Plugin2engineering

Our new programme for schools, called 'plugin2engineering', is designed to give young people aged between 11 and 16 the chance to find out what it is really like to work in our industry, as well as highlighting career opportunities. A successful pilot was run with three schools in the Midlands in 2005/06, and the plan is for 21 schools to benefit eventually from the chance to hear first hand from Central Networks employees, to visit our power stations and to join in with special activities and open days. The programme will be supported by our employee volunteering programme, giving volunteers the opportunity to take part in school visits, to run after school clubs and to mentor students.

Positive Energy

We launched the Powergen Positive Energy Schools Awards in October 2005, and over 3,200 schools have already registered to take part. The new scheme is designed to encourage young people to engage with, and to benefit from, the arts. Pupils aged between seven and 11 are eligible to enter, using art, music, English or dance to explore the theme of 'energy' in and around their school.

Engineers of the future

The first-ever Youth Engineering Summit was held in the Midlands in 2005, sponsored in part by elements of our business. Three workshops were held to inform secondary school pupils about careers in engineering. Over a thousand pupils took part and their teachers received a special national curriculum approved pack with more information about engineering careers.

Tom Bolger, Central Networks Training Manager, said: "We were very excited about what we saw at the workshop as the sessions put over what engineering means very clearly and enthusiastically. The children were incredibly interested and engaged with what was happening."

We run Power Discovery Trucks and the Power Discovery Zone to help young people learn about electricity and safety.

We are also sponsoring the Power Academy, and there's more about that here.

Hams Hall Environmental Studies Centre

This centre is owned by E.ON UK and run in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council. It provides a fully equipped 'outdoor' classroom to teach schoolchildren all aspects of environmental awareness. It provides day courses for over 350 teachers and their pupils each year and since its foundation over 150,000 pupils have visited.

One of our key business objectives is to reduce carbon emissions within the environment. This is a tough challenge and can only be sustained if we can engage future generations. Hams Hall provides a great showcase for not only seeing renewable energy in practice, but also educating children about renewable energy and the environment in which we live. The centre recently celebrated its 30th anniversary of educating and supporting local children, a fantastic achievement for all who have been involved in the project.

Two examples of the feedback the centre has received are:

"Usual high standard - children really enjoyed themselves-an exciting adventure".
Hobmoor Primary School.

"A fantastic learning experience, extremely well delivered. Pupils have commented on how much they have learnt and enjoyed. Thank you."
Lakey Lane School

Snaith School

During 2005, E.ON UK helped Snaith School near Goole celebrate its elevation to special school status in Business Enterprise. E.ON UK Renewables Team linked up with the school after agreeing to use the sports hall for a public meeting about its proposed Aire and Calder wind farm.

To celebrate its success the school held a special Enterprise Week, raising £1200 which was donated to Children in Need. The week included an Energy Advice Centre and E.ON UK provided an energy efficiency and renewable energy display. 1,000 T-shirts were donated to the school along with other goodies.

Alex Fornal, E.ON UK project developer, was on hand to answer questions about the energy display. He said: "We were happy to be able to help the school celebrate their great news and to provide them with information about renewable energy. On a more serious note, we were also promoting energy efficiency at the school - the Government has set some pretty tough emissions reduction targets that we can only meet if everyone does their bit by cutting their power consumption. It's great that we can promote these energy efficiency messages to the next generation because they'll be the ones who can make a real difference."

Promotion of science as a career

To help promote science as a career, scientists from E.ON UK showcased careers in industry. Environmental modellers Vicki Booth and Sarah Stiff, from Power Technology, demonstrated that the world of engineering and physics can provide tomorrow's recruits with real and fulfilling jobs. They helped 'Lab in a Lorry', an interactive mobile physics laboratory that relies on volunteer practising scientists and engineers, when it visited a Nottinghamshire school. Vicki and Sarah, both physics graduates who joined Power Technology recently, were persuading more youngsters to consider scientific careers by discussing their own experiences and involving the pupils in hands-on experiments. The two volunteered for the visit, to the Harry Carlton Comprehensive School, East Leake, to support 'Lab in a Lorry', which is one of three vehicles operated nationwide by the Schlumberger Foundation and the Institute of Physics. Vicki said: "It is really important for more youngsters to realise that pursuing studies in physics or engineering will lead to worthwhile and interesting jobs. There is a reported decline of 20% in the numbers of students following these career paths through university and further education, so there is an urgent need to promote the sciences to pupils."

Bringing renewable energy to life

Tim Morgan, Renewable Team Asset Leader, hosted a visit by Oxenhope Church of England Primary School to Ovenden Moor Wind Farm. The visit consisted of a tour around the 13-year old wind farm where pupils were given the opportunity to discuss all aspects of climate change and renewable energy. The children were able to look inside the base of the turbines to see at first hand how wind turbines turn wind into green electricity for local communities.

E.ON Energy Experience

During 2005, we began to develop the E.ON Energy Experience - a suite of engaging, interactive, multi-media resources that will teach young people (5-16 years) about the full range of energy issues through the Science and Geography curriculum. The resources, developed in conjunction with the education community, will be available to all schools in England, Scotland and Wales from autumn 2006.

The programme aims to deliver a memorable learning experience for all age groups and increase the energy literacy of young people. Like the plugin2engineering programme, the E.ON Energy Experience will be supported by our volunteering programme, giving employees the opportunity to take part in schools visits, run after school clubs and get involved with student mentoring.