Pod CEO takes on King’s Trust Challenge, opening doors for the next generation
25 Sep 2026
25 Sep 2026
8 min read
When our CEO Melanie Lane signed up for The King's Trust CEO Challenge, she knew it wouldn't be easy. Three days in the Scottish Highlands wilderness, taking on river crossings, cold water immersions, hiking, and endurance challenges alongside senior business leaders from across the UK, all in aid of one of the country's most important causes.
The King's Trust has supported more than 1.3 million young people in the UK, yet with more than 900,000 still out of work today, its mission is far from finished. Created to mark 50 years of life-changing work, the CEO Challenge brought business leaders together to raise funds and awareness for the career barriers facing young people. Mel has surpassed her £20,000 fundraising target, and EDF, our parent company, generously matched it in full, bringing Pod's total contribution to £40,000.
While Mel was navigating the Highlands, our People team had its own ideas. Members of our Leadership Team took on a series of mini challenges, from sleeping bag packing and plank holds to marshmallow games, knot tying, and memory tests. Employees were invited to predict how well they would perform, and for every correct prediction, they contributed to the fundraising pot. The initiative brought the whole company into the effort, turning a challenge thousands of miles away into something personal for everyone at Pod.
This commitment goes beyond a one-off fundraising campaign, however. It sits squarely within Eden at Pod, our long-term programme for creating positive change both inside the business and beyond it. One of Eden's six pillars is supporting young people, because we believe businesses have an active role to play in creating routes into work for those who need them most.
This year, we brought that commitment to life by welcoming our first ever cohort of 13 placement students. From day one, they have taken on real work, built experience in a fast-moving industry and contributed across the business in ways that genuinely matter. We have also welcomed work experience students throughout the summer, giving more young people an early glimpse of what a career in energy and technology can look like.
Pod is taking the initiative from our partners at EDF who use their leading industry position to provide meaningful career opportunities, and have supported over 5,000 young people across the UK so far. EDF also works closely with upReach, an award‑winning social mobility charity that helps more than 3,000 undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds access and sustain graduate career opportunities.
Reflecting on her King’s Trust experience, Mel said: "The conversations the challenge sparked were as important as the challenge and the fundraising itself. Spending three days with leaders who are equally committed to this cause reinforced just how urgent the need is, and how much more we can achieve when we work together. I came back more inspired than ever to build on what we already do at Pod and help create more routes into work for young people."
Jonathan Townsend, CEO of The King's Trust, also spoke about the challenge’s impact:
“We arrived at Inverness Airport as a team of 50 business leaders taking on a challenge, but somewhere along the way, those acquaintances became friendships. I’ve been inspired by the generosity, determination and camaraderie of this incredible group, who have raised more than £500,000 to help young people build brighter futures. What makes me most excited isn’t just what we’ve achieved, but what comes next. This feels like the beginning of something special, and I know there is so much more we can do together to support the next generation.”
Wasting no time to maintain momentum in this space, Pod will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the Social Mobility Factory at Tobacco Dock in London, the UK's biggest careers event for state-educated people, organised by our partners at The 93% Club. We're proud to be part of a community that shares our belief - where you start shouldn't determine where you end up.
The event brings together students, graduates, and employers to create connections, spark conversations, and open opportunities for the next generation of talent. Our Chief People Officer, Ed Airey, will also be speaking on a panel to discuss how the world of work is changing and give insight on how to prepare for new roles as industries evolve.
Taken together alongside EDF, the CEO Challenge, our placement programme, and our work with The 93% Club reflect what Eden at Pod is really about: not just talking about opportunity but actively creating it. It’s also just the start of our work with the King’s Trust and look forward to collaborating with them further. We're dedicated to making Pod a business that opens doors, for young people stepping into the world of work and for the communities we're part of.
To find out more about Eden at Pod, visit podenergy.com/eden.
To learn more about The King's Trust, visit kingstrust.org.uk.
To find out more about The 93% Club and the Social Mobility Factory, visit socialmobilityfactory.com.
More News
