.
Their annual Top 100 Inclusive Employers list, formally announced at the FREDIE Conference & Awards 2025, recognises organisations that embed these principles across their cultures, structures, and behaviours.
NCD continually recognises our commitment to strengthening our inclusion strategy, benchmarking progress, and ensuring measurable year-on-year improvements, as reflected by Rachael Stanner, Head of HR at Clarke, receiving a Special Recognition Award at the FREDIE Conference & Awards and by our Investors in Diversity Silver Status Award this year.
FREDIE is more than an accreditation at Clarke. It is a collective responsibility shared across our people, leadership, and processes.
Embedded Processes and Governance
We continue to integrate FREDIE principles into everyday operations, from corporate governance to team-level decision-making, including the review of policies, behaviours, and systems to ensure fairness and transparency.
Dedicated FREDIE Forum Group
Our internal FREDIE Forum Group brings together employees across the business to champion inclusion, share insights, and drive improvements, helping the company evolve and better support colleagues.
Employee Voice and Continuous Improvement
Diversity & engagement surveys and anonymous feedback channels enhance employee experiences. Insights directly influence our development plans, wellbeing initiatives, engagement activities, and inclusion priorities.
Inclusive Recruitment and Onboarding
Our recruitment processes ensure fair shortlisting, unbiased assessment, and structured interviews. FREDIE-aligned employee onboarding and training helps embed an inclusive culture from day one.
Supporting People to Thrive
Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), mental health support, learning opportunities, and wellbeing resources create an environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered.
A Workplace Where Everyone Is Welcome
Our inclusion within the NCD’s Top 100 Inclusive Employers in the UK for 2025 reinforces our position as a company that celebrates diversity and actively embeds inclusion into its culture and practice. The improved ranking is progress, a milestone, and a motivator.
We remain committed to:
- Strengthening a workplace where everyone can belong
- Removing barriers and bias
- Listening to employees and acting on insight
- Creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds
- Setting high standards for fairness and respect across the business.
As we continue to grow and evolve, FREDIE remains a foundation for how we work, support our people and supply chain partners, and align with our customers’ values.
Budget 2025 Why Integrated Infrastructure is the Foundation of UK Growth
Budget 2025: Why Integrated Infrastructure is the Foundation of the UK’s Future Growth
Clarke Insight by Wayne Brierley, Business Development Director
In the days since the Budget announcement on 26 November, industry reaction and early analysis have reaffirmed the essential role that integrated digital and power infrastructure will play in shaping the UK’s future prosperity.
The 2025 Budget arrives at a significant time for the UK’s economic direction. Even without headline telecoms or power announcements, it reinforces the key truth that digital and power networks have become essential national utilities. They are fundamental to resilience, the secure flow of information and power, and the UK’s capacity to grow and compete.
Digital Connectivity and Smart Networks
Integrating these networks is key to unlocking productivity, supporting communities and driving sustainable progress. The Government’s position increasingly reflects the understanding that infrastructure is an economic strategy. Across advanced economies, the link between infrastructure quality and GDP growth is clear. We support this ambition by delivering practical, scalable solutions that enable real-world progress.
The Government continues to emphasise the strategic value of high-capacity digital networks. While significant new funding was not included, the direction is clear:
Digital connectivity is fundamental to productivity and innovation.
Progress depends on addressing land access, planning timescales, regulation and investment confidence.
Intelligent, resilient networks will expand the role of digital services across business, mobility and public service delivery.
The UK’s digital ambitions hinge on smarter deployment processes rather than simply additional capital.
Power, Infrastructure, Energy Systems and Electrified Transport
Budget 2025 also includes measures to strengthen the UK’s power systems, which are the backbone for connectivity, electrified transport, manufacturing and everyday services. Key actions include:
Improving grid connection processes
Prioritising strategic national schemes
Continuing investment in low-carbon and long-term energy security
Supporting transmission upgrades and long-term energy security
£200 million for EV charging deployment (£100 million) and local capability (£100 million)
All of this matters, because digital networks, EV charging, data centres and connected mobility cannot scale without reliable, flexible power infrastructure. Charging networks are now treated as essential national infrastructure, central to electrifying fleets, logistics and public mobility.
Leading the UK's Power and Electrification Journey
As an Independent Connection Provider, we enable safe, efficient power connections by:
- Coordinating with Distribution Network Operators
- Accelerating and de-risking connection timelines
- Delivering certified, technically robust installations
We also deliver national EV programmes for organisations electrifying their fleets, including:
- Power assessments and DNO liaison
- AC and DC charging design
- Civil, electrical and turnkey delivery
- Load management and energy optimisation
- Long-term maintenance and support
With combined expertise in digital and power systems, we’re advancing the UK’s transition to electrified transport and modern energy systems, including the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems. The Government is recognising renewable energy as a core element of national resilience rather than an environmental goal.
Powering Infrastructure through Group Expertise
A unified infrastructure approach is essential and working within Renew Holdings PLC strengthens our delivery capability. Across rail, water, environmental services, energy and telecoms, Renew companies deliver critical engineering solutions that keep the nation operating safely and reliably.
For our customers, this provides:
- Integrated solutions through specialist group collaboration.
- Assurance of long-term asset resilience.
- Backing of a financially robust, FTSE-listed group.
- Shared knowledge across regulated sectors.
Post-Budget: Opportunity Through Integration
Budget 2025 reinforces that future growth will come from the UK’s capacity to modernise and integrate its infrastructure.
Priorities must be to:
- Streamline planning
- Expand clean energy capacity
- Accelerate digital connectivity
- Deliver infrastructure as interconnected systems
A Connected and Resilient Future
Across policy and industry, they share one conclusion: infrastructure drives growth. Success will depend on strong digital networks, reliable power systems and rapid expansion of low-carbon infrastructure.
Together with our clients, partners and the wider Renew Group companies, we’re delivering the integrated systems that support growth, strengthen communities and build a more connected, competitive, and resilient nation.
The UK’s future depends on seamless telecoms solutions, smart network connectivity, and power infrastructure that’s resilient. We’re delivering the solutions that will turn that vision into reality.