Government Gives Large Funds to Train Renewables Workers in East Yorkshire

MILLIONS of pounds have been awarded to train East Yorkshire’s renewables workers of the future.

The Government is giving £25 million to the region in a move that could eventually generate several thousand jobs in the offshore windfarm industry.

The cash has been awarded as part of a joint bid by Hull City Council and East Riding Council to the Government’s £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

The money will be used to retrain the area’s existing workforce so they are able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the emerging renewables industry, such as Siemens, proposed investment in a huge wind turbine plant in Hull.

Funding will also be provided to encourage new supply chain businesses to set up close to Siemens’ proposed Alexandra Dock factory.

Hull East MP Karl Turner said: “Hull needs a skilled manufacturing workforce and this money will help to train local people.

 ”It will reassure private companies, such as Siemens, that are looking to invest in the region, that Hull has a workforce ready to work in the green sector.”

The Mail understands RGF money will be used to create at least 3,500 jobs and train at least 900 people between now and 2014.  It will also offer support for at least 650 small and medium-size businesses, some of which will

be encouraged to diversify and enter the offshore wind renewable energy supply chain.  The area is expected to receive about £280 million in private sector inward investment.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said he hoped the investment would allow the Siemens deal to progress.  He said: “This is something that I’m sure will be welcomed by Siemens.

 ”This is a project that has real potential for an area that has had some blows in the past two to three years. I hope this means the project can now progress.”

The councils are now expected to meet with their training partners, including the University Of Hull, to decide how best to spend the money.

 Councillor Stephen Parnaby, leader of East Riding Council, said: “This is welcome news for the area at a time when of cutbacks in the private sector, such as at BAE Systems in Brough.”

In January, Siemens signed a “memorandum of understanding” with Associated British Ports, to open a wind turbine plant at Alexandra Dock.

However, that memorandum expired in July.

It prompted fears that rival bids from ports in Germany and Denmark were being considered and led to a delegation from Hull meeting Business Secretary Vince Cable to press for greater commitment from the Government.

Earlier this year, the Government awarded the area an enterprise zone that is expected to create almost 5,000 jobs.

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Source: thisishullandeastriding, November, 1, 2011;