The Scottish Government is conscious of the need to continue to emphasise the attractiveness of the Renewable Energy sector for school attendees and leavers.
Actions taken include funding the Path is Green Project which provided internet access to information on jobs in areas such as conservation, renewable energy and recycling. For every £1 spent on the project it generated nearly £15 worth of PR activity. There were 79,062 unique visits to the website over the duration of campaign and almost 20,000 have clicked through to the website from online adverts.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have also run a highly successful project entitled the Big Green Challenge. Following the success of the Big Green Challenge 2007, HIE ran the debating competition for S1-S3 pupils again during 2008-09. In total 43 teams from 26 secondary schools participated.
The Renewable Energy Skills Group was established by the Scottish Funding Council with the support of Scottish Government late last year and has developed a Renewable Energy Skills Framework for Action. The Group includes senior representation from all relevant government agencies and industry and has set a priority in raising awareness of renewable energy technologies and promoting careers in the sector. The group is continuing to assess the best methods for encouraging greater awareness and interaction amongst school pupils and the Renewables sector and has identified engagement with Curriculum for Excellence as a key priority.
The Renewable Energy Skills Framework for action has set out four key themes of Intelligence, Sector recruitment and Attractiveness, Standards and Qualifications and Education and Training Provision. The key actions set out to identify existing end emerging renewable jobs and skills, across the sector, as well as developing links with the wider low carbon agenda. The Curriculum for Excellence, in its ambition to prepare people for life and work in future, will become ever more critical in supporting the development of the Renewable Energy sector.
Action 15 The Scottish Government will work with Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Renewables and other partners to create interest in low-carbon industries and support young people to develop skills for jobs in renewables and sustainability.
Promoting renewables in schools is also important and the Scottish Government funds two School Renewable Development Officers (SRDOs) to work with local authorities to promote and support the increased uptake of sustainable energy measures in schools, specifically micro-renewables and any accompanying energy efficiency measures. The SRDOs also raise awareness of sustainable energy issues through demonstrating the educational value to school pupils, staff and parents of micro-renewable installations.