How Ørsted is training for the green careers of tomorrow

The original article can be seen here: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25092569.rsted-training-green-careers-tomorrow/

The green energy transition will create thousands of new jobs – the Offshore Wind Industry Council estimates 100,000 jobs across the UK by 2030 – offering incredible new career opportunities for young people. 

Ørsted, a leading offshore wind developer, supports science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education among primary, secondary, college and university students to inspire the next generation of green workers to fill those jobs. 

Through partnerships with trade organisations, schools and universities, Ørsted is helping to train the young people of today to meet the energy challenges of tomorrow right here in Norfolk – as well as further afield. 

Fast-growing industry 

As part of the region’s large and growing offshore wind energy sector, Ørsted is a member of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), as well as the East Wind Cluster.  

The company has a vision to create a world that runs entirely on green energy. In the East of England, Ørsted is demonstrating its credentials with the Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm located 120 km off the coast of Norfolk and currently under construction.  

Upon completion, Hornsea 3 will be the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than three million UK homes. 

Ørsted is working closely with EEEGR, the East Wind Cluster and other renewable energy companies to showcase the renewable energy career opportunities available at events as diverse as the Royal Norfolk Show, jobs fairs and the Norwich Science Festival.

‘Find Your Future’

Ørsted has also been challenging bright young minds at University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN) to tackle some of the issues facing the offshore wind industry.  

UTCN has an innovative curriculum that teams up with local and national STEM employers to provide real-life experiences for students to reinforce what they are learning in school. Through the ‘Find Your Future’ programme, Ørsted recently worked with 90 sixth form students at the college on a competition.  

The students were split into teams of three to five people and given the choice of three difficult scenarios to solve. 

The challenges were: logistical – improving safety and efficiency of offshore wind farm operations and maintenance in the UK; environmental – addressing the safety risks created by algae, barnacles or seabird poo on offshore turbine ladders; and mechanical – preventing rust on tag lines that are used in heavy lifting operations offshore. 

‘Thinking outside the box’ 

Liam, a member of the winning team that worked on the environmental challenge, said he enjoyed the innovative thinking it demanded. 

“The project helped me understand the effectiveness of the offshore turbines and how they are the key to the future,” Liam said. The exercise also gave him an appreciation for “the sheer amount of time and research the Ørsted team dedicate to the wind farms.” 

Ørsted’s Lauren Little worked with UTCN students on the challenges and said she was impressed by their professionalism and multi-dimensional thinking.  

“The students were really thinking outside the box for the weird, wild and wonderful sort of solutions. But they were thinking of really simple, achievable solutions too,” said Lauren.  

“Their thought process showed that they were thinking about cost efficiency, as well as health and safety for all of their solutions. Safety is one of Ørsted and Hornsea 3’s guiding principles, and you could see that the students had really taken that on board when they were grappling with the challenges.”  

Ørsted is also focused on inspiring more girls and young women to pursue careers in STEM and renewable energy by participating in events like Girlguiding Anglia’s Hautbois Fest last summer and partnering with organisations such as Stemettes, a pioneering social enterprise working across the UK.  

By working with young men and women, Ørsted hopes to spark a passion for renewable energy and inspire the next generation to tackle the challenge of delivering the green energy transition.  

For more information, visit orsted.co.uk

This article is part of the LOCALiQ Clean & Green campaign, which aims to promote our region as the biggest in the UK and Europe for all forms of renewable energy.