GENERATE PROSPECTUS - Flipbook - Page 34
Unlimited opportunities in the East of England
Unlimited opportunities in the East of England
WORKFORCE & SKILLS
GENERATING
AMBITION:
ENERGISING
CAREERS
The East of England’s energy sector has
developed a skilled and diverse workforce
over the last 60 years. This has helped
many businesses succeed here and grow
by exporting their services around the
world. Employers, educators, training
providers, and the public sector in our
region are committed to continuing to
build on that talent base by investing
in education and training for a new
generation of energy professionals.
The drive to Net Zero by 2050 will see
a radical shift in the UK’s energy supply,
as we decarbonise industry and build
our onshore and offshore low carbon
capabilities. Developments off the coasts
of Norfolk and Suffolk alone could create
more than 6,000 well-paid, high-skilled,
full-time jobs by 2032 (a 600% increase
on current direct employment). At the
same time, the Ernst & Young report:
Sizewell C A catalyst for jobs and growth
in the East of England, commissioned by
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the Sizewell C Consortium has found that the
proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station
would support around 73,000 jobs, including
35,000 in Suffolk, and more than 2,500
businesses across the UK, as well as enabling
around 1,500 local apprenticeships during its
10-12 year construction phase.
These developments will need people with
capabilities ranging from level 2-3 qualifications
for apprentices, through technical qualifications
in areas such as safety and maintenance,
to degree level and beyond in engineering,
computing and other technologies – as well as
expert project and people managers. That is
why EEEGR has been working with industry and
education providers to develop our energy skills
infrastructure. Its Skills for Energy programme
has been running since 2005 to inspire the next
generation and to ensure that skills development
in the region meets the changing technical and
commercial needs of our energy sector.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
EEEGR has been working with industry and
education providers to develop our energy
skills infrastructure over the last 20 years.
SKILLS FOR OUR CLEAN
ENERGY FUTURE
Among other activities, such as career event
days, the Skills for Energy programme has
helped establish new degree programmes in
our region’s universities and colleges and new
technical training centres. For instance, University
of East Anglia now offers BEng and MSc degree
programmes in Energy Engineering and Energy
Engineering with Environment Management. It
is also opening the £4.4 million Productivity East
industry hub that aims to develop engineering,
technology and management skills and support
business innovation and growth in the region.
Meanwhile, East Coast College, which offers a
range of energy, engineering and electrical courses
for the sector, has opened an Offshore Wind Skills
Centre in Great Yarmouth and a new £11.7 million
Energy Skills Centre in Lowestoft, supported by
investment through the New Anglia LEP.
The New Anglia LEP is also funding a Nuclear
Readiness Programme to help local businesses
make the most of supply chain opportunities with
Sizewell B and C. The project is facilitated by the
National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN) with
delivery through NSAN’s Eastern flagship centre,
West Suffolk College. The college offers a wide
range of Apprenticeships and Higher Education
programmes in engineering, construction and
management. West Suffolk College has also
opened a state-of-the-art STEM Innovation
Campus in Bury St Edmunds, with a growing
pipeline of students in engineering, sciences and
digital technology disciplines.
New Anglia LEP is also working with the ORE
Catapult (which has an office at OrbisEnergy in
Lowestoft) on the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables
programme to support the development of
competent, capable and competitive supply
chain partners.
WITH SOME OF THE
LARGEST OFFSHORE
WIND PROJECTS IN THE
UK, THERE IS HUGE SCOPE
FOR LOCAL COMPANIES TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
THIS BRINGS AND BUILD ON
REGIONAL STRENGTHS.
Andy Holyland
Regional Innovation Manager for
East of England, ORE Catapult
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