Huge milestone of £250K awarded through Ørsted’s 2023 ‘Skills Fund’

Ørsted is pleased to announce that the decisions on round seven of both the East Coast and Walney Extension Skills Funds have been reached. This year over £250,000 was awarded to eight successful groups who will be delivering Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related training or education courses, a one-off event, or a programme of targeted events.

The East Coast Skills Fund benefits coastal areas of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Norfolk whereas the Walney Extension Skills Fund focusses on coastal locations in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Imran Nawaz, Ørsted’s Senior Advisor and Community Benefit Fund Manager said: “This milestone shows our dedication to inspiring people into STEM careers. Each group has shown a fantastic project that aims to provide educational and learning opportunities for people within the two funds’ areas to help to improve their skills and employment opportunities. Well done everyone!”

The eight successful organisations applied through a competitive application process administered by the independent grant-making charity GrantScape.

In response to the news of their grant, Kate Norman from Lab Rascals, said “We are thrilled and deeply grateful to receive the prestigious East Coast skills funding provided by Ørsted. This grant will fuel our mission to deliver impactful STEM education, host engaging workshops, and develop innovative programs. With this support, we can expand our reach, enhance our resources, and inspire countless learners. We thank GrantScape and Ørsted for their belief in our vision and commitment to empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers. Together, we will make a lasting impact on STEM education and foster a brighter future.”

The eight groups receiving grants this round are:

• The College of West Anglia – Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Project for Students
• The Teacher Scientist Network – Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Science Kit Club
• Lab Rascals – Sustainability for the Future Educational Programme
• The University of Hull – IntoUniversity Centre in Bridlington (STEM support).
• 3 D Web Technologies Ltd – Design and Build a Wind Farm in Virtual Reality
• EDT – STEM Futures Lancaster & Wyre
• Furness Education & Skills Partnership – The Future of Furness – Exploring STEM Careers
• Primary Engineer – Walney Extension Skills Primary Engineer Construction Project

Photo courtesy of Lab Rascals.