STEM & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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STEM & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

We are passionate about working with local schools and businesses in support of STEM education and community engagement, to deliver inspiring, meaningful and impactful social benefit.

 

As a world-leading organisation with engineering, innovation and technology at its heart, and with locations throughout the UK, our STEM and community engagement programmes are aligned to engage with and meet the respective needs of local education and community partners.

 

To date, we have provided STEM engagement for thousands of young learners, joined national STEM programmes and embedded our organisation as a key member of community groups.

STEM INITIATIVES AROUND THE ORE CATAPULT LOCATIONS

We provide STEM and community engagement in a number of different ways from many of our locations around the UK.

Read more about them here:

Glasgow

With our HQ located in Glasgow, we have been involved in a broad range of regional STEM events and activities for many years, including:

  • Working with DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) on careers fairs, the No Wrong Path careers campaign and hosting the DYW Live Introduction to Offshore Renewable Energy course
  • Working with the Glasgow Science Centre, in particular the Curious About Programme
  • Mentoring schools through the Primary Engineer programme and careers talks as part of the Engineering Leaders Awards
  • Creating classroom resources with Falkirk Community Trust and working with the University of Glasgow on the Climate Smart Teacher training programme
  • Supporting the EDT Industrial Cadets Bronze and Silver awards programmes both as mentors and judges for the regional and national finals
  • Mentors on the award winning Glasgow universities (Strathclyde, Glasgow, Caledonian) Equate Scotland Wind Energy Project challenge, which was started by one of our former interns
  • Sponsoring a Glasgow School to participate in the First Lego League Challenge and hosting work experience placements and internships.

Blyth

The National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth is home to the most complete set of offshore wind test and validation facilities in the world and as a result is the ideal place to influence young STEM learners:

  • Destination for hundreds of young visitors every year who are exploring a future in the renewables industry, careers and technology
  • A founding member of Energy Central, the inward investment and skills partnership, creating opportunities for growth, training and jobs in Blyth
  • A lead partner in STEM@EnergyCentral who deliver STEM outreach to thousands of young learners annually from across the region
  • A member of the Blyth Town Deal board, helping to secure millions of pounds for key projects that will regenerate Blyth and create hundreds of green jobs
  • A board member and sponsor of Blyth Tall Ship who deliver maritime training and skills programmes that build confidence and provide employment pathways for local people.

Levenmouth

As owners of the Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine, we directly support STEM provision for young learners at the nearby Levenmouth Academy:

  • Funding a full-time STEM Principal Teacher to drive STEM engagement across the school
  • Sponsoring investment in new VR kit to enhance STEM teaching resources
  • Funding STEM clubs and activities
  • Providing bursaries and mentoring to students moving on to read STEM subjects in Higher Education.

Aberdeen

With the opening of the Floating Wind Innovation Centre (FLOWIC), our presence is growing in North East Scotland with support already including:

Pembroke Dock

The team at our Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence actively engage with young learners, delivering sessions on marine energy, FLOW, hydrogen and Data & Digital:

  • Created hydrogen resources to teach Key Stage 2 & 3 students, available on the MH:EK website
  • Working with Pembrokeshire College to help deliver a Destination Renewable course for Key Stage 4 learners
  • Engineering team deliver weekly technical seminars to BTEC learners at Wales Further Education College
  • Delivering STEM Sessions for Welsh Valleys Engineering Project and supporting the Pembrokeshire First Lego League
  • Working with the EESW Engineering Challenge programme across Wales providing innovation challenges, and designing a floating wind platform for the META Educational Project.

Grimsby

Our Operations & Maintenance Centre of Excellence is located in the Port of Grimsby, with teams engaging with local education partners to deliver STEM programmes and raise awareness of offshore renewable energy opportunities:

  • Partnering with Engineering North Lincs University Technical College (ENLUTC) to develop Generation Net Zero, a suite of rooms where primary schools students can explore software coding, circuit building, model making and rocket launching
  • Framing a curriculum project with ENLUTC around a real industry scenario, where Year 9 engineering students now work on a ORE Catapult moisture sensor, developed originally for use in the industry
  • The ExplORE work experience programme, where students of varying ages and backgrounds engaged in a collaborative projects to develop their STEM related skills.

HOW OUR STEM ACTIVITY STACKS UP

TRACKING THE STATS

ORE Catapult’s Marketing Manager, Tom Chaplin, explores how our team of STEM volunteers have ensured the company’s outreach activities have bounced back stronger than ever following COVID.

Read our latest blog on our STEM activity

OUR TIMELINE OF STEM & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY

Over the years we have been delighted to take part in some exciting STEM related projects:

2016

ORE Catapult partners with Levenmouth Academy, Fife, providing financial support for educational activities and facilities including the sponsorship of a full-time STEM coordinator and associated programmes.

2017

With ORE Catapult as a founding partner, STEM@EnergyCentral is established (originally known as Blyth STEM Hub) to drive engagement with schools in Blyth.

2018

Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Public Engagement Award is received to support the STEM Club Start-up programme in Glasgow.

2019

STEM@EnergyCentral engages with more than 2000 school children in the calendar year, with ORE Catapult hosting many site visits and workshops in Blyth.

2020

Covid pandemic lockdowns move engagement online, with ORE Catapult offering an Introduction to Offshore Renewable Energy, a 6-module course delivered through DYW Live.

2021

First engagements with the Aberdeen Science Centre.

2022

Working with Engineering North Lincolnshire University Technical College (ENLUTC) we launched Generation Net Zero, a suite of rooms for primary schools to use, containing activities from software coding to circuit building to model making and rocket launching.

2023

Construction commences on the Energy Central Learning Hub, a flagship skills project within the £90 million Energising Blyth regeneration programme, principally funded by UK Government and North of Tyne Combined Authority, with ORE Catapult as a founding partner.

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU?

Our Catapult colleagues deliver a huge range of STEM related engagement activities and if you’ve not taken part before, wherever possible we’d be delighted to support you too!

All of our STEM Ambassadors and volunteers understand the importance of the opportunity our roles provide us to inspire the next generation of engineers, regardless of their gender, race, religion or beliefs, disability or sexual orientation. We endeavour to provide opportunities for all, embracing equality, diversity and inclusion. We post all current opportunities – both location specific and virtual – to STEM Learning’s Ambassadors portal. Please take a look and apply for any that suit your school, college or organisation!

STEM Ambassadors

RESOURCES TO DOWNLOAD

FURTHER READING

Here is our guide to those who have inspired us and who we would recommend taking a closer look at.

Read more

CONTACT OUR TEAM

If you are interested in working with us, please get in touch.

Learn more about how we can help support you organisation via our STEM outreach. Disclaimer: Please be aware that we have limited resource and existing commitment to STEM & Community Engagement programmes so we may not be able to fulfil every request.

People Team

Human Resources

hr@ore.catapult.org.uk