1st December 2023 in Community News
An award-winning collaboration between Dogger Bank Wind Farm, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and specialist education providers is celebrating two years of helping young people to prepare for life in a net zero world.
The partnership was unveiled in summer 2021, as part of a £1milllion package of investment in the wind farm’s key communities during its construction.
The wind farm project worked with education providers in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar & Cleveland and South Tyneside, to understand how young people in each area could be benefit from investment in enhanced science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) provision.
Education experts at East Riding of Yorkshire Council created a bespoke programme that would provide access for hundreds of teachers across primary schools and maintained early years settings and will reach many thousands of children over the life of the programme.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“The funding from Dogger Bank Wind Farm is helping us to transform science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers learning in our primaries and maintained early years settings, with new opportunities delivered by external delivery partners.
“This includes STEM-focused professional development for staff and a chance for schools and nurseries to work towards a science quality mark, which is a pioneering step for early years settings. There are still opportunities for teachers to take advantage of this award-winning partnership as we work together to raise aspirations and bring STEM to life.”
The innovative investment programme was recognised at the Humber Renewable Awards earlier this year, in the Renewable Education category. Find out more about this achievement here.
Community investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Lindsay Dougan, said:
“The East Riding programme provides an exemplar on how education and business can work together to ensure that children gain the skills needed for the jobs of the future.
“We appreciate the dedication of the schools and education providers in ensuring excellence STEM learning occurs across the region.
“The approach taken from this project has influenced communities across the globe on how to embed renewable energy and STEM into education including sharing learning with Australia and Japan.”
The East Riding programme is delivered in partnership with specialist providers, Complete Careers, Stem Learning and PSQM (Primary Science Quality Mark), who underpin and support professional development for teachers.
Image caption: Hornsea Nursey is one of the maintained early years settings in East Riding to take advantage of the STEM investment by Dogger Bank Wind Farm
20th November 2023 in Community News
A campaign funded by the Dogger Bank Community Fund, encouraging young South Tyneside women to pursue science, tech, engineering and maths (STEM)-related careers has been hailed a major success.
Over the last two years, the STEMettes Leadership Academy has helped 71 women in South Tyneside aged 15-24 develop their leadership skills and learn more about STEM careers.
The hosting of the programme coincided with the tenth anniversary of STEMettes, the national charity which was founded in 2013.
Since then, over 50,000 women across the UK have participated in its events, with young women from South Tyneside among the latest to join its inspired alumni.
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, CEO, Head of Stemette & Co-Founder Stemettes said:
“Stemettes partnership with South Tyneside has opened up future leaders & innovators in young women and non-binary folk from across the South Tyneside area.
“They’ve had a STEAM & STEM confidence boost towards their potential and have conected with role models and peers for career advice. We’ve seen lots of skill building and problem solving on climate change for South Tyneside and beyond across our collaboration.”
Led by South Tyneside Council in partnership with the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the South Tyneside programme was aimed to ‘raise the aspiration and confidence of young women’ across the borough.
A total of 45 young women from Jarrow School, Harton Academy and St Joseph’s Academy participated in the programme, as well as 26 young women from Nissan and local colleges.
Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm said:
“The STEMettes programme by South Tyneside is an invaluable initiative that Dogger Bank Wind Farm is proud to support.
“Our aim is to not only motivate, but also empower the youth in this region to explore and excel in STEM fields, unlocking opportunities in industries like the dynamic offshore wind industry.
“With the North East England being a prominent cluster for offshore wind, we are eager to showcase the endless possibilities to the next generation of leaders in the energy sector.
Cllr Jane Carter Lead Member for Education and Skills at South Tyneside Council, added:
“It is vital that we encourage our young women to harness STEM skills.
“By taking advantage of these opportunities, they now have the knowledge, skills and aspiration to become the leaders and innovators of the future.
“I’d like to place on record my thanks to the business community for their involvement with this outstanding programme.”
One of the young women to participate in the programme was Emily Booth, a Year 11 student from St Joseph’s Catholic Academy, said:
“I was very lucky being able to attend a Stemette’s event. It allowed me to gain advice from inspiring and influential women from the North East, learn new skills in coding as well as an understanding of the job opportunities available to women in STEM. It was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
For more information on STEMettes, visit: https://stemettes.org/
21st August 2023 in Community News, Press releases
- 62 scholarships are available during the construction of the wind farm, for students in these communities studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects to support the cost of further education.
