Prysmian and supply chain colleagues recently visited Seaham High School, in County Durham, to give students a behind the scenes understanding of the roles and career pathways in the energy industry. The visit was part of a careers fair arranged by the school for students in key stages 3 and 4.
Eight representatives from Prysmian and supply chain colleagues at PBU were in attendance for the day-long careers fair, which gave more than 1,000 students between the ages of 11 and 16 an insight into the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) project and careers in the energy industry more broadly.
Given the proximity of Seaham High School and its students to the EGL1 converter station and landfall sites, the event also represented an opportunity to explain the value of the project, how it will create new development and employment opportunities, and the range of benefits it will bring to local communities and the UK as a whole.
The students were encouraged to ask questions, with interest about the project and wider industry a popular topic for their thoughtful enquiries.
Conversation topics included the key attributes and qualifications required to work in the industry, what a typical working day looks like, routes to get involved in the industry (such as apprenticeships), and what it’s like to work on significant projects for high-profile organisations.
Alberto Pirovano, EGL1 Project Director at Prysmian said “We were delighted to visit Seaham High School and meet with a buoyant and engaged group of young people.
“It was amazing to see how much interest there was from the students, not only in this significant project itself, but also our company and the wider industry more broadly.”
“It was especially pleasing to see such a strong emphasis on career pathways within questions from the students – we very much hope to have met some of the infrastructure workers of the future.”
This was the latest visit made by the Prysmian team to local students. The team also supported two careers fairs at Dene Academy in 2025, illustrating the project’s continued commitment to inspiring the next generation and highlighting the practical pathways available into the world of manufacturing and the energy sector.
Notes to Editors
About Prysmian and EGL1 Social Value
Prysmian is the main contractor for the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of the HVDC cable system for EGL1. As part of this major infrastructure project, Prysmian is dedicated to delivering significant social value by investing in local communities, supporting local employment and skills, and promoting environmental sustainability throughout the project lifecycle.
About Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1)
EGL1 is a vital national infrastructure project that will see the construction of a new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electrical cable link between the Torness area in East Lothian, Scotland, and the Hawthorn Pit area in County Durham, England. Developed by National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks (SPEN), the link will play a crucial role in delivering clean energy to homes and businesses across the UK by increasing the nation’s capacity to transport renewable power across the country.
About Seaham High School
Seaham High School is part of the Eden Learning Trust and, as Seaham’s only secondary school, fulfils a crucial role in the area’s educational infrastructure. The school commits to enabling its students to being ‘ready to take on the challenges of the twenty-first century and leave school with hope for their future’.