SSEN Transmission

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SSEN Transmission and EDT Develop Scottish Skills Partnership

In its first year, our partnership with SSEN Transmission has inspired thousands of young people across Scotland, opening valuable pathways into the energy and engineering sectors. Through engaging Industrial Cadet opportunities at Challenger, FunSTEM, and Gold levels, the strategic partnership is helping to develop the next generation of STEM professionals.

Primary and secondary students across Scotland were introduced to the world of STEM through Industrial Cadets Challenger experiences. These hands-on sessions offered a dynamic and accessible introduction to key energy concepts including how electricity is generated, the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources, and the importance of safety around electricity.

FunSTEM encouraged students to work collaboratively in teams of up to six on a dedicated STEM project. The programme culminated in students presenting their original Net Zero Heroes - creative comic strip characters championing environmental awareness and sustainability, aligned with SSEN Transmission’s commitment to a greener future. This initiative not only nurtured creativity and teamwork but also reinforced key messages around climate change and responsible energy use.

At the secondary school level, students participated in Industrial Cadets Gold Mentored Projects. Working in small teams and supported by SSEN Transmission mentors, pupils dedicated 50hours to tackling real-world STEM challenges. These projects enabled students to develop critical work-ready and technical skills while gaining valuable insights into future career pathways, including apprenticeships and graduate programmes within the energy industry.

Building on the success of the first year, SSEN Transmission will continue its support in the 2025/26 academic year. Industrial Cadets Challenger Days will be delivered both in-person and virtually to reach even more primary and secondary students.

The partnership will be expanding to include the delivery of Industrial Cadets Bronze and Silver Projects forS1–S3 pupils. These projects will offer students further opportunities to build essential STEM skills, develop teamwork and problem-solving capabilities, and deepen their understanding of industry-related topics.

Impact

  • 1,400 students supported
  • 34 schools supported across Scotland

Testimonial

 “We have a huge job ahead of us to make sure we have a network which is fit for the future, and we can only get there if we have the right people to help us deliver this. It is so important that we inspire the engineers of tomorrow, today – and that means encouraging the next generation to consider a career in energy and demonstrate the huge variety of opportunities available to them in this sector. 
“Partnerships such as EDT’s Industrials Cadets programme do exactly that and give young people a taste of what they can do with a career in energy and how they can play a part in the fight against climate change.  We’re thrilled to be involved and look forward to welcoming the next students to the initiative in the next school year.”

Dave McKay, Director of Asset Management & Operations at SSEN Transmission

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