Low carbon economy
Opportunities
Offshore wind
The offshore wind industry is an important source of future energy supply for the UK. The UK is the world leader in offshore wind with more projects installed, in planning and in construction than any other country in the world. By 2020 at least 20,000 MW of offshore wind is expected to be installed and operating in UK waters.
As momentum towards a low-carbon economy accelerates worldwide, South Tyneside has positioned itself as the best place to build low carbon businesses and to equip those businesses to compete in the global market for low-carbon goods and services.
The River Tyne's location at the heart of the largest planned Round 3 wind farm zone, positioned directly off the region's coast, represents a major opportunity for energy companies, developers, turbine manufacturers and installation specialists.
Geographical proximity to the UK market
The River Tyne is in close proximity to three of the Round 3 zones; Hornsea (86nm), Fifth of Forth (67nm) and the largest site Dogger Bank (98nm); it is therefore ideally located to service these sites.
Excellent labour availability and skills support
Tyneside and the surrounding areas have a long history in electrical and mechanical engineering; particularly in the marine and offshore sectors. The transferable skills related to these traditional industries can provide a readymade workforce to any organisation operating in the offshore wind market.
Working with JobCentre Plus, Skills Funding Agency and further and higher education establishments, we are able to respond to your recruitment and skills needs by providing tailored packages of support.
The Port of Tyne
The Port of Tyne is a principal northern gateway to the UK and a key port in the North East region and North Sea.
For more information visit Port of Tyne.
Existing industrial base
There is a strong supply chain with extensive experience of supporting marine and offshore sectors.
Excellent infrastructure
Easy rail, road, air and sea access from Tyneside to the rest of the UK, Europe and destinations worldwide.
Narec
The North East is the national centre of excellence for renewable energy. Located at Blyth just north of the Tyne, Narec is the national centre for research in renewable.
It can provide R&D, test and demonstration facilities for the new and renewable power sectors, and is a national centre dedicated to accelerating the development of grid integration of renewable energy and low carbon technologies.
For more information visit Narec.
Low Carbon Economic Area
South Tyneside is one of the locations within the designated Low Carbon Economic Area for the manufacture of ultra low carbon vehicles.
Our people
A high level of skills, flexibility and professional loyalty are some of the most important attributes of the Tyneside workforce, which has proved to be responsive in meeting the needs of the borough's business sectors.
A willingness to adapt to the introduction of new technologies and working procedures has been paralleled by improvements in productivity. The friendliness and strong work ethic of the area's people have been major factors in attracting new investment. Wages and salaries are competitive with other UK regions with high levels of employee retention.