Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and workforce tech company Year13 have announced a new partnership designed to empower young Australians with the skills to become influential change makers in their workplaces, communities and beyond.
At the heart of the collaboration is Year13’s Be Influential Academy, a free online program that redefines what it means to be an influencer. Rather than focusing on social media clout, the Academy equips young people with the skills and knowledge needed to be influential in their everyday lives and careers so they can create positive change, foster leadership and promote sustainability.
Year13 co-founder Will Stubley says the Be Influential Academy is about redefining what influence really means for young people.
“Today that word is often associated with social media but it’s about having the skills to lead, inspire and create positive change in their workplaces, communities and families,” he says. “We’re showing them everyone can be an influencer and how they can do it with confidence.”
The initiative responds to Year13’s youth research undertaken prior to the campaign launch which finds that just one in six (17%) surveyed young Australians aged 15 to 24 say they feel ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ confident in how to be influential at work.
In contrast, more than two thirds (69%) of young people who have finished the course say they feel this same level of confidence with how to be influential at work.
In addition, three quarters (73%) of participants say their understanding of being influential at work is ‘a lot’ or a ‘great deal’ better after having taken the Be Influential Academy.
Sustainability careers
As part of the partnership, Year13 and CCEP have also launched four new online Virtual Work Experience programs that spotlight “cutting edge” sustainability careers within CCEP.
These programs have already introduced “thousands” of young Australians to roles they might have never heard of such as Water & Nature Manager, Eco-Future Investor, Sustainable Packaging Director and Supply Chain Manager.
These free courses are promoted as offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at CCEP’s sustainability journey, from water stewardship and packaging innovation through to sustainable supply chains and forward-thinking investments.
Year13’s pre-campaign research also finds that just one in five (21%) surveyed young people say they know ‘a lot’ or a ‘great deal’ about careers in sustainability. Nearly three quarters (71%), however, have a positive view of the sustainability industry.
Lisa Rippon Lee, CCEP Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, says CCEP is committed to creating a more sustainable, diverse and inclusive future, and understands that young people will play a pivotal role in shaping it.
“Through these programs, we’re not only showcasing exciting pathways in sustainability – we’re investing in the next generation of leaders,” she says.
“This partnership reflects our global ambition to upskill 500,000 people facing barriers to employment by 2030, and we’re proud to help young Australians take their first steps toward purpose-drive careers.”
