EDT partners with SSEN Transmission to energise the next generation
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We are pleased to announce that we have launched a new STEM initiative with electricity company SSEN Transmission to encourage school pupils in north of Scotland to learn more about energy industry.
The collaborative partnership aims to inspire young people to understand the exciting careers open to them locally through Green Skills and Net Zero jobs.
Young people can then become Industrial Cadets at gold, silver or bronze levels by undertaking a set number of hours of relevant activities designed to:
- Give them an insight into both the employer and the industry within which they are placed.
- Help them to develop relevant workplace skills beneficial for their CVs.
- Help them to gain awareness of the type of jobs that are available in local industry and the routes into careers within those specialisms.
SSEN Transmission owns and operates the high-voltage electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland, spanning from Argyll in the west coast, to Peterhead in the north east, as well as the Highlands and islands including the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. Headquartered in Perth, the company has offices across the country and a team of over 1,800 people spread throughout Scotland.
With the need to expand the high-voltage network to connect the huge increase of new renewable energy generation across Scotland in order to help fight climate change, SSEN Transmission is looking to support the next generation of engineers who will be essential to help deliver the energy transition across the country as the UK advances towards net zero.
Starting with the next school year in August, hundreds of schools across the north of Scotland have been invited to sign-up to the new initiative, which will allow pupils the opportunity to get involved with what we offer young people at EDT. Sessions will be carried out with schools to help inform them about the challenges of the electricity network, and what needs to be done to help create a network for net zero which will help secure power for generations.
Dave McKay, Director of Asset Management & Operations at SSEN Transmission, said:
“We have a huge job ahead of us to make sure we have a network which is fit for the future, and we can only get there if we have the right people to help us deliver this. It is so important that we inspire the engineers of tomorrow, today – and that means encouraging the next generation to consider a career in energy and demonstrate the huge variety of opportunities available to them in this sector.
“Partnerships such as the Industrial Cadets programme do exactly that and give young people a taste of what they can do with a career in energy and how they can play a part in the fight against climate change. We’re excited to be involved and look forward to welcoming the first students to the initiative in the next school year.”
Julie Feest, CEO at the Engineering Development Trust said, “EDT and Industrial Cadets are delighted to announce this new partnership with SSEN Transmission. Industrial Cadets is a widely recognised, accredited awards scheme increasing diversity and inspiring young people through industry-based experiences to become part of the workforce of the future. With this partnership with SSEN Transmission and their suppliers, we are able to promote the exciting opportunities for young people in work readiness programmes towards their first career. This is such an exciting time of growth in Scotland and we are delighted to be a part of a focus on Energy Partnerships to excite young people about their future. It is also a first step towards recognising the importance of the link between outreach and recruitment for companies focused on growth of early talent.”
