How npower Business Solutions is helping to bring energy and engineering to life for young people
npower Business Solutions (nBS) is working with West Mercia Energy to host a series of school workshops aimed at educating and inspiring the next generation.
How far do you think an electric car can travel on a single charge?
Well that’s just one of the questions primary school children have been answering thanks to a series of workshops held by nBS working in partnership with West Mercia Energy. And to work out the answer, pupils attending the science, technology, engineering and maths-based (STEM) ‘Power to Drive’ workshops built, charged and raced miniature electric vehicles.
The workshops are part of the social value provision nBS includes in all its public-sector supply contracts, and the sessions are delivered by ElevationX, a specialist STEM outreach organisation which has partnered with nBS for many years.
Katherine Deller, Social Value Lead at nBS, said: “We worked with West Mercia Energy to establish how best to support their members, and as many are schools, they decided one way would be to offer STEM-based activities to engage and educate young people about energy.”
Gavin Owen, Head of Business Development for West Mercia Energy, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this inspiring educational resource to our education-based customers. We’ve had lots of interest in this initiative and so far this year, 25 schools have already benefitted from a Power to Drive workshop. The feedback from both teachers and children has been extremely positive and we are thrilled to be able to provide something so worthwhile to young people – and possibly even inspire them to take up a STEM-based career.”
Managing Director of ElevationX and former teacher, Mike Ridler, added: "In these Power to Drive workshops, young people learn about electricity and how it’s generated and used, explains. We also build miniature electric cars, incorporating some of the principles of gears and voltage input. The kids then have fun competing in teams to see how far their cars can travel.”
The Power to Drive workshops are available to Year 6 and 7 pupils in schools across England who purchase their energy through West Mercia Energy, which serves around 3,000 schools in locations throughout the UK.
About E.ON and education
E.ON is committed to education and to inspiring young people to join its drive to create a new, more sustainable energy world. Examples of our work in the education space include our:
- degree apprenticeship scheme, where colleagues gain on-the-job learning while earning a competitive salary, all while working towards their fully funded degree.
- net zero training academy where colleagues learn the green skills needed to make sure the energy in our homes is cleaner, greener and more affordable for customers.
- new free educational programme, called the ‘New Energy Academy’, which is designed to empower students with the skills and inspiration needed to lead the charge toward a more sustainable future.