Before lockdown, Pembrokeshire College, in collaboration with marine sector employers, recently hosted a STEM Careers in Marine Energy event for local students.
The event, organised in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven, the Coastal Communities Adapting Together project, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, Mainstay Marine, Bombora, ORE Catapult, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (Swansea University) and the Bucanier Project, was designed to raise the profile of the marine energy sector.
With exciting and imminent developments in marine energy in south Pembrokeshire, the purpose of the event was to introduce possible new careers in marine energy (both locally and globally) to 70 STEM students, sowing the seeds of local development and regeneration.
A-level pupils from Ysgol Harri Tudur, along with A-level and engineering students from Pembrokeshire College, were invited to attend the event, which saw the Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock transformed into a series of interactive workshop spaces.
David Jones the CEO of Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, and Andy Edwards, Port of Milford Haven’s Vice-Chair, opened the event by setting the scene around present and future careers in marine energy. Interactive workshops were led by local marine energy developers; Bombora Wave Power, Mainstay Marine Solutions, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, and Swansea University.
The students joined in the innovation focused workshops which included building their own floating wind turbine platform, against the clock.
The new Guide to Careers in Marine Energy was also launched at the event. This has been developed collaboratively between the marine energy industry and the supply chain to showcase the industry and possible careers within it. English and Welsh versions will be made available to learning institutions locally and online as a learning resource, in time for the next academic year.
