It has been a busy start to the term with the SPARC Alliance picking up awards from across the country.
At the recent Women in Green Business Awards in London, SPARC proudly walked away with the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy of the Year Award and were Highly Commended for Campaign of the Year.
SPARC were also Highly Commended at two further awards ceremonies: Skills and People at the Global Offshore Wind Awards in London, and STEM Programme of the Year at STEM Cymru in Cardiff.
These accolades cap an extraordinary pilot year for SPARC, celebrating the programme’s innovation and impact in inspiring young women to pursue careers in renewable energy, construction and engineering. The awards also highlight the breadth of excellence across the STEM sector in Wales and beyond, from companies advancing sustainable technology to educators building pathways for the next generation, and individuals championing diversity, equality and opportunity in STEM.
About SPARC
SPARC (Sustainable Power, Renewables and Construction) is a collaborative education–industry programme co-led by Pembrokeshire College and Pembrokeshire County Council, with industry facilitation from Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum.
The initiative is driven by a shared mission: to build confidence, raise aspirations, and create visible career pathways for young women in sectors that are critical to Wales’ energy transition.
The SPARC team is led by Hayley Williams (Pembrokeshire College), Rob Hillier (Pembrokeshire County Council), with industry facilitation and support from Holly Skyrme (Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum). This ground-breaking collaboration has been made possible with the generous support of RWE, Blue Gem Wind, The Port of Milford Haven, Floventis, Ledwood Engineering and the Swansea Bay City Deal.
A Year of Measurable Impact
Drawing on data from the University of the West of England’s 2024–25 evaluation report, SPARC’s first year has shown measurable impact:
- Over 150 students took part across seven Pembrokeshire secondary schools.
- Confidence and engagement soared: students who participated in more hands-on sessions reported higher confidence and interest in STEM careers.
- STEM subject uptake jumped dramatically. While the regional average for girls taking STEM GCSEs is 21-23%, participation among SPARC students reached up to 75% in some schools.
- Teachers described SPARC as the “best project going in school for a long time”.
- Industry partners praised its alignment with their diversity and recruitment goals.
Behind the Success
The University of West England’s evaluation identifies several features that made SPARC’s pilot year so effective:
- Immersive, hands-on learning from bridge-building and maritime to welding and electronics workshops;
- Female role models from industry leading sessions, offering visible and relatable career inspiration;
- An all-girls format provided safe, confidence-building spaces;
- Strong collaboration across schools, industry and local government;
- Growing visibility and media engagement, laying the foundations for national recognition.
There are many things to celebrate this year but there is still much work to do to challenge gender stereotypes (two thirds of students still drew male workers when asked to illustrate a STEM job).
We still need clearer career pathways in education detailing how to get from school into STEM careers. Plans have already been actioned to improve session interactivity and expand the programme to younger students in the future.
Richard Little, PNZC (RWE) Director commented:
“RWE is proud to be a founding partner of the SPARC Alliance and to see the tangible social value our investment is delivering. Strengthening the future workforce and supporting a more inclusive, female talent pipeline are vital for the resilience of our industry and the low-carbon transition in Wales.”
What’s next for SPARC?
Following the evaluation’s recommendations, SPARC is now expanding its reach and impact:
- Scaling up to include Year 8 and Year 10 engagement, ensuring a continuous pathway from early inspiration to career preparation.
- Developed accredited modules (Agored Cymru) for formal recognition of skills.
- A central SPARC hub has been launched for news, opportunities and information.
- Expansion of industry partnerships to offer more site visits and real-world experiences.
- Strengthen data tracking to measure long-term outcomes.
- Engage national media to amplify SPARC’s success and inspire replication elsewhere.
SPARC’s award-winning first year is proof of what’s possible when education, government and industry work together for change. With more young women discovering pathways into STEM and more partners joining the movement, SPARC is lighting the way for an inclusive, confident and skilled energy future for Wales.
