An additional twenty-five students from coastal communities in the north and north-east of England are being supported with the cost of further education, thanks to a scholarship of £5,000 each from Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The Scholarship Fund provides grants to local students undertaking science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) courses in further education. The recently awarded grants are part of the second round of the Scholarship Fund, with 50 scholarships awarded to date and a total of 62 scholarships available during the construction of the wind farm.
The scholarship fund focuses on the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire and Redcar and Cleveland, where the windfarm will connect to the National Grid, as well as South Tyneside, where the Operation and Maintenance Base will be located.
The second round of the scholarship fund has proven very popular, with lots of quality applications received this year. The students are undertaking a wide range of STEM courses from diverse subjects such as Forensic and Analytical Chemistry and Zoology. There is also a clear focus on the climate emergency with eight scholars undertaking engineering related degrees which can help support in working towards a net zero future.
Ethan Ofosu is from South Shields and is studying Forensic and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Strathclyd. The former Bedford School student, said:
”Having gained this scholarship is a great opportunity for me as it helps reduce some of the financial burden and stress that going to university can have on me. It also shows that there are local businesses that are willing to support young people like me in the community. When I got the scholarship, it made my mam happy as well, so that was a nice feeling.”
Paul Thomas from Redcar, a HNC Mechanical Engineering student at the Redcar and Cleveland College, said:
“I’m extremely grateful to receive the Dogger Bank Scholarship. This funding award will enable me to fully concentrate on my HNC in Mechanical Engineering, during this challenging economic climate.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn, SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion.
Lindsay Dougan, Community Investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is delighted to have the opportunity to support excellent students with scholarships. It’s also great to see local people are undertaking courses which support the reduction in local skills gaps particularly around engineering. We are proud to support the workforce of the future through this scholarship initiative.”
In June 2021, Dogger Bank Wind Farm unveiled plans for a £1 million construction fund to support the coastal communities where its onshore infrastructure is being developed. The programme includes a significant investment in science, technology, engineering, and maths, as well as an operators fund to support local causes.
Students are reminded the scheme will reopen to new applicants in Summer 2023. Further details and how to apply next year can be found at https://doggerbank.com/about/community/.
