Contribution from Senergy Staff
Many of Senergy’s projects offer staff the opportunity to spend time working in the community or actively participating in events. Our support for educational projects such as TechFest and Satrosphere take them into classrooms where they talk to young people and share their experience and expertise. This not only helps to develop individual communication skills, it also presents Earth Sciences in a positive light, raises their profile, and encourages interest in possible careers in the Energy industry.
‘External’ participation such as this offers colleagues the opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause, and simultaneously participate in an enjoyable, team-building event. It has a positive impact on staff morale and productivity, and it is more cost-efficient, effective and enjoyable than more artificial ‘team-building’ exercises.
Our staff are proud to work for a socially responsible company, and such contributions to the community increase their job satisfaction.
Support for the Arts
An active artistic and cultural sector makes for a vibrant community. Senergy considers sponsorship of the arts to be a privilege as well as a duty.
Woodend Barn is a community-based arts venue, which is managed by the Woodend Arts Association (WAA). This is a Scottish registered charity but it has no guaranteed funding to support the running of a diverse and inclusive arts programme. We have sponsored WAA over the last 12 months with funding which compares very favourably with those of considerably larger companies and organisations.
We also encourage staff to support the various music and theatre venues in Aberdeen by contributing to the cost of tickets for selected performances. It is all part of our commitment to helping people to optimise the work / life balance.
Encouragement and Support for Young Scientists
The continued success of NE business and the communities in which they operate, depends largely on dealing with skills shortages, particularly in science and technology.
Senergy has sponsored TechFest, the annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), for several years. It gives young people the opportunity to try something new, to sample STEM subjects and to experience what the organisers call ‘that vital spark of interest’.
We’ve also been active in supporting young people into the industry. In 2006 we sponsored an ‘Industry Spotlight’ DVD initiative. It featured one of our graduate engineers and was distributed to all schools in Scotland to highlight career possibilities in the energy industry. Details can be found at www.industryspotlight.org.uk
We support a number of universities such as Aberdeen, Imperial College and Heriot Watt by helping students with projects and providing bursaries and summer placements.
Other examples of our sponsorship
- Banchory Beavers swimming club.
- Stavanger Rugby Club.
- RGU Badminton Team.
- Peter Edwards, a young Hockey player who is a member of the U16 Scotland team.
- The Fintray Hill Time Trial, a Scottish Cycling Calendar event.
- Gold Sponsors of Young Enterprise Grampian, giving young people exposure to the world of business.
- The BG Challenge in Wales in 2006, where a Senergy team raised over £7,000 for Care International.