LAST week, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the UK Oil Refining Sector, in partnership with the UK Petroleum Industry Association, welcomed a group of young oil industry representatives from across the UK, including Abigail Hruzik and Scott Dedoncker from Valero Pembroke.

Abigail is a mechanical engineering student from Fishguard participating in Valero’s student bursary scheme and Scott is a fourth year maintenance apprentice from Tenby.

The event was a unique opportunity to hear from the young people behind the UK’s downstream oil sector and to increase awareness of future career opportunities to encourage more young talent to choose science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects to drive innovation and energise the UK’s future.

Looking ahead, the downstream oil sector is expected to continue powering the UK’s energy needs and mobility for many more years to come and will require the ingenuity, innovation and interest of the next generation.

The event was chaired by Martin Vickers MP, chair of the APPG, and led by an expert panel made up of Professor Isobel Pollock-Hulf OBE, visiting professor of engineering and design, University of Leeds, and Tony Burke, assistant general secretary of Unite the Union.

Ahead of the meeting, the Valero ‘Young Ambassadors’ were welcomed to the Houses of Parliament by Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP, Simon Hart, who said: “It was fascinating listening to both Scott and Abigail and of their experiences as young people working in the downstream oil industry. Pembroke Refinery is a major local employer and this important sector is vital for our energy security and for our economy, and encouraging the next generation of young talent is essential to ensure the future success of the industry.”

Abigail said: “It was really fun meeting with other young ambassadors from refineries across the UK to discuss what is needed to ensure the refining sector continues to attract talented engineers. It was particularly exciting to listen to experts from across the industry on how we can better attract more young women to take up STEM education and pursue careers in industry.”

Scott agreed, saying: “The meeting with MPs was an amazing opportunity to share our thoughts as young members of the oil industry on the challenges we face, and also the incredible opportunities available working in the refining sector, such as the apprenticeships and student placements on offer at Pembroke Refinery.”