North-east pupils get to ‘power up’ their future by tackling real-world sustainability challenges

North-east pupils get to ‘power up’ their future by tackling real-world sustainability challenges

November 6, 2025

Pupils at Fraserburgh and Peterhead academies have a chance to hone their work skills and learn about sustainability issues though a ground-breaking initiative designed to prepare students for the world of work.

Both high schools are active participants in the Powering Futures Programme, which brings real business challenges into the classroom and asks groups of young adults to come up with solutions.

The 30-week programme is open to S5 and S6 pupils and is accredited at SCQF Level 6 – the equivalent to a Higher.

So far, the industry initiative, which was set up in 2020, has worked with more than 5,000 young people and has engaged with over 180 Scottish businesses and 129 high schools.

S5 and S6 students at Fraserburgh and Peterhead academies are already getting stuck into their challenges, set by leading organisations working across Scottish business and industry.

The challenges tackle real-world problems such as low-carbon heating, domestic food production and clean energy infrastructure – reflecting the priorities shaping Scotland’s move to a low-carbon economy.

And to help them, three mentors from programme partner Buchan Offshore Wind will be visiting the schools to lend their experience.

This week, Tess Riley, a Graduate Developer at Buchan, visited Fraserburgh Academy to share her experience. Buchan Offshore wind is planning a major floating wind farm 75km north-east of Fraserburgh and is national partner to the initiative.

“It is a terrific programme,” says Tess. “Now the students have selected their challenges, it is up to them to work in small groups to develop what they propose as a solution.

“As well as getting them thinking about real problems it encourages them to think creatively and collaborate with their fellow pupils – both vital skills in the world of work,” Tess says.

Now in her second year as mentor, Tess will this year be joined by colleagues with visits to the partner schools each term. 

Tess continues: “Each group will progress through three blocks – agreeing on an idea, developing it and then presenting it in the summer term at a single event alongside other schools in the region.

“All of the topics in the programme are based on sustainability – for example in seafood or energy – and this makes it highly relevant to Aberdeenshire and its maritime heritage and future,” Tess says.

“There is no exam, so every student is super-focussed on making their presentation in front of their peers and other schools the best it can be, and on the way, they develop practical skills such as designing presentations and speaking in public.

“During the course of the year each young person gains the type of knowledge and experience which I think are really useful for the kind of roles they might find when they leave school or further education,” Tess concludes.

Co-Founder of Powering Futures Jennifer Tempany said:

“We are delighted to be engaging with a record-breaking number of pupils across Scotland for the 2025-2026 Powering Futures Schools Challenge Programme. The investment by Buchan Offshore Wind is a direct investment into the futures of the young people at Fraserburgh Academy and Peterhead Academy, and we are delighted to be working together to develop the workforce of the future and bridge the gap between education and industry.”