The Wind Academy has secured more than £42,000 in funding to expand its training facilities at the Port of Blyth, a move its director described as a “significant step forward” for the business. The £42,162 grant is drawn from the Business Growth Fund, a £3.5 million programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered through Business Northumberland. The fund is designed to support companies aiming to expand or establish new operations in Northumberland and the wider North East, offering grants of up to 30 per cent of eligible expenditure on projects with a minimum capital investment of £67,000.
Training infrastructure upgraded for wind technicians
The investment will be used directly to enhance the training infrastructure for wind turbine technicians who work on both offshore and onshore developments. The academy, which is based at the Energy Central Learning Hub on the port estate, already provides hands-on experience using a full-sized modified wind turbine. The new funding is expected to allow the academy to expand its capacity and strengthen its industry partnerships, building on a track record that includes a previous partnership with New College Durham. That partnership, delivered through NEPO’s External Training framework and backed by a £1.6 million Skills Bootcamp fund, has seen more than 850 students complete courses, with approximately 85 per cent progressing into employment.
The Energy Central Learning Hub itself opened in autumn 2024 after construction began in October 2022. It is a partnership between the Port of Blyth, Northumberland County Council and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, with Northumberland Skills also operating from the site. Funded by the Government’s Future High Street Fund and Town Deal, together with investment from the county council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority, the hub features workshops, classrooms, a STEM Hub, specialist electrical, mechanical and digital skills training facilities, a Clean Energy Visitor Centre and a 50kW solar photovoltaic array used for sustainability education. The academy’s director, Geoff Briggs, and business development manager, Olly Hassan, are leading the growth push. Mr Briggs said: “This funding is a significant step forward for the Wind Academy. It allows us to invest directly in our training facilities and ensure we are delivering high-quality, industry-ready training for the offshore and onshore wind sectors. As demand for renewable energy skills continues to rise, this support helps us grow sustainably and create real opportunities for people in the region.”
Port of Blyth’s £100 million expansion
The academy’s expansion comes alongside a much larger development plan for the Port of Blyth itself. Port bosses have set out a £100 million vision for the Battleship Wharf Expansion scheme, which involves reclaiming up to three hectares of land from the River Blyth estuary. The project includes extending quays by up to 260 metres, constructing rock revetments, deepening the channel and berths to accommodate larger vessels, and installing additional heavy-duty handling equipment designed for next-generation offshore components. The early development phase is jointly funded by the Port of Blyth, Northumberland County Council and the North East Combined Authority, with The Crown Estate providing £275,000 in match funding through its Supply Chain Accelerator fund. Martin Lawlor OBE, chief executive of the Port of Blyth, has described it as a “landmark moment” for the port and the region. The port already hosts more than 50 companies active in offshore wind and renewable energy.
The additional space and facilities created by the port’s expansion will be marketed at wind farm developers and operators, capitalising on an expected influx of North Sea energy projects. Jon Paul Heron, a business advisor at the Durham-based firm UMi who guided the Wind Academy through the funding process, said: “It’s been a pleasure supporting the Wind Academy on its growth journey. This investment will help strengthen its position as a key training provider for the wind sector and support long-term economic growth in Northumberland.”
Regional impact and offshore leasing outlook
The North East is well placed to benefit from the Government’s next offshore wind leasing round, which The Crown Estate plans to launch in the first half of 2027. That round, expected to be centred on the region, could accommodate around six gigawatts of additional capacity – enough to power millions of homes – although turbines are unlikely to be in place and generating before the 2030s. The UK Government has set an ambition of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, with the potential to reach 150GW by 2050, and is doubling investment in clean energy to more than £30 billion per year. The North Sea is undergoing a transition from oil and gas to renewables, with the sector planning to invest at least £65 billion in offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture by 2030.
County councillor Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for regeneration at Northumberland County Council, said: “The Wind Academy is playing an important role in developing the skills needed for the future of renewable energy. This funding will help the business grow, invest in its facilities and continue supporting the region’s low-carbon economy.”
The academy’s expansion, combined with the port’s own development and the approaching leasing round, reinforces the strategic position of the North East in the UK’s clean energy supply chain. That round alone could bring another 6GW of wind energy to the UK, though turbines are unlikely to be in place and turning before the 2030s.
