Shell St Fergus Gas Plant and the Community

Shell St Fergus has been operating alongside North of Scotland coastal communities for over 30 years. Our aim is to be a good neighbour by managing our operations well and helping to contribute to the well-being of local communities.

We are a big employer in the area with approximately 120 to 180 people typically working at the plant depending on activity levels, and we bring wider social and economic benefits to the area including the use of local goods and services by the plant and the workforce, and an active social investment programme.

In the UK, we focus our social investment on supporting community development (including sponsorships and donations) near our sites and offices, inspiring more young people to study STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), and supporting innovative low-carbon start-ups.

Shell aims to provide the opportunity and resources for young people to engage in STEM. Through our Energy Quest Programme and Young Engineers clubs we have engaged hundreds of young people across schools in the north-east of Scotland. Our STEM programs are designed to make STEM subjects fun and interesting as well as introduce young people to the vast number of careers available in Science and Engineering.

Shell Girls in Energy

The Girls in Energy programme is a one-year course that is designed to open young women’s eyes to the energy industry’s wealth of career opportunities. Delivered in partnership by North East Scotland College and Fife College, the programme delivers weekly lessons, workshops and field visits to young women aged 14–16 in secondary education.

Stemovators

Stemovators programme supports learners aged 3-18 and their teachers with a range of innovative STEM projects, developed with our industry partners. The interdisciplinary projects – accompanied by resource kits and teacher CPD courses – support teachers to tackle challenging STEM concepts through engaging activities; while supporting pupils to develop valuable skills and knowledge; to encourage uptake in STEM subjects and careers.

Buchan Development Partnership

We work closely with the Buchan Development Partnership (BDP)

Grants & Donations

Shell UK's Community Grants support charities or organisations with delivery of impactful projects, events and positive outcomes for local communities.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available for community groups and charities near our offices or operations in Fife (near Mossmorran), Aberdeenshire (near St Fergus), Bacton, and Aberdeen city.

Applications are open and will be considered on a rolling basis until 8th Dec 2025.

For more information and how to apply, please click here

We also support local charities through our separate ‘Perfect Week’ initiative. Local charities benefit when staff at the plant complete a week without any process or safety incidents, and a donation is made into our community charity fund. Over the years, the staff have raised thousands of pounds for local causes and charities that often resonate closely with their families and friends.

Shell StartUp Engine UK

We support innovative low-carbon start-ups through Shell StartUp Engine UK, a new programme replacing the long-running Shell LiveWIRE UK and Shell Springboard programmes. The initiative focuses on scale and growth-stage start-ups that are best placed to accelerate a fair and just energy transition, improve access to energy and help consumers make smarter energy choices. CEOs of these start-ups benefit from high-quality mentorship, access to potential investors and partners and being part of a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. It’s exactly these start-ups that can and will play a critical role in enabling clean and resilient growth in the future.

Inside St Fergus Gas Plant