- The programme is open to students in South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland and East Riding of Yorkshire.
- The scholarship fund will support students undertaking courses focussed on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses, to help young people prepare for working life in a net zero world.
Students from coastal communities in the north and north-east of England are reminded that the third year scholarship fund closes for applications in less than two weeks.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s Scholarship Fund provides grants of £5,000 to local students undertaking science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses in further education, with a total of 62 scholarships being awarded during the world’s largest wind farm’s construction phase.
The scholarship fund focuses on the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire, and Redcar and Cleveland, where the windfarm connects to the National Grid, as well as South Tyneside, where the Operation and Maintenance Base will be located.
Students should take note they only have until 1 September 2023 to apply for this year’s round of support. Further details and how to apply can be found at https://doggerbank.com/about/community/.
Oliver Cass, Project Director from Dogger Bank Wind Farm said
“The third round of the scholarship fund has once again proven very popular, it’s great to see the quality of applicants remains high and we encourage local students to make their application before the closing date next month. As we build the world’s largest offshore wind farm, we’re proud to continue supporting young people at a key stage in their educations and preparing for working life in a net zero world.”
Dogger Bank has already awarded 50 scholarships to date to local students undertaking science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) courses in further education to help young people prepare for working life in a net zero world and support students with tuition fees at a key stage in their educations.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the northeast coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. A joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). The wind farm is being built in three consecutive 1.2 GW phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C – connecting to the National Grid in both East Riding of Yorkshire and on Teesside.
SSE Renewables is leading on the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
In June 2021, Dogger Bank Wind Farm unveiled plans for a £1 million construction fund to support coastal communities where its onshore infrastructure is being developed. The programme includes a significant investment in science, technology, engineering, and maths, as well as an operators fund to support local causes. Further information is available at www.doggerbank.com/about/community/
Further details on the scholarship fund and community investment from Dogger Bank can be found here.
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Picture caption: The scholarship fund will support students studying science, technology, engineering, and maths, to help prepare them for the highly skilled jobs in a net zero world.
28th July 2023 in Community News
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is enabling young people in South Tyneside and beyond to share what a career in offshore renewable energy may be like.
Five students spent a week with the Dogger Bank team, based at the wind farm’s Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base at the Port of Tyne. The work experience programme was organised by the operator of the wind farm, Equinor. The students, four from Whitburn Church of England Academy and one from George Stephenson High, spent the week attending events and workshops, including a visit to South Shields Town Hall, and meeting local dignitaries.
Tom Nightingale, Equinor North East Stakeholder Manager, said:
“We have a number of commitments towards skills in our supply chain plan, but this work experience is something we were keen to introduce, helping us go over and above our commitment and really just provide a great experience to the next generation.
“Offshore wind is helping the UK on a journey towards a greener future and there are so many opportunities for the energy supply chain, local businesses, and new start-ups. Working with the council is helping promote opportunities in green growth that can have a long-term benefit for South Tyneside residents.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s base on Tyneside is a world-class O&M hub that serves as the home base for nearly 400 employees operating and maintaining what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm once completed. When at full capacity, the wind farm will supply 5% of the UK’s electricity demand.
Councillor John McCabe, Mayor of South Tyneside said:
“Through the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project, Operator Equinor will be creating jobs in South Tyneside for years to come, so it is important that young people know about these opportunities and can see what a career in the offshore industry entails.
“Work experience is important across all sectors and career paths, and one of the key areas that our South Tyneside Pledge organisations are supporting us with.
“South Tyneside Council engages with local schools and supports businesses by offering work experience, and we would encourage anybody interested to sign the pledge and commit to supporting careers programmes in the borough.”
The South Tyneside Pledge is for all organisations in South Tyneside, big or small, public, or private, to commit to small steps to boost the local economy and reduce health inequality. The Council is hoping that more companies will sign up to create work experience opportunities for young people in the borough.
George Stephenson student, Joshua Blake, said:
“I am a huge believer and advocate for renewable energy, and have learned this week that the transition from oil and gas dependency is not simple and will take a great deal of time and planning. It is essential we transition to cleaner energy and companies like Equinor are doing a fantastic job.
