‘A school for superpowers’

2021 was a big year for climate change.

Six years on from the Paris Agreement, which saw targets made to limit global warming to below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C, COP26 highlighted how time was running out on making a real impact. Experts warned that every major economy needed to commit to meaningful reductions in emissions by 2030.

But what about closer to home? What can we do, right now, to drive meaningful impact?

Xodus has long championed the fight against climate change. Our team of experts assess climate risk to help our clients make well-informed decisions on major energy infrastructures while also offering solutions on decarbonisation and reducing emissions.

But this time last year, I stumbled upon a new idea of how to tackle the world’s greatest challenge. A way to prioritise meaningful impact.

This was X-Academy. Not a school for superheroes, but a school for superpowers.

Supported by the team at Xodus, with support from bp, EnBW, and the North East Economic Recovery & Skills Fund, we wanted to create an environment that helps people learn in a new way. A multi-skilled platform to develop and apply knowledge across the energy spectrum, from maximising offshore production while reducing emissions, to enabling emerging technologies, advising on new renewable developments, and supporting supply chain gaps.

Based in Aberdeen, the two-year mentored placements will source or create real time projects which will contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

After applications opened last month, we were inundated with interest from a range of interested parties. From recent graduates to ex-armed forces personnel, to those with decades of experience in oil and gas and other sectors, X-Academy sparked an interest from individuals looking to make the transition towards a low-carbon energy sector.

© Supplied by X-Academy/ Xodus

Earlier this month, we selected the best of the best to join our first cohort of determined students. Supported by on-the-job learning, we want to harness that collective power and put talented and motivated people to work addressing the moon-shot ideas that could make the biggest difference.

In return, our industry partners will benefit from access to a pool of experienced and motivated professionals, ready to continue making a difference, and perhaps to become the business leaders of the future.

As we approach the new year and look forward to introducing the first 24 students to Xodus House, we don’t yet know what we can achieve, but what is clear is that we’re just at the start of a very exciting journey.

As well as Scotland, industry and governments in Australia and USA have also highlighted the demand for this type of initiative. Organisations around the world are facing challenges in their capacity to deliver against global policy targets, without a significant increase or reskilling of their workforce. X-Academy can offer a solution.

By adding an additional 2,000 hours per person, per year, spent on addressing one of the greatest challenges our world has ever known, X-Academy could become one of the world’s greatest superpowers.

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