The SPARC Alliance, a pioneering skills initiative designed to encourage young women to consider future careers in sustainable power, renewable energy and construction, is continuing to build a reputation for delivering high- quality careers engagement across Pembrokeshire secondary schools.
SPARC, which is financially supported by RWE Generation and RWE Renewables (Pembroke Power Station), the Port of Milford Haven, Blue Gem Wind and Ledwood Engineering, is now delighted to announce support from The Crown Estate.
The Crown Estate is an independent organisation that manages land, property and the seabed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland – acting independently, commercially and for the nation’s future.
The Crown Estate is playing a pivotal role in South West Wales’ economic transformation through the development of a new floating offshore wind industry in the Celtic Sea. With some of the world’s leading offshore wind companies taking forward three sites for new windfarms, it places the region at the forefront of this new technology.
To further support the establishment this new sector, The Crown Estate has also awarded investment through its £50m Supply Chain Accelerator Programme (including projects in Pembrokeshire) and co-funding for the new regional Fit For Offshore Renewables programme in South Wales with Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.
Alongside this renewable energy opportunity comes the potential for significant job creation and an increased demand for a skilled workforce including engineers, welders, construction workers, environmental specialists, business support professionals, maritime experts and port operatives.
Current forecasts suggest that over 5,000 jobs could be created through the new windfarms in the Celtic Sea and associated supply chain. However, with declining demographics and an ageing population, there is a growing need to ensure a skilled workforce is available to meet future demand.
This is where initiatives such as the SPARC Alliance have a vital role to play. By engaging and inspiring young women, SPARC is helping to unlock the potential of a talent pool that has historically been underrepresented in the clean energy sector across engineering, construction and manufacturing careers. If this new clean energy landscape is to succeed, it is essential that young people understand the scale of the opportunities emerging on their doorstep and recognise that they can build rewarding careers, support families and enjoy prosperous futures within their local communities.
The SPARC Alliance focuses on bringing future Pembrokeshire-based careers to life for 12-14 year-old girls, raising aspirations and building confidence in pursuing STEM related career pathways. Through direct engagement with industry, students gain insight into the exciting opportunities being created by the renewable energy sector. Young people are better equipped to understand how their interests and attributes align with a broad range of careers – from traditional energy to offshore wind and hydrogen technologies.
The Crown Estate’s commitment to SPARC will enable the programme to expand its reach across more schools and strengthen its support for young women aspiring to become STEM professionals. This includes enhanced mentoring opportunities, helping participants explore both university pathways and work-based apprenticeships as routes into the industries that will shape Pembrokeshire’s future, said Hayley Williams. Pembrokeshire College (lead partner).
Together, SPARC Alliance partners are helping to ensure that local young people are equipped, informed and inspired to seize the opportunities presented by one of the most significant economic developments Wales has seen in a generation.
For further information email: hayleyw@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
