A free solar workshop for your school.
Shires Energy runs a hands-on electricity and solar workshop in schools across Bedfordshire, the surrounding Shires, Surrey and the Home Counties. Dr Weller brings balloons, an old-fashioned television and ping-pong balls, and makes the science of electricity make sense to a hall full of children.
He handles all the equipment, setup, safety and clean-up, so nothing is needed from teachers. It works for any key stage, and for mixed ages in one room.
Two minutes, three questions. No sales calls unless you ask for one.
What it costs
For schools inside our service area that control their own roof, have had a site survey, and have sat down with us over a costed proposal. From that point the workshop is yours at no charge, with no obligation to go ahead. We run a small number each term, so dates go in order.
Same workshop, same kit, same presenter, booked on its own with no solar conversation attached. A fixed fee including travel within our counties – ask and we will confirm the price for your school.
Either way we never sell to your pupils. The workshop is about electricity, not about us.
“We were delighted to welcome Dr Weller to our school for a high-energy, engaging and informative workshop exploring electricity and solar energy. The children were engaged throughout the workshop, with memorable hands-on demonstrations using balloons, an old-fashioned television and ping-pong balls bringing the science to life. The workshop reinforced key science concepts while developing curiosity, questioning and STEM skills, with no additional preparation required from teachers. The links to renewable energy and its real-world applications made the session particularly relevant and inspiring, encouraging the children to think about the future of energy and STEM careers. Dr Weller handled all equipment, setup, safety and clean up, making the workshop completely hassle-free for the teachers. We would recommend this workshop to other schools.”
Questions schools ask
- Is the workshop really free, and what is the catch?
- It is free for schools that are looking seriously at solar with us. Once we have surveyed your roof and talked you through a costed proposal, the workshop is booked in at no charge. There is no obligation to buy after it, and we do not sell to your pupils.
- What does it cost if we are not looking at solar?
- We still run it as a paid booking. It is the same workshop, the same equipment and the same presenter, charged as a fixed fee including travel within our counties. Ask us and we will confirm the price for your school.
- What do we have to do to get the free one?
- Be within our service area, control your own roof, have us survey it, and sit down with the costed proposal. From that point the workshop date is yours. We run a small number of free workshops each term, so dates are booked in order.
- Which year groups is it for?
- Any key stage, and mixed ages in one room. Dr Weller pitches the same demonstrations differently depending on who is in front of him, so it works as a whole-school assembly or as a single class session.
- How long does it take and what do teachers need to prepare?
- Around an hour for a session, and nothing at all from teachers. Dr Weller brings every piece of equipment, sets up, runs the risk assessment and clears away afterwards. You need a hall or large classroom and a power socket.
- Which areas do you cover?
- We are based in Bedford and work across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Surrey, the Home Counties, with wider UK work where the project fits.
- Can a village hall or community group book it?
- Yes. Village halls, cricket clubs, scout groups and community centres can ask for the same workshop. The free version follows the same rule: it comes with a solar proposal for the building. Otherwise it is a paid booking.
Two minutes, three questions. No sales calls unless you ask for one.