Over the summer I have been giving some thought to my work so far at GreenPower – it wasn’t long ago that I joined the team, straight out of my time at university and looking to do a job making a real difference. After two and a half years at GreenPower, I have progressed from a Junior to now becoming a full Project Manager, having been through intensive training and plenty of hands-on working experience on projects whilst being mentored by my senior colleagues Sam Layton and Nick Forrest.
I have been leading on GreenPower’s involvement with the Powering Futures Schools Challenge programme where I can dedicate some of my worktime to going into schools as a mentor and hopefully encouraging some of the students to explore their options within a career in renewable energy. The programme is aimed at providing Highers students with a course and qualification in which they can practice directly applicable workplace-relevant skills and gain useful experience to support their next steps into further education, apprenticeships, or the working world.
It doesn’t feel like such a long time ago that I was in a similar position and was grappling with the decision of what to do next. Unless you are in the lucky position of having a very clear idea of what you want your career to look like at age 16, thinking about your next steps can feel daunting and confusing. However, sometimes a small amount of inspiration and guidance can help turn fleeting interest and curiosity into clearly mapped next steps in an early career pathway, which can make all the difference approaching the point of leaving school.
One of the great strengths of the Schools Challenge programme is the connection it builds between schools and partner businesses. Partners such as GreenPower, which has supported the programme for the past two years, provide mentors and support throughout the year, providing insight into the working world, and helping to bridge the gap between school and the workplace. It is highly rewarding, and the students inspire me with their innovative ideas, perseverance throughout a challenging programme and their enthusiasm to build solutions for a sustainable future.
This summer I attended a teacher and mentor workshop event designed to introduce new and returning members of the Powering Futures network to the Schools Challenge programme. The morning brought together teachers from across Scotland with GreenPower and fellow partners FES Group, OCS, Briggs Equipment UK Ltd, and NatureScot who would be providing in-class mentorship within the programme over the coming year. It was a great opportunity to compare notes and learn from others involved in the programme, all with the aim of improving the course, and ultimately giving the young people involved the best experience to take forward into their early careers.
Here’s to looking forward to another successful year as a partner and helping inspire the next generation into their early careers – many of which we hope will be in tackling climate change and delivering a just, prosperous and green future for all.