Award Nomination:
Once an ambitious vision led by the Port of Blyth in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Northumberland County Council, Energy Central Campus (ECC) is now a reality, officially open and already playing a vital role in powering the UK’s clean energy future through people.
- ECC is a bold, business-led response to the skills gap in offshore wind and clean energy, directly linking education with industry need to build a strong, future-ready workforce.
- It creates a clear pathway for local people into high-quality, sustainable careers at the heart of the energy transition.
- Since opening in September 2024, the £15m+ Energy Central Learning Hub has already made a strong impact:
- Over 1,400 learners on engineering and manufacturing programmes
- More than 7,600 young people engaged in STEM, inspiring the next generation of clean energy talent
- The upcoming Energy Central Institute (opening 2027) will complete a unique progression route from school engagement through to postgraduate study – the first of its kind in Blyth.
- ECC brings together industry leadership, innovation, and education to not only support the energy transition, but actively shape the workforce that will deliver it – creating lasting opportunity, pride, and impact for the region and beyond.
Additional Information:
For 25 years, the Port of Blyth has been at the forefront of the UK’s offshore wind sector. As the industry has grown, however, a critical challenge has become increasingly clear: demand for skilled workers is accelerating faster than the talent pipeline can support. Employers consistently highlighted the same issue while opportunities were expanding, many candidates lacked the practical, job-ready skills required to access them. At the same time, local communities were not fully benefiting from high-value employment being created on their doorstep. Bridging this gap between industry demand and local opportunity became Port of Blyth’s mission.
In response, Port of Blyth partnered with Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Northumberland County Council to establish Energy Central Campus (ECC), a transformational, business-led initiative designed to align education directly with the needs of the clean energy sector while opening accessible pathways into employment. The urgency of this mission has intensified following recent announcements for major offshore wind expansion plans off the North East coast, unlocking billions of pounds of investment and significantly increasing demand for a highly skilled workforce.
A major milestone in delivering this vision came in 2025 with the official opening of the £15m+ Energy Central Learning Hub by the Secretary of State for Education. Designed in collaboration with industry, the facility provides state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical workshops, digital training suites, and flexible teaching and collaboration spaces including an immersive room. It will also house a Clean Energy Visitor Centre, helping to raise awareness of career opportunities and connect the wider community to the sector.
What sets ECC apart is its employer-led approach. Through an active membership and sponsorship programme, industry leaders including JDR Cable Systems, RWE and Equinor play a direct role in shaping training provision. This close alignment with industry is already delivering tangible employment outcomes. Royal IHC UK recruited two Advanced Manufacturing students as apprentices, Scott Wardle, Head of Construction and Commissioning at Royal IHC UK, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Joshua and Evan into our team. Developing skills locally is not only vital for our business, but also for building the future workforce our sector needs. These students were among the strongest interviewees I have ever met, which makes me extremely confident about the talent coming through from Northumberland Skills.”
Similarly, Pharos Offshore Group recruited three learners, mentioning the high level of technical capability developed through training at the ECLH. Building on this strong foundation, the second phase of ECC the Energy Central Institute is now in development and will open in 2027. Bringing together industry, ORE Catapult and leading universities, it will deliver degree and PhD-level education, completing a full skills pathway from early engagement through to advanced research.
With an estimated 420,000 additional offshore wind roles required globally by 2030, ECC represents a scalable and forward-thinking solution to one of the sector’s greatest challenges. Through leadership, collaboration and a strong focus on outcomes, the Port of Blyth is not only supporting the clean energy transition but also helping to build the workforce that will power it, while delivering lasting economic opportunity for its community.
