Back in November 2020, when we unveiled our new strategic vision, we cited our ambition to become a world-leader in two core areas: sustainability and growth. As part of this ambition, we promised to deliver not just for customers, but also for our people, our shareholders and the communities in which we operate.
For us, it is about using our industry expertise and global reach to tackle the issues that societies face. That is why, at the forefront of our sustainability agenda, is the determination to make a positive impact in the communities in which we operate.
We acknowledge that there are challenges on the horizon: As of July 2021, over 40% of the world’s population still did not have access to the internet; if not addressed, this could lead to a digital skills gap that results in a loss of $11.5 trillion by 2028 to vulnerable people across the globe. And while 74% of girls in advanced economies express an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in high school, only 0.4% of them chose to study a degree in technology.
We’re determined to tackle these issues. Whether creating a great place to work, supporting communities, or promoting diversity, we strive for our impact on society to be positive. In 2021, we have contributed over £15m to supporting safer betting initiatives, athletes and organisations across the globe, promoting diversity & inclusion in grassroots sport, technology, and in communities where women, children and families are marginalised. However, we will not rest on our laurels and, by 2024, we pledge to invest £100m in ESG initiatives.
As a company that develops cutting-edge technology, we are determined to use our position to provide opportunities that will help to address this imbalance. To do this, we recently launched “EnTrain”, our new multi-million-pound global initiative to increase access to, and diversity within, technology around the world. Unveiled at our recent “Entain Sustain” ESG event on 10 November 2021, EnTrain is helping to deliver on a key pledge of our strategic vision: to create sustainable value for local communities.
EnTrain consists of four main pillars:
- Entain Academy - Supplying transformative technology training for the next generation
- Entain Scholarships - Providing the platform for a diverse selection of candidates to become digital pioneers
- Entain Apprenticeships - Upskilling and developing our existing employees, and expanding external apprenticeship schemes with new and existing partners
- Entain Partnerships - Partnering and collaborating with organisations around the world who amplify and support diversity in technology
Our aspiration with EnTrain is to positively impact the lives of over 1 million people around the world, either directly or through their families and dependents, by 2030. EnTrain marks the first global, strategic commitment of the Entain Foundation with a single initiative supporting people across all under-represented groups.
The global partnerships announced as part of EnTrain aim to provide opportunities for under-represented and disadvantaged groups across the UK, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. These include:
- Apprenticeships with YGAM (the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust) in the UK to develop skills in coaching, leadership, and project management
- A partnership with the Berlin University of Technology and the Nexus Institute in Europe to develop an international executive training programme. The partnership looks to promote Gendered Innovations to enhance diversity in research and development for technology managers and R&D personnel
- A scholarship partnership with the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), in the US, to support applicants looking to build careers in the online sports betting and gaming industries
- A partnership with non-profit organisation Tiempo de Juego to launch a high-performance and community-led female football team in Colombia
- A multi-faceted approach in Australia to deliver improved outcomes for under-represented groups in technology, led by our new “Pathways Academy”, which will deliver enhanced pathways into technology-based industries for women, migrant workers, indigenous and neurodiverse groups
“Our new EnTrain initiative provides the building blocks to help the next generation to pursue a career in technology, through access to academic and vocational courses and the technological expertise and equipment they need to succeed. At Entain, we are re-shaping the future of interactive entertainment and, while fulfilling this mission, we want to help people to pursue their desired career,” Jette adds.
Our new EnTrain initiative provides the building blocks to help the next generation to pursue a career in technology, through access to academic and vocational courses and the technological expertise and equipment they need to succeed. At Entain, we are re-shaping the future of interactive entertainment and, while fulfilling this mission, we want to help people to pursue their desired career
EnTrain builds on the positive work we are already doing to support women in technology through non-profit organisations, such as Girls Who Code and the Tech Girls Movement Foundation, an initiative which was proudly launched by our CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen in March 2021. Through our sustainability strategy so far, we have already helped approximately 50,000 people in 2021, via safer gambling initiatives, athlete support programmes, D&I schemes, or our community partnerships, and, now with EnTrain, we aspire to build on this to positively impact the lives of people around the world.