Meet the Grimsby sisters combatting climate change from their home town

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Sisters Georgea and Katie Cherrell have just been united as wind turbine technicians in the swelling ranks at Orsted’s East Coast Hub.

And their paths have been highlighted as part of International Women in Engineering Day, as they play their part in the race to net zero from a starting line in their Grimsby home town.

Due to join the emerging Hornsea Two offshore wind farm team later this year, Georgea, 24, is excited to be working on what will become the world leading installation.

”I cannot wait to start working on a two week shift pattern on board our new SOV, the Wind of Hope,” she said. “Living and working together will give me the unique chance to build some solid relationships with the teams I’m going to be working alongside for the foreseeable.”

A former instrumentation technician with Novartis, where she started as an apprentice, she joined Orsted in early 2019 – months after the shock announcement that the pharmaceutical giant is to end operations in the town.

From one South Humber Bank location she moved down river to the £14 million base beneath Grimsby’s Dock Tower, where more than 400 staff are now working- with 85 per cent living local like her.

Orsted’s East Coast Hub at Royal Dock, Grimsby. (Image: Orsted)

Orsted has just installed its 1,000th turbine in UK waters, with a third of them off the Humber – making the port the largest operations and maintenance base in the world.

Having joined the company last month, Katie is still undergoing her intensive training which will enable her to travel offshore later this year.

She applied for the role back in August, when the company’s recruitment drive saw more than 1,200 people apply for 23 positions.

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Katie, 19, was successful in her appointment subject to her completing her apprenticeship with HETA – Humberside Engineering Training Association .

”Our older brothers both work in the engineering trade,” said Katie, ”and even though when I was younger, I wanted to be a primary school teacher, I knew that I wanted a practical role which would come with exciting challenges and opportunities to try something new.”

The theme for this year’s celebration is heroes. When asked who inspired them in their career journey, the former Healing School siblings turned to one another and laughed. “I’m a little younger than Georgea and I’ve literally just followed in her footsteps,” said Katie. ”I went down the STEM apprenticeship route like she did and although we worked in different industries to start with, it’s so good to be working together and knowing that we’re making a real change in the world together.”