Marine Energy Presents an Ocean of Opportunity

19th March 2020

Pembrokeshire College hosted the CCAT STEM Careers in Marine Energy event for local secondary schools and colleges on 11th March.

The event was organised by CCAT project partners Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and the Port of Milford Haven in partnership with Mainstay Marine, Bombora, ORE Catapult, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (Swansea University) and the Bucanier Project.

With exciting and imminent developments in marine energy in South Pembrokeshire, the purpose of the event was to introduce possible new careers in marine energy (both locally and globally) to 70 STEM students from schools and colleges in Pembrokeshire, sowing the seeds of local development and regeneration.

Pupils from Ysgol Harri Tudur and engineering students from Pembrokeshire College were invited to attend the event, which saw the Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock transformed into a series of interactive workshop spaces.

David Jones the CEO of Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, and Andy Edwards, Port of Milford Haven’s Vice-Chair, opened the event by setting the scene around present and future careers in marine energy. Interactive workshops were led by local marine energy developers; Bombora Wave Power, Mainstay Marine Solutions, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, and Swansea University.

Few students had a good understanding of the innovation taking place on the haven waterway, so many were eager to participate in the related workshops which included being challenged to build their own floating wind turbine platform against the clock.

The new Guide to Careers in Marine Energy was also launched at the event. This has been developed in collaboration with a number of energy developers and the local supply chain, as an introduction to the industry and possible careers within it. English and Welsh versions of the guide will be made available to learning institutions locally and online as a learning resource.