Low carbon economy

The availability of appropriate skills is a critical factor in the successful future development of offshore wind related activity in Tyneside.

The area already has one of the strongest pools of relevant technician and production level, and graduate and post graduate engineering level, skills in the UK.

The high level of skills is demonstrated in the current success of manufacturing and production in the region, with companies in the area including:

• Nissan, Europe's most productive car plant and as the UK's biggest exporter
• PB Power, who have a world-wide reputation for power engineering
• AMEC which operates its main base for process and energy engineering
• Siemens operating in the energy and IT sectors

The availability and quality of this workforce has attracted some significant investments in recent years in the low carbon economy, such as Nissan EV and battery manufacturing, won in the face of world wide competition, and Ensus' £400m process investment.

Hitachi has also selected the region as its primary manufacturing centre for the next generation of high speed trains, complementing many other companies that have announced new investments in the low carbon economy.

Leading Europe in new skills development

The region is now building on these existing strengths, by establishing one of the leading training and education capabilities in Europe for the low carbon economy.

At the level of technician and production skills the National Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Production is now being built on Tyneside.

Northumberland College, and South Tyneside College with its unrivalled maritime reputation, are developing European-leading qualifications for offshore wind construction.

While Newcastle College is establishing new capacity focused on the manufacture of offshore wind equipment.

At the graduate and post-graduate levels, Newcastle University is building on its reputation as one the world's leading marine engineering universities by establishing the Institute of Sustainability.

Northumbria University is building on its world leading design education centre, and Sunderland is expanding its major capabilities in transport engineering.

Of great significance for the future, the region is now developing the most extensive new capability in the UK for graduate engineering education, especially to meet the demands of new green industries.

New university provision is being planned to generate 500 additional engineering graduates per year.

The North East is renowned for its extensive industrial activity, with manufacturing remaining as the cornerstone of the regional economy. The region has an extensive workforce ready to undertake the challenge of offshore wind activity.

Engineering and manufacturing have traditionally been strong features of the North East economy. Today the number of employees working in the sector account for 12.5% of the workforce, compared with 10.9% at the national level.