Pupils take a ‘deep dive’ into the world of subsea cables – in the classroom!

Over 110 pupils took part in the two STEM events, which were organised by SSEN Distribution and saw members of the company’s specialist subsea team visit the schools for sessions which were both interactive and informative, with a mixture of presentations and workshops giving a behind-the-scenes look at how their subsea cable network ensures that coastal and island communities across Scotland have a safe, secure and reliable power supply.

Speaking about their participation in the STEM sessions, Rachel Patterson, Principal Teacher at Strontian Primary School, said:

“All of the children from Primary 1 up to Primary 7 got involved in the STEM workshop sessions. They thoroughly enjoyed the practical nature of the workshop, as it helped them understand what’s involved in installing a subsea cable and all of the elements that need to come together to make this type of project a success.  “Since taking part in the STEM event, we’ve agreed with the project team that the children will take part in a competition to name the subsea cable that will go between Kilmalieu and Loch A’Choire next summer – and we’re hoping to be present to watch the cable being laid - if the Scottish weather allows!”

Ardnamurchan High School students also took part in STEM sessions with the team, learning about SSEN Distribution trainee and graduate opportunities, and understanding more about the wide variety of different skills and expertise that make up the company’s subsea project teams.

Reflecting on the sessions, Andrew Hughes, Faculty Principal Teacher (STEM) at Ardnamurchan High School, said:

“We're always keen to promote opportunities to learn about careers in STEM, so we were pleased when SSEN Distribution’s subsea team offered to host these sessions, educating our students about the engineering and design processes involved in installing subsea cables. The events were a great chance for our young people to learn about potential career and development opportunities working in the marine environment, which is particularly relevant for rural coastal communities like ours.”

These STEM events were part of SSEN Distribution’s community engagement programme ahead of its project to replace the existing subsea cable between Kilmalieu and Loch A’Choire in Summer 2025 and were complemented with public information sessions in nearby venues. 

Learn more about the project here.