Over the past year, our partnership with Shell UK has continued to create new opportunities for learners, staff and communities across Fife – helping people develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for the future energy sector.
From inspiring the next generation through STEM activities to supporting skills training in renewable energy, our collaboration demonstrates the positive impact that education and industry can have when working together.
Inspiring the next generation through Girls in Energy
Through Girls in Energy, Shell UK and Fife College have worked together to inspire young people to explore STEM subjects and consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
In 2025/26, the programme ran across three cohorts at the Dunfermline City, Glenrothes and Levenmouth Fife College campuses, giving school pupils the opportunity to engage with STEM in an interactive and practical way. Alongside workshops and activities, pupils were given Shell-branded clothing, PPE and resources to use within their sessions.
Since 2018, the programme has helped challenge perceptions around STEM careers and showcase the wide range of opportunities available in the energy sector. Pupils completing the yearlong course are awarded the Skills for Work: Energy qualification at SCQF level 5.
To mark the achievements of the most recent cohorts, we held the Girls in Energy Conference at our Dunfermline City Campus in February. More than 70 pupils, from nine local secondary schools, participated in a full day of activities, which included a solar photovoltaic workshop, a hydrogen challenge and an electric car race.
Building skills through EV charging training
Our partnership has also supported the development of practical skills through City & Guilds EV training.
Fife College has supported groups of learners to develop skills in electric vehicle charging installation and maintenance – an area that is becoming increasingly important as the UK transitions towards low-carbon transport.
The wider Shell-funded programme has now celebrated 250 people completing EV installation training, demonstrating the scale and impact of investment in skills for the energy transition.
Taking Fife College’s impact to Westminster
In July, Fife College was proud to represent the partnership at the Energy Skills Transition Showcase at Westminster, highlighting the role that education and industry collaboration can play in developing the workforce of the future.
Thanks to funding from Shell UK, Fife College has been able to support learners in developing technical and employability skills that can help them access opportunities within the evolving energy sector.
The Shell UK Energy Skills Transition programme aims to help 15,000 people into jobs focused on the energy transition by 2035, working with further education colleges, charities, community groups and skills organisations across the UK.
The Westminster event provided an opportunity to showcase the positive impact this partnership is having on learners and communities, while demonstrating how investment in upskilling and reskilling can support people to take the next step towards meaningful careers.
Developing renewable energy knowledge
Shell UK funding has also supported development of a new online Renewables course. The course provides an introduction to renewable energy technologies and sustainability, covering topics including:
• Solar, wind and hydropower
• Tidal and wave energy
• Geothermal energy and bioenergy
• Hydrogen storage
• Heat pumps
• Electric vehicle charging
• Smart homes
The course has been accredited where possible and was designed by our Sustainability team.
Bringing STEM to schools
The partnership has also helped take STEM learning directly into schools across Fife.
Through school workshops, pupils have had the opportunity to explore STEM subjects through engaging, practical activities and learn more about the careers and opportunities available in the sector.
These activities are helping to build awareness from an early age and encourage young people to see themselves in future STEM and energy careers.
Looking to the future
The next chapter of our partnership with Shell UK is already taking shape at the Dunfermline City Campus, as part of Skills Street.The Energy Transition Skills Hub, supported by Shell UK, will form part of the overall Skills Street development and at its heart, a purpose-built Nanogrid Learning Environment (NGLE) – a small-scale solar and wind electrical generation system, will be installed. This innovative learning environment will allow students to gain practical experience in grid design, smart grid management, installation and maintenance.
The hub will evolve over time to incorporate hydrogen energy storage, EV charging points and smart home integrations, ensuring students continue to work with technologies that reflect the rapidly changing energy landscape.
We are proud that our partnership with Shell UK continues to inspire the next generation, developing necessary skills to help create the skilled workforce for the future.