Skills Launchpad Plymouth and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park have teamed up to offer young people the chance to take part in immersive and interactive activities run by local employers, to find out more about skills and future careers in the city’s green and blue economies.
On Wednesday 10 July at Tinside Lido, The Big Splash event will welcome secondary schools and youth groups to engage with local environmental, marine and construction employers, who will showcase the work they do through hands-on activities delivered alongside Plymouth’s spectacular waterfront. Funded through the Youth Investment Fund, the primary aim of this unique event is to inspire the next generation to consider careers in STEAM-related (science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths) roles particularly within the city’s fast growing green and blue economies.
Local employers taking part in The Big Splash include Thales Under Water Systems, Poole Farm, Building Resilience in Communities, Hydro Energy Group and Nevada Construction. Working together, these businesses will provide interesting insights into career pathways and stimulate the young people’s interest and understanding through creating experiences and access to real-world applications of STEAM skills in their industries.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at Plymouth City Council said: “The Big Splash event offers a unique opportunity for young people to explore the exciting world of the blue and green economy, offering them a glimpse into future career possibilities and the critical role of STEAM in solving local, national and global challenges such as tackling the climate emergency, sustainability and net zero.
“We thank our local employers for facilitating these inspiring hands-on activities, helping us to pro-actively bridge the gap between education and industry, whilst also nurturing the important skills of problem solving, creativity and critical thinking.”
In terms of connecting local people with opportunities in the green and blue economies, a green career can be any job, role or occupation that contributes to preserving or restoring the environment and the planet – and there are opportunities across all sectors. A green career offers exciting job prospects whilst contributing to a sustainable future, which many young people are passionate about. Blue opportunities all revolve around building connections with the ocean, learning to care about the marine environment and change the way humans behave to protect it. With over 300 marine-related businesses operating in the city, there are lots of opportunities, ranging from world-leading research, design and build, innovation, and cutting-edge technology.
Anyone looking for support to access opportunities in the green and blue economies can visit www.skillslaunchpadplym.co.uk and the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park website.