How Equinor is inspiring the next generation with STEM careers

Equinor is addressing skills gaps and labour shortages in the energy sector by supporting STEM jobs across the whole career span to create a high-value, low-carbon future and a fair transition.

Equinor is a global leader in energy production using its expertise in offshore wind to drive forward innovation at Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farms off the Norfolk coast.

But this innovation is not just directed at energy production. Equinor is also helping to support skills and career development, ensuring that the UK has the workforce it needs to go net-zero.

Sue Falch-Lovesey, Equinor UK head of social value (Image: Equinor)

“Offshore wind is growing across the world,” said Susan Falch-Lovesey, Equinor UK head of social value. “But this growth means we need to build capacity by having early career professionals coming in, while developing existing colleagues.”

Central to Equinor’s strategy is its whole career model, which spans from early education through to senior roles. This model is designed to address the growing demand for skilled professionals and the emerging skills gaps affecting the industry.

READ MORE: Building green careers in the energy transition

One area experiencing a shortfall is electrical skills, which means the industry will need to recruit and upskill more High Voltage (HV) engineers, Senior Authorised Persons (SAPs) and cablers.

There is further demand for technical, logistical and digital skills in data science, analysis and software development, as well as project management, finance and business skills.

“We also have to develop and upskill people in emerging areas like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), machine-learning and cyber security,” Susan said.

“We’re moving towards more data-driven operations and maintenance, which requires us to make sense of the data we’re collecting from the turbines, so we can be efficient in driving our maintenance campaigns.”

Equinor offers work experience, apprenticeships and graduate internships (Image: Equinor)

With the industry developing at such a pace, it is imperative that energy producers are investing in future skills necessary to make the energy transition happen.

“We need to have programmes that introduce talent to the business,” Susan said.

To that end, Equinor is broadening the employment pool by attracting people through its STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) outreach.

This includes the Dudgeon Community Fund’s STEM programme, designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and inventors in Norfolk.

The Dudgeon STEM in Schools Fund aims to inspire students in primary schools, secondary schools and colleges to study STEM subjects, so that they are more likely to continue education or employment within the sector.

Equinor has had a fruitful and long-term collaboration with the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) and Stempoint East on a programme for students at local schools including East Norfolk Sixth Form, Attleborough Academy and Alderman Peel High. This involves linking hundreds of students with local SMEs specialising in offshore wind and offering hands-on activities to inspire young people into STEMrelated roles.

Another programme is Wonderverse – a decision-making and problem-solving game based on scientific principles and energy data. Launched in 2023, the STEM learning platform, endorsed by the Association of Science Education (ASE), teaches young people aged 9-14 about the energy transition and has already been used by 81,000 students across the UK to date.

Equinor is also collaborating with the Department of Work and Pensions to upskill Job Centre work coaches on what it’s like to work offshore. These programmes are complemented by work experience, apprenticeships and graduate internships that allow students to gain practical experience in the energy industry.

In 2022, Equinor piloted its work experience programme with The Ogden Trust, which saw three young people work from Equinor’s Great Yarmouth operations and maintenance base. This year, the programme will grow to eight students working across the local supply chain for the month of August.

READ MORE: Equinor's Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon wind farms power green future

In 2023, three apprentices started their training with Dogger Bank Wind Farm, exploring a variety of roles including electrical engineering and warehouse logistics. This month a new opportunity for two more wind turbine technician apprenticeships has been launched in Great Yarmouth.

All of these outreach activities are underpinned by Equinor’s diversity and inclusion strategy, which seeks to break down barriers for women and underrepresented groups in the offshore sector and better reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.

“We’re trying to make sure we have diverse opportunities for youngsters that haven’t had the opportunity to see the relevance of offshore wind to them as a career choice and support them to find a pathway to fulfil their ambitions.

“We need young people who are developing their understanding of renewables and the energy transition to know that there are jobs for them in the future.

“That’s the ideal – inspired people will drive the business and the industry forward.”

For more information, visit equinor.com

(Image: Newsquest)

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