Education minister praises energy skills school

The Energy Central Learning Hub aims to help young people secure jobs in the renewable energy sector

The Education minister has pledged her support for a teaching centre which is training young people to secure jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Staff at the £15m Energy Central Learning Hub in the Port of Blyth said giving students experience in manufacturing would help them get jobs and apprenticeships.

More than 80 students are currently doing level two diplomas and T-Levels in partnership with Bede Academy.

Education Minister, Bridget Phillipson, said: "It's a great facility for young people to train up and be the next generation of highly-skilled workers to make Britain a clean energy superpower."

Lessons at the school also include how to repair and build renewable wind turbines.

Joey, 16, was one of the first students to begin the level two diploma manufacturing course in September 2024.

"I love the course and the lessons are setting us up for life, as we're in a strong position to begin work," he said.

Joey and Oli have already secured "apprenticeship" after beginning their level two diploma course in September

Oli, also 16, has already secured a manufacturing apprenticeship which he starts next year.

He said: "I think it's changed my life coming here, it's set me up with skills to get a job very quickly."

Education Minister Bridget Phillipson (second from right) believe these kind of schools could help the governments reach it's net zero goal

The development is owned by Energy Central Campus in partnership with the Port of Blyth, Northumberland County Council, and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

The county council helped pay for the building along with a £1.5m pledge from the previous government's Levelling Up fund in 2023.

County council leader, Glen Sanderson, said the school would help the "important green energy businesses to prosper" and give students the chance to secure green jobs.