bp invests in future green skills with backing for 20 scholarships at Redcar and Cleveland College

Inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals is becoming a real team effort for teachers across the Tees Valley.

Redcar and Cleveland College has joined forces with bp and nine secondary and primary schools to find innovative ways to bring STEM into every classroom.

By working alongside STEM Learning and the North East STEM Hub, along with funding from bp, the ENTHUSE Partnership could soon see their ideas shared nationally with teaching professionals across the UK.

“This is a fantastic chance for the college and schools to work together to create new and innovative ways of embedding STEM into current practices,” said Jessie Baguley, Redcar and Cleveland College’s engineering partnerships officer.

“With developments happening here on our doorstep, particularly at the Teesworks site, along with investment in the clean and low carbon sectors, we are in a prime position to raise aspirations among our young people and create a workforce that is future ready.”

Youngsters looking to build their future careers in the low carbon sector could be given a step up the ladder as 20 paid scholarship opportunities are announced in Redcar.

Energy giant bp has teamed up with Redcar and Cleveland College to offer 20 school leavers the chance to earn while they learn on a bespoke twoyear engineering programme that will specialise in the green skills needed for the future.

Delivered at the college’s all new Clean Energy Education Hub, due to open this spring, the Teesside Clean Energy Technician scholarship programme will come with a £100 weekly term-time allowance and aims to inspire and motivate future talent.

Louise Kingham, bp’s UK head of country and senior vice president of Europe, said: “We believe that our planned hydrogen and CCS projects can help turn Teesside into a worldclass low carbon energy hub, and that local people will be at the heart of that transition.

“That’s why we are partnering with Redcar and Cleveland College to invest in young Teessiders and provide the training they need to access high-quality low carbon jobs that will sustain the region for decades to come.”

By working alongside bp, the college scholarships have been created to ensure the knowledge and skills taught meet the needs of future developments in carbon capture and the green industries. Applications are now open for the full-time two-year course due to start this September.

Redcar and Cleveland College’s principal Jason Faulkner said: “This is an incredible opportunity for those age 16 to 18 who are wanting to train to be an engineer with an interest in working in the low carbon sector.

“To be in with the chance of not only having the backing of an industry giant, but also to be paid to train straight from school, is something that shouldn’t be overlooked or underestimated. We expect the competition for these 20 places to be fierce.”

As the Tees Valley continues to take its place at the forefront of developments in the low carbon sector, the scholarship announcement has been welcomed by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

He said: “With Net Zero Teesside and its blue and green hydrogen projects, bp is massively investing in our region in the cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future – and now it’s backing local people too. These scholarships will give the next generation of workers a huge leg-up in securing a successful career as we drive the UK’s low-carbon sector.

“These are fantastic opportunities, complementing our other initiatives to identify skills gaps, upskill our workforce and give people and businesses the tools they need, so everyone right across Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington can benefit from these pioneering schemes.”

Redcar and Cleveland College principal Jason added: “At Redcar and Cleveland College, through our Clean Energy Education Hub, we recognise we have an important role to play in equipping young people, and adults, with the skills to benefit from the green, clean careers ahead.

“To have the support and expertise of industry leaders behind us is integral. The backing of bp for these young people in their education is yet another clear indicator of bp’s commitment to this region and our communities.”

To register your interest in the Teesside Clean Energy Technician scholarship programme at Redcar and Cleveland College, in partnership with bp, starting this September, email: bpscholarships@cleveland.ac.uk

The two-year bp ENTHUSE Teesside partnership will give those taking part, their schools and students access to STEM enrichment opportunities, along with continual professional development training in delivering STEM subjects from the Science Learning Partnership and Computing Hub.

The North East STEM Hub will add to this the chance to work alongside STEM ambassadors – local industry professionals who can offer careers talks, workplace visits, mentoring and work experience.

To raise awareness and understanding of careers in STEM, STEM Learning has been helping establish ENTHUSE partnerships all over the country.

On seeing the initiative launched at schools from across Teesside, partnership advisor Rob Stobie, of the North East STEM Hub, said: “It is about putting together a package of opportunities that focuses on the bigger picture for the region. Fed back into the schools and colleges, this combined offer aims to ultimately improve student attainment and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.”

Already lending their weight to the initiative, bp’s education and employability consultant Tom Thayer said: “As a long-standing supporter of STEM Learning, bp is proud to launch the ENTHUSE Partnership with Redcar and Cleveland College and schools on Teesside and to support local STEM skills development. Industry partnerships like this are key to equipping young people with the skills they will need to thrive in low carbon careers, such as those that would support our planned hydrogen and CCS projects on Teesside.”

Owen McAteer, Regional Network Lead for STEM Learning in the North East, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with bp on this ENTHUSE Partnership and excited to be working closely with Redcar and Cleveland College and the partner schools involved.

“The green industrial revolution really is a massive opportunity for our young people in the Tees Valley and wider North East. Projects such as this new bp ENTHUSE Partnership will help ensure they are able to seize those opportunities, by enabling us to carry out intensive work with the teachers and pupils to ensure our young people develop the STEM skills and knowledge they need to flourish.”

Clare Nicholas is a higher level teaching assistant and science lead at Errington Primary School in Marske. Attending the project launch, she said: “This is a brilliant opportunity to access resources and meet other likeminded people and increase the opportunity for teaching STEM subjects. It creates such a buzz.”

She added: “To engage youngsters in STEM subjects we need to grab their interest as early as we can. Young people often think STEM subjects are not for them, or it is something they “can’t do”, when in fact science, maths and engineering is involved in so many of the activities they are already doing, even something as simple as kicking a football. Increasing the ways in which we can integrate STEM into subjects, and being able to put that into context, is brilliant for our children.”