East Wind, the East of England’s offshore wind cluster, paid for hundreds of school children to attend the Royal Norfolk Show, which started yesterday (June 28).
East Wind members – Vattenfall, Equinor, Orsted, RWE, Saxon Air, Peel Ports, Siemens Energy, J.Murphy & Sons, Proeon Systems, HexCam, East Coast College and Skills for Energy – collaboratively took a marquee space in the STEMM Village to host the first coordinated offshore wind presence at the show.
The partner firms also created an additional pot of funding to ensure young people could attend the show who otherwise would not have been able to. The East Wind fund provided money to schools and colleges across the region to cover the costs of transportation.
“It was amazing to actually be here and see the industry working together to achieve so much,” said Denise Hone of Vattenfall and vice chair of East Wind.
“Collaboration is something we frequently talk about, but to see it actually happening with the main developers in the region working together to interact with the local communities is really exciting.
“We will continue to use the East Wind Cluster to provide a vehicle for this type of collaboration and look forward to doing more within the communities in which we operate.”
Each of the exhibitors is keen to interact with local communities to educate people on the opportunities the offshore wind industry has brought to the region – from jobs and skills development to substantial community funds designed to benefit those living and working in the area.
Ross McMillan, Dudgeon plant manager for Equinor, said: “It’s excellent to collaborate over STEMM opportunities for young people and no better than at the Royal Norfolk Show where the footfall has been incredible. We look forward to continuing the Dudgeon community fund for STEMM and East Wind into the future.”
The East Wind marquee offered numerous interactive activities to enable young people to engage with those working across the sector.
Many of the companies had apprentices on hand to demonstrate the various ways that people can make the most of opportunities within offshore wind.
“We are thrilled that our work experience students from East Norfolk Sixth Form, part of the Ogden Trust summer internship programme, Daisy and Martha have joined us today to enable hands-on windfarm and engineering activities with the many young visitors,” said Sue Falch-Lovesey of Equinor.
Dr. Samantha Fox of Youth STEMM Award, which is running the STEMM Village, said: “I’m delighted to have this fantastic presence from the East Wind cluster to really enhance the first year’s STEMM Village. They have played a key part and we look forward to continuing the relationship for years to come.”
Saxon Air, the region’s aviation centre for excellence, brought a plane simulator to the event, enabling young people to experience what it’s like to fly, land and take off in an aircraft. The company is working across the sector to push the green agenda and highlight the opportunity of a clean future for aviation.
“We are delighted to be exhibiting with the offshore wind industry, highlighting the innovative approach required by the supply chain to offer clean energy solutions for this sector,” said Alex Durand, CEO of Saxon Air.
Imran Nawaz, senior advisor for Orsted, said: “As Orsted, we are proud to be here at the Royal Norfolk Show with East Wind, in collaboration with the other offshore wind developers in the Norfolk Region, providing opportunities for young students to learn more about the industry, the projects that are currently being developed and constructed and insights into the career options available going forward.”
Danielle Lane, director of offshore development UK and Ireland for RWE, said the collaboration of developers and supply chain organisations in the region, through activities like the Royal Norfolk Show, “offers huge potential for the east of England”.
“It’s events like this where the offshore wind industry can really show how important it is, to both the region and country,” added Rob Bush, general manager of EEEGR and Skills for Energy. “The engagement we have had with students has been amazing.”
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