Blog written by Holly Skyrme, Project Coordinator at Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and SPARC Industry Facilitator.
Despite making up half of the population, women are significantly underrepresented in STEM fields. In the UK, just 24% of the STEM workforce are women, and they represent only 12% of the engineering workforce. Globally, within the renewable energy sector, women hold about 32% of jobs, with many in administrative roles rather than technical or leadership positions.
In Pembrokeshire, the SPARC Alliance is trying to change that, focusing on boosting female representation across the Sustainable Power, Renewables and Construction industries, and encouraging more secondary school pupils to pursue STEM subjects in school.
The initiative is a joint collaboration between RWE Renewables, Blue Gem Wind, Floventis Energy, Port of Milford Haven, Ledwood Engineering, Pembrokeshire College and Pembrokeshire County Council.
As a SPARC Industry Facilitator, I am acting as a link between industry and education, fostering links with local businesses to build a picture of what studying STEM could mean if you were to stay in the county and find work.
The programme will be piloted from September 2024 amongst year 8 and 9 pupils, and work has already begun.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending one of SPARC’s so-called Continued Professional Development days.
The first day was hosted by RWE at their Pembroke Power Station. We were honoured to welcome SPARC patron Luciana Ciubotariu, Celtic Freeport CEO. Luciana is already clearly dedicated to the initiative and it was a chance for her to meet the SPARC school practitioners who will be working to engage pupils at their respective schools.
RWE told us about floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and their Pembroke Net Zero Centre ambitions. They then gave us a tour of Pembroke Power Station, allowing us a look at the infrastructure supporting our energy needs. It was eye opening to see such an industrial site so well hidden from the surrounding landscape, and positive to see that changes are being made to reach Net Zero.
We then heard from a raft of local voices; Vidette Swales shared insights into operations at the Port of Milford Haven and its critical role in our local economy. Ledwood’s Mark Davies highlighted engineering opportunities within Pembrokeshire and beyond, and Morgan Sindall’s Gemma Mineur shared the construction giant’s contributions to sustainable development.
Blue Gem Wind’s David Jones also shared his insight into the skills gap that exists for offshore wind and how initiatives like SPARC can help. The UK offshore wind workforce currently employs around 32,257 people. This is set to increase to over 104,000 by 2030 according to the Offshore Wind Industry Council. To meet this demand, younger people need to be attracted into the industry now, and more people need to train and upskill.
Angharad Owen introduced us to environmental and sustainability consultancy ERM. Their Dolphyn Hydrogen technology is the first of its kind in the UK and produces low-carbon green hydrogen from floating offshore wind technology. The trial for Dolphyn Hydrogen was launched from Pembroke Port earlier this month.
Professor Verity Jones from the University of West England wrapped up with an introduction into how SPARC will be researched.
It was clear that engaging parents to encourage their children’s participation in STEM remains a challenge. However, the presentations opened our eyes to the wealth of opportunities in Pembrokeshire that many teachers were previously unaware of. This could be the case for parents and students, too.
One key takeaway was the diverse range of careers available in STEM, far beyond floating offshore wind. It was apparent that North Pembrokeshire could benefit more from these opportunities, suggesting a need for greater outreach and inclusion.
The second day was full of hopeful pedagogies and practical strategies for the school curriculum. The enthusiasm and ideas that flowed in Day 2 were infectious. The commitment to making a tangible impact on the next generation of STEM professionals was evident and inspiring.
The SPARC CPD days provided valuable insights, practical strategies, and renewed enthusiasm for our mission to empower more girls to pursue STEM careers, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
Let us keep this momentum going and continue to build a brighter, greener future for Pembrokeshire and the UK.
Sources:
Women in STEM Workforce 2018 Statistics – WISE Campaign
Gender Diversity in STEM in the UK – EngineeringUK
Women in Engineering: Statistics and Facts – Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)