Virtual

Decarbonise and Transform: Sustainable Energy Work Experience with Drax

Job sector

Energy & Utilities

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This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Overview

We’ll introduce you to Drax and the important role they play in the UK’s journey to net-zero. We’ll dive deep into the different teams and projects at Drax, and also explore the various skills and early careers pathways into the company and skills needed. Sound good?

What’s Included

This Virtual Work Experience programme is bursting with engaging content designed to introduce you to the various sustainable energy initiatives at Drax, plus pathways into a career with the company! You’ll also complete a series of quizzes and fun activities to help build your understanding.

Introduction to Drax

You’ll gain a top-level introduction to Drax, including its purpose, locations, and strategic pillars. You’ll be introduced to Drax's various business units and the roles and functions at each site. The module highlights the importance of core services like legal, finance, HR, IT, and security, and their contribution to Drax's sustainability goals. What’s more, you’ll learn about Drax's mission, values, and culture, with a focus on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

Sustainable Pellet Production & Global Transportation

We’ll introduce you to biomass as a sustainable energy source, exploring its components and lifecycle from ‘forest to furnace’. You’ll learn what biomass is, how it is sourced, manufactured into pellets and then transported within a sustainable supply chain. Additionally, you’ll participate in a hands-on activity that’ll allow you to create a hypothetical biomass sourcing plan, considering environmental and sustainability factors.

Biomass Generation and Carbon Removals

Get ready to deep dive into biomass generation and renewable power, where you’ll focus on Drax Power Station, the site of Europe’s largest decarbonisation project. You will learn about the generation of electricity and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), a groundbreaking ‘negative emissions’ technology, and explore how carbon is captured and stored to combat the climate crisis.

Flexible Generation & Energy Solutions

You’ll explore key concepts and real-world applications of renewable energy solutions, such as electric vehicle charging and find out more about our flexible generation including hydroelectric and pumped storage systems and electric vehicles (EVs). You’ll gain insight into land management practices relevant to rural surveyors, with a case study on Cruachan demonstrating the integration of sustainability in energy projects. We’ll also present a case study on how Drax powers a major UK retailer.

Careers and Skills

Employability

Available dates

On Demand

Programme dates

25th February 2025 - 30th June 2025

Hear from our student community

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Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.

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Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.

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Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about my application or programme eligibility

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any potential clashes.

Who can take part in the programme? (Age limits, some programmes have location constraints but most don’t etc.)

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

I have a question about my assignment

How long does it take for assignments to be reviewed?

Assignments can take up to a week or longer to review and be marked complete. Rest assured, it will be reviewed soon and your certificate will be generated once your programme has been marked as complete.

What do I do if I upload the wrong file?

If you make a mistake when uploading a file, please email hello@springpod.com. We will be able to make a note on our system. Don’t worry, the outcome of your programme will not be affected by this.

I have a question about the programme dates, deadline or workload

How long will I have to complete this programme?

There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

When does the programme start?

Our programmes have various start dates, you can find the exact date on the programme website page. These are available here: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search

You will be notified if your application has been successful, 3 days before the programme start date.

What happens if I can't finish the work experience in time?

All programme material will remain accessible after the end date of the programme. Students can continue to work through their programme after the official end date. Although, if possible, we would strongly encourage students to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions.

How much work is required for these programmes? (Will I be able/should I complete more than one programme at a time)?

There is around 10 hours worth of work in total, spread across a two week period. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any work whenever possible.

When do the programmes run? (programme structure etc.)

Once you have access, you can view and complete the material as and when you can, within the time frame of the course in question (for example, within a two week period). In total, there is around 10 hours worth of work. The live talks will take place during weekday working hours. However, all live talks will be available as recordings and the courses can be completed at your own convenience. . There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

I have a question about the live talks

What happens if I can't make a live talk/webinar?

All live talks will be available as recordings. You can access these at the same link used to access the live event. So don’t worry if you can’t attend a live webinar, a recording will be available for you to access through your programme within 24 hours of the live event finishing.

What software is required for the live talks?

We use a piece of software called BigMarker. It is a cloud based video hosting software. It requires no installations or downloads on your end, and will provide everything you need to join the live webinars through one simple link.

Will I be able to ask questions/do I have to have my microphone on?

You will have a chance to ask questions at the end of each webinar. These questions are typed out and then read to the presenter by the host of the live talk. There is no need to speak, and all student microphones will be muted for the duration of the live webinar.

I have a question about the certificate

I have a question about in-person work experience

Do you offer in-person work experience?
We don't directly manage in person work experience but many of our virtual programmes can lead to in person opportunities, look for the programmes marked as 'Virtual to Reality'. You will need to complete the virtual programme and declare your interest via the embedded form.
When will I hear if there is an in-person opportunity?
Our employer partner will contact you directly about any opportunities, timescales can vary Springpod won't be able to provide any updates on progress.

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