Young people in coastal communities across the UK are expected to share a £ 1million ($ 1.4million) investment from the Dogger Bank wind farm to prepare them for working life in a net zero world.

Project developers from Dogger Bank, SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni are developing a program in partnership with local authorities in the North and North East of England to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM ) at the heart of children’s education.

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The program has been developed with local skills and education stakeholders to ensure it responds to local priorities with a focus on the early years in East Riding of Yorkshire and the transition from primary to secondary in South Tyneside. The 124 primary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire and the 18 secondary schools in South Tyneside will have the opportunity to increase and expand their current offerings in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Plans are still being developed on how the program will support youth in the Redcar and Cleveland area, where the third phase of the wind farm will connect to the Lackenby National Grid. These will be confirmed when the third phase, Dogger Bank C, makes its final investment decision later this year.

In addition to improving the offer of STEM in the classroom, 50 students from these fields will receive a scholarship to help cover the cost of higher education qualifications while studying STEM subjects.

In addition to this STEM fund, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will invest £ 13.5million ($ 19million) in the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership over its lifetime, a program put in place to support the growth of the UK offshore wind supply chain.

Learning and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said: “As we recover from the pandemic, we are investing billions of pounds to help the UK become a global leader in green technology. This includes creating up to 250,000 jobs by 2030 through our ten point plan, which will be critical to achieving a green industrial revolution. It’s fantastic to see the developers at Dogger Bank Wind Farm supporting this by investing in science, technology, engineering and math skills. Not only is the world’s largest offshore wind farm a pioneer in new technology, it is also innovating in the way it supports coastal communities to ensure that young people are equipped to access the green jobs of the future.

Steve Wilson, Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: “We estimate that more than 25,000 young people from 142 schools in the North and North East of England will benefit from this funding, as we open our eyes to the green industry opportunities of our net zero future.

“Renewable energy will increasingly become a source of skilled jobs in the UK as we weather the pandemic and rebuild our economy. This is one of the most important investments the offshore wind industry has made in future skills, and could be the key to unlocking the future potential of many young people, as we place STEM skills at the very heart of their learning. “