A LOW carbon industry expert demonstrated to pupils working on a green technology project how their research could prepare them for careers in major growth sectors of North-East industry.

Sean Long of Zero Carbon Futures visited the Education Village in Darlington as pupils in Years seven, eight and nine carried out a Green Pioneers challenge.

Mr Long, who has played a key role in the North-East’s burgeoning low carbon vehicle industry, provided expert advice to pupils looking to charge remote control car batteries through renewable means such as wind turbines, solar panels and hydro power.

It is a similar principle to the electric vehicle industry and Mr Long was previously part of the One North East team that worked to place the region at the forefront of the sector, with production of the Nissan Leaf now taking place at Sunderland.

Mark Brown of the Education Village said: “I felt the students benefited enormously from having a skilled, knowledgeable and charismatic presenter who talked with local knowledge of the industry and links across industries in the region.

“He very much helped to place the students Green Pioneer task into context. These are challenges faced by real engineers and scientists, mathematicians and technologists.

“Some students haven’t really yet thought about the future of vehicles being electric, or powered by anything other than petrol or diesel, so this was a big jumping off point for them in terms of the real-world dimension Sean brought to the Green Pioneers activity. 

“With a good STEM qualification and skills base, students can have a massive choice ahead of them as they would be highly employable.
“Sean visit was informative and students were still coming up with good questions in the afternoon after his visit.”

Based next to Nissan’s Sunderland plant Zero Carbon Futures, a subsidiary of Gateshead College, works on projects ranging from large-scale electric vehicle charging infrastructure to research on propulsion systems, hydrogen and smart home technologies.

It also supports SMEs to develop new products and services in the low carbon vehicle sector.

The firm is presently developing a dedicated Low Carbon Technology Park and also oversees the North’s only test track facility for low carbon transport.

Mr Long attended the event after Foundation for Jobs (F4J) worked with the school to ensure their project had a real world element.
Foundation for Jobs is the national award winning project to address North-East youth unemployment, the highest in the UK.

One of the key aims of F4J, a partnership between Darlington Borough Council, The Northern Echo and the Darlington Partnership of public and private sector firms is to highlight to young people industries that are set to create thousands of jobs in the region going forward.

F4J also works to advise young people on the skills they will need and, with the direct support of the business community, demonstrate to those still at school how what they learn in the classroom applies in the working world.

For further information on Foundation for Jobs contact co-ordinator Owen McAteer on 01325 388367.