The Milford Haven Waterway has always been a highway of bustling activity which people working in all sorts of industries have relied upon over the years to keep their families fed and entertained. As the world has changed around us, and industries have risen and fallen, the Milford Haven Waterway too has evolved, keeping abreast of the wave of innovation and adapting to provide the energy and skills that the next era has needed.
At one time there were four refineries in Pembrokeshire, today there are only six in the whole of the UK. The transition to more sustainable energy sources is great news from a climate change perspective but the challenge economically is how we achieve a just transition, retaining as many of the benefits of this new economy here in Wales.
With the focus in the UK and Wales on achieving net zero by 2050, we’re on the brink of a renewable energy boom, and it’s vitally important to prepare and upskill our future generations so they can benefit from the prosperity this energy revolution will generate – both economically and environmentally.
Today,there are more than 5,000 Welsh jobs directly related to the activity on the Milford Haven Waterway. And in the last few years, the area has attracted companies in the renewable energy sector who recognise the advantages of the area’s deepwater port, its abundant natural resource, its unrivalled energy infrastructure linking it to the rest of the UK and beyond, and its home-grown engineering talent.
With the imminent developments in marine energy in Pembrokeshire, including wave, tidal and floating offshore wind, it’s an exciting time.
What roles will be needed in the future?
And how can we prepare to fill them?
In March 2020, the Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT) project collaborated with Pembrokeshire College, and local renewable energy developers Mainstay Marine, Bombora, ORE Catapult, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (Swansea University) and the Bucanier Project to answer these questions for local school children.
Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT) is led by University College Dublin in partnership with Fingal County Council, University College Cork, Cardiff University, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and the Port of Milford Haven and aims to support coastal communities in understanding climate change and how to adapt.
The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the STEM skills at the heart of the marine energy industry, to raise awareness about the upcoming local opportunities, and to upskill today’s youth, tomorrow’s workforce in preparation. The event also served as a launch event for CCAT’s bilingual STEM Guide to careers in Marine Energy - An Ocean of Opportunities, to introduce the possible new careers in marine energy (both locally and globally) sowing the seeds of local development and regeneration. This has been developed in collaboration with a number of energy developers and the local supply chain.
Pupils from Ysgol Harri Tudur and engineering students from Pembrokeshire College were invited to attend the event, which saw the Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock transformed into a series of interactive workshop spaces.
David Jones the then CEO of Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, and Andy Edwards, Port of Milford Haven’s Vice-Chair at the time, opened the event by setting the scene around present and future careers in marine energy. Interactive workshops were led by local marine energy developers, Bombora Wave Power, Mainstay Marine Solutions, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, and Swansea University.
The students joined in the innovation focused workshops which included building their own floating wind turbine platform, against the clock.
A new bilingual guide to careers in marine energy ‘An Ocean of Opportunities’ was also launched at the event.
Guide to Careers in Marine Energy (English)
Guide to Careers in Marine Energy (Welsh)
This educational resource was developed collaboratively between the marine energy industry and the supply chain to showcase the industry and possible careers within it, playing a critical role of youth empowerment and education in climate action.
As we move into this new energy era, such initiatives will help ensure future generations have the skills needed to tackle the challenges head on and fully unlock the opportunities.