120 girls from secondary schools across Pembrokeshire joined industry professionals at Pembroke Dock’s Bridge Innovation Centre to explore career opportunities in renewable energy, construction, engineering, and maritime industries.

The Career’s Connections event was hosted by the SPARC Alliance as part of British Science Week. Students heard from industry partners Blue Gem Wind, RWE, Port of Milford Haven, Svitzer and Carnival UK who delivered mission statements and surprising facts about their sectors, before working in teams to tackle a range of questions about careers.

After a closely-contested final quiz round, the winning team was made up of students from Haverfordwest High School and Ysgol Harri Tudur, Pembroke. This team were praised for being an “excellent example of collaborative practice in action.”

The quiz was followed by an interactive Careers Connections session, supported by over 30 professionals from energy and construction sector. From engineering and welding to project management and environmental science, attendees had the chance to explore a range of career pathways and understand valuable skills.

“I really enjoyed hearing about the different roles within engineering and how people got into their careers,” said one of the students.

Lisa Ladd, Ysgol Caer Elen’s SPARC practitioner, said:

“The Career Connection Day was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn more about careers in engineering and renewable energy. Meeting industry professionals helped them understand the different pathways available and inspired them to consider future opportunities within STEM.”

SPARC Co Lead, Hayley Williams of Pembrokeshire College, added:

“With growing interest in low carbon energy, the SPARC Alliance will continue to build connections between young women and industry, ensuring that Wales’ future workforce is diverse, skilled, and ready to take on the challenges of a changing world.”

For further information about the SPARC Alliance and future events, contact [email protected] .