Aspiring engineers have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship that will fund up to seven students through engineering courses at Furness College.
The scholarship, funded by Ørsted, is now being offered for a second year after a successful pilot scheme in 2017.
The world’s largest offshore wind developer, formerly known as DONG Energy, has set aside £45,000 through its Walney Extension Community Fund to help people across South Cumbria get the education they need to progress in their dream careers in engineering.
Aaron Thompson-Plevey, who is studying a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering (Electrical and Mechanical) after being accepted on to the scholarship scheme, is keen to advise others to make the most of the opportunity provided by Ørsted.
He said: “Studying at Furness College gives me a unique ability to interact with engineers who have been in the field for numerous years, and as such I can further my own knowledge of the subject.
“To be awarded a scholarship by such an influential company will stand me in very high regard as I progress and pursue a career in engineering.”
The scholarship will pay student fees for a range of courses in electrical and mechanical engineering - from a national diploma and HNC through to degrees and Honours degrees - to support those who may not otherwise be able to finance themselves through qualifications.
Kate Colebourn, Head of Area for Technical and Build Engineering at Furness College, said:
“Ørsted is providing another excellent opportunity for aspiring engineers to achieve higher education qualifications and contribute to the thriving engineering sector in the Furness area.
“By offering this scholarship, Ørsted has broken down financial barriers to higher education, allowing us to focus on finding the talented engineers of the future.
“We were thrilled with the high quality of applications we received last time, and the successful recipients of the scholarship are well on the way to achieving their goals.”
The college will deliver the courses from September on its £47m Channelside campus and students will study in the cutting-edge Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Centre, which has recently been nominated for a North West Building of the Decade award by BBC’s North West Tonight.
Ørsted is the global leader in offshore wind and is at the forefront of the UK’s transition to low-carbon energy supplies. The company is currently constructing the world’s largest wind farm, Walney Extension, off the coast of Cumbria – a project that will be capable of powering more than half a million UK homes.
Matthew Wright, managing director at Ørsted UK, said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Furness College by supporting these scholarships through the Walney Extension Community Fund. Our aim is to help the next generation of engineers and scientists develop the skills needed to take advantage of the growing career opportunities in sectors like offshore wind.”
The courses available with support are: National Diploma in Engineering (Level 3) Full or PT
HNC Engineering Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (2 Years)
Bachelor in Engineering – Ordinary Degree (2 Years) (Mechanical or Electrical)
Bachelor in Engineering – Hons Degree (4 Years) (Mechanical or Electrical)
People who are not in full-time employment or who wish to retrain in engineering may be eligible to apply for the scholarship. For a full list of criteria or to find out more, call Cenedra McSkimmings at Furness College on 01229 844793 or via email businesssupport@furness.ac.uk.
About Ørsted
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs and operates offshore wind farms, bioenergy plants and innovative waste-to-energy solutions and provides smart energy products to its customers. Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs 5,600 people, including over 900 in the UK. Ørsted's shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2017, the group's revenue was DKK 59.5 billion (EUR 8.0 billion). For more information on Ørsted, visit orsted.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
About Walney Extension
The Walney Extension offshore wind farm is located next to the existing Walney Offshore Wind Farm, off the Walney Island coast in Cumbria. The extension will comprise of 87 turbines and have a total capacity of 659MW.
For further information, please see: walneyextension.co.uk
About Walney Extension Community Fund
The Fund supports community and environmental projects along the Cumbria and Lancashire coast, within a defined area. Approximately £600,000 is available each year (£100,000 of this is ring-fenced for a ‘Skills Fund’). The Fund is split equally between two annual funding rounds. There are two levels of grants available:
Applications to the Fund are made using an online application system via the GrantScape website www.grantscape.org.uk .
