Section SOCIETY
TOPIC

HELLENiQ ENERGY
Empowering Youth Program by HELLENiQ ENERGY

The aim of the Empowering Youth Program is the substantial empowerment of the new generation, through investment in excellence, innovation, specialization, and continuous education. HELLENiQ ENERGY creates opportunities for talented young people, equipping them with the necessary tools to develop into skilled professionals and active citizens with a positive impact on society and the economy. The Program rewards excellence and effort, enhances equal access to education, supports personal and academic development, and strengthens bonds of trust with local communities.                   
  • Graduates of General and Vocational High Schools (EPAL) from the neighboring municipalities of Thriasio Plain, Western Thessaloniki, and Kozani
  • Graduates of General and Vocational High Schools (EPAL) (school year 2023–2024) in the Region of Thessaly, affected by the devastating floods caused by phenomenon Daniel
  • Final-year students and graduates of universities wishing to continue their studies in Greek and international academic institutions
  • HELLENiQ ENERGY scholarship recipients
  • HELLENiQ ENERGY executives and professionals in the energy sector and sustainable development
  • Citizens of the local communities where the Group operates
  • The educational and academic community
  • Local Government Authorities
  • The wider public                   

The Program has been implemented since 2009 and continues consistently to this day, with new initiatives gradually being introduced and its reach expanding both within and beyond Greece.             

The Empowering Youth Program is a strategic, long-term initiative of HELLENiQ ENERGY that consistently invests in education, research, and innovation, aiming to empower the younger generation and connect knowledge with the needs of the future. With a presence of over 17 years and a footprint in key geographical areas where the Group operates, as well as nationwide, the Program serves as a platform of opportunities for young people distinguished by their excellence, dedication, and ambition.

 

The Empowering Youth Program is structured around three main pillars: a) High School Excellence Awards, b) Postgraduate Scholarships and Alumni Community, c) Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development.

 

Since 2009, HELLENiQ ENERGY has been rewarding outstanding graduates of General and Vocational High Schools (EPAL) who have entered higher education through the Panhellenic Examinations, from areas neighboring its facilities: Aspropyrgos, Elefsina, Mandra–Eidyllia, Megara, Delta, Ampelokipoi–Menemeni, Evosmos–Kordelio, and, since 2022, the Municipality of Kozani, where one of the Group’s largest photovoltaic parks operates. In 2024, the initiative expanded to the flood-affected areas of Thessaly, following the devastating Daniel phenomenon. Through the program, more than 5,700 students have been recognized for their performance and consistency, gaining a strong incentive to successfully continue their studies in higher education. Every year, special events are held in each region dedicated to the awardees, their parents and guardians, as well as their teachers.

 

Additionally, since 2011, the Group has been actively contributing to the specialization of young scientists in cutting-edge fields by granting scholarships for one- or two-year full-time postgraduate studies, in Greece and abroad. The scholarships target high-achieving students selecting cutting-edge fields of strategic importance for sustainable development, such as Economics and Business, Energy and Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Digital Transformation. The programs take place at leading universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece. HELLENiQ ENERGY scholarships are ranked among the most comprehensive and generous programs offered by the private sector in Greece. In 2025, the scholarship program was expanded to include the Group’s subsidiaries abroad, specifically those operating in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and the Republic of North Macedonia.

 

In 2025, HELLENiQ ENERGY established the HELLENiQ ENERGY Alumni Community. This created a dynamic network of current and former scholarship recipients, whose members have access to career opportunities within the Group, mentoring from experienced executives, training programs and workshops, as well as corporate responsibility and networking initiatives. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge, develop themselves, inspire others, and be inspired.

 

In collaboration with Alba Graduate Business School, the company founded the “HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @Alba Graduate Business School”, the first Model Center of Excellence in Greece dedicated to Energy and Sustainable Development. The Center functions as a hub of scientific knowledge, innovation, and connectivity, with initiatives such as learning conferences, academic research and case studies, publications and scientific papers, the organization of a startup incubator in the energy sector (Synergy Hub), and the support of postgraduate students through MSc and Executive Programs. The aim of the Center is to shape professionals who will lead a more innovative and sustainable world, while also preparing them to face the challenges of the energy sector and sustainable development.

 

Overall, Empowering Youth represents an investment in people, knowledge, and innovation. Through a modern, multidimensional, and coherent framework, HELLENiQ ENERGY strengthens the skills of the younger generation and professionals, cultivates values and opportunities, and creates the conditions for a society of equal opportunities, active participation, and sustainable growth.                     

The Empowering Youth Program is implemented in collaboration with educational and academic institutions, as well as organizations that promote excellence and sustainable development.

