Students in Norfolk have been challenged to ‘Find Their Future’ through a programme being delivered by Skills for Energy supported by the Dudgeon Community Fund.

Sixth-Formers at the University Technical College Norwich (UTCN) have been taking part in a programme which has seen them design a floating offshore wind turbine model.

The six-week programme, a collaboration between The East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) and Equinor, has been designed to give students a taste of life working in the energy industry, activity that is vital if the sector’s skills shortage is to be addressed.

Sophie Skipp, Head of Energy Skills at EEEGR, said: “It’s been really encouraging to see businesses come together to engage with young people to champion opportunities in the energy industry. We’ve had representatives from The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, National Grid, LJ Create, Opergy and Furthermore Marketing join our sessions to speak to the students, give guidance on their designs and talk about future opportunities.

Sue Falch-Lovesey, Stakeholder Manager for Business Development in Norfolk and the East of England at Equinor, expressed her enthusiasm for the project saying: “The interest in the Find Your Future programme from the students has been fantastic. I’ve been inspired by their ideas for floating offshore wind turbines which Equinor will be sharing as the programme progresses!”

“I’m proud of Equinor and the Dudgeon Community Fund’s role in supporting this partnership with EEEGR and Skills for Energy.” she continued. “Equinor’s ambition is to be a leading company in the energy transition and to create value through the opportunities it brings, including supporting young people into the industry, so our involvement in the programme is a perfect fit.”

The winning group will be given the opportunity to present their ideas in front of delegates at EEEGR’s flagship event, SNS2023 – Vision 2030,  on the 24th of May.

The partnership gives EEEGR and Equinor the chance to help close the skills gap that businesses in the energy sector are now facing. The Find Your Future Challenge offers students a fantastic chance to obtain a unique perspective on the energy industry and personally experience the different job prospects accessible to them.

Businesses can work with EEEGR to deliver a Skills for Energy programme such as Find Your Future, to give young people the chance to learn from specialists in the field, form connections in the business, and be motivated to pursue jobs there. Find Your Future is a perfect example of how businesses can work together with education providers to provide young people with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the industry.

Learn more about EEEGR’s Skills for Energy programme via skillsforenergy.co.uk or eeegr.com