On 19 February, 2013, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) announced it has exceeded its original Skills to Succeed goal of equipping 250,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. As a result – and to increase its impact in communities worldwide – the company has set a higher goal: by 2015, it will equip 500,000 people globally with these workplace and entrepreneurial skills.

The company surpassed its original goal, which it set in 2010, by working with global and local non-profit partners that deliver measurable employment and entrepreneurship outcomes at scale. Accenture has already equipped more than 320,000 people with skills that enable them to participate in and contribute to the economy.

“Skills are a key driver of economic empowerment, leading to greater innovation, increased competiveness and rising standards of living in both mature and emerging markets,” said Pierre Nanterme, Accenture’s chairman & CEO. “Through Skills to Succeed, our people are inspired to put their skills and interests to work creating sustained impact in communities around the world. This continued dedication will help us achieve our increased goal of equipping half a million people with skills by 2015.”

Skills to Succeed draws on one of Accenture’s core competencies – training talent – to help address the need for skills that open doors to employment. The initiative harnesses the powerful combination of financial support and the pro bono contributions of time and Accenture employee skills.

Accenture is collaborating with non-profits on more than 200 Skills to Succeed initiatives, which focus on making a sustained impact around the world, including:

• Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute – enabling the organization to train 7,500 new patient navigators and expand its skills-building and job readiness program in 35 locations across the United States
• Junior Achievement and Junior Achievement Young Enterprise – helping to equip young people with workplace and entrepreneurial skills in more than 19 countries
• Plan International – providing training and career opportunities to approximately 7,100 underprivileged young people in Thailand and Indonesia in industries such as information technology, customer relations, business process outsourcing and electronic repair
• Save the Children – helping provide approximately 7,000 disadvantaged and at-risk young people in Egypt, Indonesia and the Philippines with vocational and life skills that assist them in securing lasting employment
• Youth Business International – working to equip the organization’s global network of non-profit affiliates – such as Conexão in Brazil – with improved tools, funding, mentoring and training to help 33,500 disadvantaged young people around the world become thriving entrepreneurs

“We have witnessed the profound effect skills training has on people, businesses, industries, markets and communities,” said Adrian Lajtha, Accenture’s chief leadership officer. “We now have the opportunity to continue combining the passion, dedication and resilience of our people and our strategic non-profit partners to increase the impact of Skills to Succeed around the world.”

About Accenture Skills to Succeed

Skills to Succeed is Accenture’s global corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on advancing employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in both mature and emerging markets.

By 2015, the company is committed to equipping 500,000 people around the world with the skills to get a job or build a business.

To achieve this, Accenture will continue to work with strategic partners that share its skills-building goals. Current partners include Junior Achievement, Plan International, Save the Children, and Youth Business International, among other organizations. Additionally, the company offers its people volunteering and pro-bono opportunities and expands its impact by replicating and scaling successful initiatives. Accenture and the Accenture Foundations will contribute more than US$100 million by the end of 2013 to support the company’s corporate citizenship efforts, through global and local giving, as well as pro bono contributions of time and Accenture employee skills.

A longer, five minute film with case studies can be found at Accenture’s website here.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with 259,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.

Through its Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship focus, Accenture is committed to equipping 500,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business.

The company generated net revenues of US$27.9 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2012.

More information about Skills to Succeed in Australia

More details about Skills to Succeed projects in Australia at: http://www.accenture.com/au-en/company/citizenship/Pages/skills-succeed.aspx