ExxonMobil Fawley helps Brockenhurst students race in British Science Week with a £20,000 donation

In an effort to nurture future talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the petrochemical complex partnered with the sixth form and higher education college to help fund a series of events and speaker opportunities.

This donation facilitated Brockenhurst College to host a week of activities during British Science Week, captivating over 2,000 students with industry experts and STEM inspired activities.

The extravaganza was kicked off by a series of talks by ExxonMobil Fawley representatives, including senior managers, apprentices and chemical and mechanical engineers.

One of the highlights on the agenda was the showcase of the ExxonMobil-sponsored Red Bull Formula 1 car, which was paired with an insightful career talk by Racing Technical Adviser, Fiona McEwan.

Having begun her career at ExxonMobil Fawley as a laboratory technician, Fiona has advanced to become an integral part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. In this role, she travels globally, conducting thorough tests on all ExxonMobil fuels and lubricants used in the Oracle Red Bull racing cars.

Principal and Chief Executive of Brockenhurst College, Helen Odhams, said: “At Brock we are committed to inspiring the next generation of STEM innovators and leaders, and British Science Week has been an incredible platform for us to showcase the extraordinary breadth of opportunities available to students in these subjects.

“I would like to thank all staff at the college who coordinated and led events, as well as our external partners, most notably ExxonMobil, who played a crucial role in the week’s success. Their efforts have brought STEM to life for our students, making this an exceptionally positive and inspiring week.”

In addition to supporting British Science Week, the donation from ExxonMobil Fawley has helped enrich Brockenhurst College’s STEM programmes with essential resources and equipment, ensuring that staff and students are empowered to explore, innovate, and excel for years to come.

Also on hand to deliver STEM inspired talks was Process Manager for ExxonMobil Fawley, Helen Ross. She said, “We hope our team inspired students to look at STEM in a new way through real-world applications that meet the demand for societal critical products both today and through the energy transition.  

“Partnering with Brockenhurst College has been hugely important to us as we strive to work with local educators to inspire future generations and address the STEM skills gap. Our goal is to help refill the STEM pipeline with the very best home grown talent.”