ENERGY
Tom Thayer , bp ’ s UK skills partnership manager , says “ This is far greater than one organisation and over the last couple of years in particular , building those relationships with some of the key players in the region has been crucial .”
And thanks to several education outreach and social investment initiatives , he feels the company is in a good place to power ahead .
He told Tees Business : “ There ’ ll be so many opportunities because these projects come with big numbers attached to them , especially in construction .
“ Take NZT Power , for example – there would be around 3,000 jobs annually during that 2025-26 peak of construction .
“ There are lots of opportunities there for people before we then go into potentially 1,000 jobs annually during the lifespan of that project .
“ How do we think about social mobility and how do we make a positive impact on gender representation ?”
By working collaboratively with local authorities , schools , colleges and other employers , Tom feels that bp is sowing the seeds for its future workforce .
He said : “ The position bp has taken in Teesside is , ‘ How are we going to promote recruitment opportunities and address skills gaps , if there are any , and increase capacity ?’
“ Think about Teesside as a region and its proud industrial heritage . There ’ s now a diverse cluster of industrial , power and hydrogen companies , but what does bp need and how does that sit within what the region needs – and what skills are already within the region ?
“ The importance of working with the likes of the Tees Valley Combined Authority , local councils and education institutions is vital . If we really are to create a positive legacy in the Tees Valley , and support things like social mobility and truly engage with the local community , we have to work collaboratively .
“ This is far greater than one organisation and over the last couple of years in particular , building those relationships with some of the key players in the region has been crucial .”
Tom highlighted several bp schemes and initiatives that should help provide the skills needed .
They include : > Career Ready : Launched on January 31 , and continuing an already successful partnership between bp and the Career Ready social mobility charity , which has supported over 500 students in London and Aberdeen . It will see to 40 young people , aged 16 to 18 , at six schools and colleges , and from underrepresented socio-economic backgrounds , receive support that can include one-to-one mentoring , paid work experience placements , skills masterclasses and workplace visits from a range of local employers .
> Redcar and Cleveland College Clean Energy Education Hub : The Teesside Clean Energy Technician Scholarship – delivered at Redcar and Cleveland College ’ s impressive new hub – is a fulltime engineering course that delivers the skills needed for developments in carbon capture and the green industries . Initially , it was a chance for 21 students to earn while they learned . And from November , the programme was extended to another 20 young Teessiders , including 10 female students , to encourage more girls to pursue STEM careers .
> Children Challenging Industry : Delivered by the University of York ’ s Centre for Industry Education Collaboration ( CIEC ) and supported by bp , the Children Challenging Industry programme aims to show how scientific concepts are applied from classroom scenarios to real life . In 2022-23 , 17 bp volunteers supported the initiative , reaching 582 students and 187 teachers across 20 schools locally .
> The Enthuse Partnership : Launched by bp in collaboration with Redcar and Cleveland College and local schools , it engages with teachers and education professionals to develop a collaborative approach to STEM subject teaching . bp is also engaging heavily with the Careers and Enterprise Company – delivered by the Tees Valley Combined Authority – to raise career literacy within schools .
> An expanded collaboration with the Skills Builder Partnership to support schools on Teesside has brought together educators , employers and skills-building organisations around a shared approach to building essential skills for success . In the 2022-23 academic year , it reached 192 teachers and over 2,000 students across seven schools . Tom said : “ It ’ s all about pathways to employment – trying to map out as many engagement points as you can .
“ A young person doesn ’ t suddenly want to be something because of something they hear in a school assembly . The assembly might inspire them , but you need to do more – get them on a site tour , do work experience , help them with their application through a partner like Career Ready .
“ When you pull together all the workforce requirements , both in construction and operation , you ’ re in the thousands , and they are just our projects .
“ People like SeAH and others are in the region , too – this is a great opportunity . It ’ s almost like winning the postcode lottery – all this stuff is coming .
“ But if you really want to deliver impact for a local region and leave a lasting legacy , you have to think about things way in advance of reaching that final investment decision – and that , increasingly , is how sensible organisations are approaching the skills agenda on major infrastructure projects .
“ We have to think about it – and bp has been doing – otherwise , the projects wouldn ’ t get built because the skills wouldn ’ t be there .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 29