Efforts to engage next generation in green agenda rewarded

HUGE efforts to engage the next generation in the green agenda were rewarded at Humber Renewables Awards 2023.

Several projects across a clutch of categories involved direct action in education, with the future workforce a key theme in the preceding Offshore Wind Connections 2023 conference.

It had heard how a further 10,000 workers will be required in addition to the current 4,700 serving in the Humber by 2030 – and with that date just seven years ago – many will now be in schools around the Energy Estuary.

Woman of the Year Claire Swannick is a logistics co-ordinator for Triton Knoll offshore wind farm. A STEM ambassador since 2016, and now building a team of them, she led on the development of a Lego Wind Energy Workshop for

Key Stage Two, now delivered to more than 2,000 children.

“To be nominated with such fantastic women was incredible,” she said. “I work in a very industrial environment, I’m not a corporatefacing person, and I do really believe in giving back to the community.

“To work in this industry, in the shadow of the Dock Tower is incredible.

“As a child walking with my dad

I’d see it every day, and it is so important that the boys and girls I talk to about STEM realise what great careers there are in their home town.”

Skills development and inspiration of young minds for future careers in energy, is at the core of a scheme operating across East Riding of Yorkshire and funded by Dogger Bank Wind Farm. It focuses on an increase and expansion of STEM provision with bespoke programmes for teachers of ages three to 11 to raise knowledge and expertise, and won the Renewables Education award.

Sara Fletcher, education and skills partnership manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “For us, this Dogger Bank investment in early years – pupils so far away from the labour market – felt like a risk, but it has really paid off.

“Teachers have really embraced renewables and STEM, and really got on board with it. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next couple of years.”

Careers education is also being embedded in the primary curriculum as part of the project, fostering a “learn it, see it, be it” ethos.

Lindsay Dougan, a senior manager for Dogger Bank with SSE, said: “We know it is the workforce of the future we are investing in.

“These young people are going to grow up with the wind farm producing their clean energy, and we’re so happy to be investing in their future.”

Engineering UTC North Lincolnshire worked with ORE Catapult to develop the Generation Net Zero project, growing it from a skills gap identified by primary school teachers to deliver the newly introduced design technology curriculum content, while engaging primary schoolchildren from underrepresented groups in STEM and renewables education.

Jennifer Vincent, director of business development at the Scunthorpe school, said: “This is really unexpected, having been finalists with Phillips 66 and RES, both of whom work with us closely.

“It is absolutely fantastic to win and all down to the hard work of the students.

“Those at primary schools now, aged 10, will be 38 in 2050, a prime age to deliver Net Zero. It is so important to start early.

“It is not just about school leavers and apprentices, we are now working with 32 primary schools.”

Shaun Lyons, HFR Solutions’ operations director, collected the Community Project accolade, having funded and installed a new sustainable eco-friendly sensory garden at a care home, in what was described as a “project very personal to us”.

He said: “Without the amazing people in the room who employ our services we wouldn’t be able to commit to making such a community return.”