Tees Valley Scholarship to boost skills training for low-carbon energy sector

The Tees Valley Net Zero Industry Scholarship, a £1m training programme, has been launched to provide workers with the skills needed for the region’s rapidly expanding low-carbon energy sector.

Financially supported by Net Zero Teesside Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership, applications for the scholarship are now open, as it aims to equip successful applicants with expertise in welding, instrumentation, pipefitting, electrical engineering, and civil operations.

Training will be delivered through local education providers, including Education Training Collective (Etc.) – Redcar and Cleveland College and NETA, Middlesbrough College, Hartlepool College of Further Education and Darlington College, in collaboration with Teesworks Skills Academy.

The scholarship is open to individuals aged 16 and above.

With 141 scholarship places available, participants will receive £100 per week in term time during their training, which can last up to two years.

The scholarship has been financially supported by two flagship energy projects which will be built on Teesside.

Construction work on Net Zero Teesside Power – a world-first gas-fired power station with carbon capture – will commence from mid-year, with NEP building the CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure to serve the power station and future carbon capture projects in the region.

Mark Lewis, NZT Power and NEP construction manager, said: “Construction of Net Zero Teesside Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership will require thousands of skilled workers.

“Along with our construction partner Balfour Beatty, we have worked closely with local colleges across the Tees Valley to design a Net Zero Industry Scholarship which will equip people from the region with the skills needed to secure the roles that are urgently required to drive the energy transition”.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is another fantastic step in ensuring that local people have the skills they need to take advantage of the huge opportunities being created at Teesworks and across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“With billions of pounds of investment coming into our clean energy industry, we need a workforce that is ready to meet demand.

“The Tees Valley Industry Scholarship will give people the training and support they need to secure well-paid, high-quality jobs right here on their doorstep.”