Specifically, the High School Excellence Awards Program is carried out in cooperation with schools, local education authorities, and local government in the neighboring municipalities of Kozani, Thessaly, Thriasio Plain, and Western Thessaloniki.

At the same time, the establishment of the HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy at Alba Graduate Business School represents the first partnership in Greece between a corporation and an academic institution in the fields of energy and sustainability. The Center encompasses initiatives in education, research, and the support of startups.       

The active and meaningful participation of HELLENiQ ENERGY employees has been integral to the implementation of the Empowering Youth Program. In particular, within the framework of the Scholarship Program, an Evaluation Committee was formed, consisting of senior executives of the Group, with the purpose of reviewing applications and selecting candidates based on the criteria set out in the official announcement. At the same time, the Group’s Alumni Community operates as a dynamic network for interaction and support, where senior executives take an active role as mentors, offering guidance, professional advice, and inspiration to scholarship recipients and new members of the community. Additionally, Human Resources executives provide specialized advisory support to scholarship recipients, helping them make the most of the opportunities offered by the Group, develop their skills, and effectively plan their professional careers.                 
  • Thriasio Plain (Municipalities of Aspropyrgos, Elefsina, Mandra–Eidyllia, and Megara)
  • Western Thessaloniki (Municipalities of Ampelokipoi–Menemeni, Delta, and Kordelio–Evosmos)
  • Municipality of Kozani
  • Region of Thessaly
  • Universities in Greece, the European Union, and the United States of America
  • Cyprus, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and the Republic of North Macedonia, where the Group operates through its subsidiaries                  

The Empowering Youth Program of HELLENiQ ENERGY has proven its strength as one of the most enduring, widely participatory, and measurable initiatives for supporting the younger generation in Greece.

 

Since 2009, more than 5,700 high-achieving graduates of General and Vocational High Schools (EPAL) from over 60 schools in areas such as Thriasio Plain, Western Thessaloniki, and Kozani have been rewarded for their performance with financial awards that support them at the beginning of their university studies. In 2025 alone, 374 young people were honored through the program, while in 2024, extraordinary support was also provided to 431 top graduates from Thessaly, following the devastating floods of September 2023. The Group’s total investment in initiatives to support high school graduates exceeds €5.86 million.

 

At the same time, since 2011, more than 350 postgraduate scholarships have been awarded for studies at over 50 universities in 8 countries, including world-renowned institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Columbia, and Imperial College, as well as leading Greek universities. The scholarships cover fields of study such as Engineering and Energy, Digital Transformation, Economics and Business, and Environmental Sciences.

 

From 2025 onwards, the Scholarship Program is also expanding to Cyprus, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and the Republic of North Macedonia, giving students from the countries where the Group operates through its subsidiaries the opportunity to participate. In total, in 2025, scholarships were awarded to 35 students from 5 countries for postgraduate studies at top international universities.

 

In 2025, the Group also launched the HELLENiQ ENERGY Alumni Community, aiming to build a strong network of scholars. Participants gain access to career opportunities, training programs, mentoring from Group executives, and community engagement initiatives.

 

In parallel, in collaboration with Alba Graduate Business School, the company founded the HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy, a Model Center of Excellence that brings together entrepreneurship, innovation, and education in the fields of Energy and Sustainability. The Center operates as an educational, research, and entrepreneurial hub, promoting knowledge, innovation, and the development of startups with a strong environmental and social impact.

 

Empowering Youth has consistently nurtured the values of excellence, effort, and social contribution, meaningfully empowering the younger generation and helping shape a better future for society and the economy.                 

HELLENiQ ENERGY’s investment in the younger generation through the Empowering Youth Program constitutes a key pillar of the Group’s ESG strategy and demonstrates, in practice, its role as a responsible social partner. With a steadfast commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education, the Group enhances access to knowledge and supports lifelong learning.

 

The operation of the Scholarship Program, combined with the Center for Sustainability and Energy and the Alumni Community, strengthens the Group’s corporate identity as an employer of choice, building bonds of trust with young talent and specialized human capital.

 

The participation of more than 5,700 high school graduates and 350 university students in the Group’s initiatives, combined with a total investment exceeding €15 million in initiatives supporting the younger generation over the past decade, clearly demonstrates the breadth and enduring impact of HELLENiQ ENERGY. Furthermore, the expansion of the program to four additional countries where the Group operates further enhances its international dimension and confirms its commitment to creating opportunities and empowering the new generation across a broader geographical spectrum.

 

The Empowering Youth program is not simply a social investment but emerges as a  strategic tool for attracting and cultivating human capital in cutting-edge fields such as digital transformation, energy transition, and sustainable development. Through skills enhancement, the creation of opportunities, and the promotion of innovation, Empowering Youth makes a substantial contribution to shaping a new generation of professionals who will lead the transition toward a more sustainable and competitive business environment.