THE Engineering Development Trust (EDT) has extended its partnership with SSEN Transmission for a third consecutive year.
Building on two years of collaboration that has positively impacted over 2,800 young people in Scotland, the second year of the partnership saw both organisations engage with 1,400 youngsters from 46 schools across Moray, the Highlands, Angus, Aberdeenshire, and Argyll & Bute.
Through hands-on STEM challenges, long-term project work and direct engagement with industry professionals, pupils developed key skills, gained accredited Industrial Cadets awards, and learned about subject choices and pathways that lead to career opportunities within the energy sector.
Over the past year, students participated in activities including virtual primary challenger workshops, face-to-face secondary challenger experiences, and bronze and silver Industrial Cadets projects. The programmes gave young people opportunities to explore coding, sustainability, energy transmission, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving, while working alongside mentors and volunteers from SSEN Transmission.
The partnership is said to have been particularly valuable for young people in remote and rural communities, helping them connect with industry professionals and gain experiences that may otherwise be difficult to access.
As the partnership enters its third year, EDT and SSEN Transmission will focus on delivering virtual interactive challenger experiences to primary school children and explorer days: girls in STEM to secondary school students. These immersive sessions focus on STEM learning, sector awareness, and career insights.
The team will also introduce a new roadshow programme, travelling across Scotland to deliver a structured project challenge where students work from concept to solution, developing technical, teamwork and problem-solving skills with support from industry mentors.
Julie Feest, CEO at EDT and Industrial Cadets, said, “We are incredibly proud to be continuing our partnership with SSEN Transmission into a third year. The impact we’ve seen over the last two years demonstrates the importance of connecting young people with real-world STEM experiences and industry professionals. Year three brings an exciting new chapter for our collaboration, where we’ll be able to reach even more communities across Scotland, ensuring that young people have the support, inspiration and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.”
Nicky Gadsden, external skills and STEM engagement manager at SSEN Transmission, added, “Supporting young people in the communities we serve is an important part of our commitment to building a lasting legacy through our investment in the north of Scotland’s electricity transmission network. Through our partnership with EDT, we’ve been able to connect thousands of pupils with engaging STEM experiences, helping them develop new skills and broaden their understanding of the opportunities available within the energy sector. We’re proud to continue working together for a third year to inspire the workforce of the future.”
