Spark the Future

🌿 Celebrating an Inspiring Careers Event at Almond Valley Heritage Centre 🌿
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On 11th November, we had the privilege of welcoming 175 enthusiastic S1–S3 students from five West Lothian schools to the Almond Valley Heritage Centre for a dynamic and engaging event focused on careers in the environment, outdoors, and energy sectors.

Why This Event Matters
The world is changing fast, and opportunities in sustainability, energy, and environmental stewardship are growing every day. This event gave young people a chance to explore these exciting pathways, meet industry professionals, and discover how they can play a role in shaping a greener future.

A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Employers
We are incredibly grateful to the following organisations for sharing their expertise, passion, and interactive activities:

• West Lothian Climate Action Network Hub
• The Verdancy Group
• British Gas/Centrica
• SP Energy Networks
• Scottish Water
• Almond Valley Heritage Centre
• The Woodland Trust
• Levenseat
• EDF Energy Services
• Mitsubishi Electric
• Cruden Homes
• John Bean Technology (JBT)
• Skills Development Scotland

Your time and energy made a real impact on the students exploring their future pathways!

Special Thanks
A heartfelt thank you to John Bean Technology (JBT)  for generously sponsoring the event and funding school transport. Your support ensured that every student could attend and benefit from this experience.

Event Highlights

• Location: Almond Valley Heritage Centre
• Date: 11th November
• Time: 10am–12pm
• Attendees: 175 students from:
  • Winchburgh Academy
  • Deans Community High School
  • St Kentigern’s Academy
  • Inveralmond Community High School
  • Sinclair Academy

Employers hosted interactive stalls showcasing careers in the environment, outdoors, and energy sectors. Students explored hands-on activities and attended talks about future pathways, gaining valuable insights into an ever-growing industry.

"Thanks to the brilliant team at DYW West Lothian, and hosts Almond Valley Heritage Trust, we had a very engaging few hours with all the S1-3 pupils and teachers from the various high schools in West Lothian. 

They were a great bunch to chat to about green skills, their own career interests and how this could connect with our sector, doing our bit towards Net Zero and all the other benefits that can bring for homes and businesses.

Rowanne Ness, our new Sustainability Trainer & Consultant, who recently joined as part of our growing team, alongside myself, instigated conversations with the pupils using our variety of educational materials, from a micro anemometer to samples of natural insulation, thermal cameras to hygrometers and more, in order to showcase directly and indirectly the huge variety of skills, jobs, technologies, training opportunities we can support and overall career possibilities in our growing industry. They do say that one day every job will be a green job!"
- Neil Barnes, The Verdancy Group