“My highlight was visiting South Tyneside Council and speaking to the Mayor. It was interesting to see how they have close links to North Tyneside Council and how they work closely with Equinor and other energy companies working towards a sustainable future.”
Gabby Smithies, from Whitburn Academy said:
“Work experience shows young adults the possibilities that exist within South Tyneside and the North East in so many different, new, and innovative companies and sectors. My work experience has opened a new industry up to me – one that I wouldn’t have thought would be available to me without this placement.
“It has been enlightening. The range of activities is wide-spanning and interesting – from networking events and marketing, tours of emergency survival facilities to the Little Inventors exhibition. There’s never a boring moment.”
Through collaboration with businesses, South Tyneside Council aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and networks to pursue rewarding careers in flourishing industries, benefiting not only the individual but also the company and further contribute to the growth and sustainability of the offshore renewables sector, playing such a vital role in the UK’s transition to a greener and more sustainable future.
Tom Nightingale, Equinor North East Stakeholder Manager, added:
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is focused on delivering skills initiatives for all age groups and supporting young people through all stages of their learning journey. Work experience is a great opportunity for us to support the local community, providing a taster of a career in offshore wind, and we get just as much benefit and enjoyment from it as the students.”
21st July 2023 in Community News, Press releases
Building our Future, the STEM-focussed primary careers-learning programme, funded by Dogger Bank Wind Farm, held its first year celebration at Redcar & Cleveland College recently.
The Building Our Future programme aims to embed careers education into every primary school in Redcar and Cleveland through engaging workshops supported by local employers. The programme is being delivered by Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency with strategic support and guidance from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
Joined by employers, partners and schools, the programme leaders highlighted the success of the first year’s programme, delivered after a pilot programme in 2021-22.
More than 560 young people from 20 Redcar & Cleveland primary and SEND schools have worked with the Building our Future team, and local employers, to learn the skills and knowledge required for the future workforce, particularly within renewable energy industries, such as Dogger Bank.
John Anthony, Vice Chair, Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency:
The “Building our Futures” programme is undoubtedly a triumph for teamwork but most importantly a triumph for all the young people who have grown through the process and for those who are still to benefit.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm have supported the programme, not only with funding and resources, but ensuring commitment for employer engagement with schools across their wide and diverse supply chain partnerships. The project unveiled plans for our £1 million investment in key communities of Redcar & Cleveland, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Tyneside in June 2021.
The Dogger Bank team worked with local education providers in Redcar and Cleveland to create a bespoke legacy for the wind farm that tackles the specific educational needs of each community and directly addresses the requirements of young people in the region.
Lindsay Dougan, Community Investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“We’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who’s made this programme a success in its first year, especially those local employers who’ve given up their time to give 562 children the opportunity to learn about a diverse range of STEM careers right on their doorstep. To hear the children talking so enthusiastically and in such an informed way about STEM, is a testament to the hard work of many organisations and individuals working together to raise aspirations and help young people to unlock their potential.”
Employers working on local regeneration projects are also committing resources and time as part of their corporate social responsibility, to the Building our Future programme, allowing pupils to visit local sites, and work with a range of staff, including project managers, civil engineers and architects.
Luke Myer, Elected Member and Lead for Children and Families, said:
“Building our Future is an inspiring programme that is benefitting many children in Redcar and Cleveland, highlighting to them what they could be become in the future through the wide range of local STEM businesses and job roles. We are grateful to all the employers and partners who have made the programme such a success over the past year.”
Building our Future has also been able to offer wider support to schools with science curriculum resources and activities, visits to local colleges, literacy materials courtesy of Dogger Bank Wind Farm sub-supplier Keltbray and its When I Grow Up book, and National Careers Week career events.
Quote from Stuart Wilson BEng (Hons) CEng MIET, Technical Director, Sweco, said:
The “Building our Future” programme is all about inspiring the next generation of Engineers which aligns with my own principles and those of Sweco where “we plan and design the sustainable cities and communities of our future …however I was never given the opportunity to understand the diverse opportunities that a career in Engineering could offer. This is why it is really important to me personally to be able to work with our future generations so they better understand how diverse a career in Engineering can be and this is exactly what the fantastic Building our Future programme is all about.”
