Ørsted shows local schools they can fly high in Grimsby
Now in its second year,
WiME’s ‘Raising Aspirations’ programme in the Humber has grown following
a successful and award-winning pilot in 2022. This year Ørsted partnered
not only with Havelock Academy but Humberston Academy too. The aim of the
programme is to inspire young girls and non-binary people to look at the
renewable energy industry and careers in STEM as achievable and real opportunities.
This has been done by meeting the real women in these jobs.
The students have previously
had a session with Ørsted at their school, and this last session, a full
day showcasing lots of different roles in the wind industry, from Offshore
Coordinator to Media Manager to Wind Turbine Technician Apprentice.
The packed agenda included
various exercises and opportunities to learn about the Humber jobs market
seeing what roles are available, but most importantly they got to talk
through their strengths and how to harness self-belief for their future.
They had a chance to explore and question biases and stereotypes, meeting
ten different women and hear about their roles, and even received a tour
of Ørsted’s base at Humberside Airport where the helicopters that serve
the largest offshore wind farm in the world fly from.
Joanne Woodhouse, Trust
Wide Curriculum Lead at David Ross Education Trust, said: “We’re so pleased
to work with Ørsted on this brilliant initiative. Our pupils were inspired
to find out more of the careers available for them in the area, in STEM.
The talks and time took by the different women in careers in renewable
energy was incredible. Thank you so much.”
Lauren Little, Senior
Stakeholder Advisor for Ørsted, said: “This is a huge and fast-growing
industry and we want local girls to recognise the sector as a future career
for them. We’re seeing more and more women and girls apply for roles every
year, but we still have a way to go in increasing the women in our workforce.
I believe that diversity makes the industry better. By introducing
girls to female role models at school, they can start to see the opportunities.
I really believe if they can see it, they can be it and with our support
they know how to achieve it.”