EDUCATION Secretary Gillian Keegan was in the North East last week to visit new further education facilities in Northumberland as part of National Apprenticeships Week.

The minister visited the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Blyth where she met with apprentices and staff working on the research, testing and development of offshore renewable energy.

ORE Catapult is one of nine Catapult centres funded by Innovate UK, an agency of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The aim of the centre is to “enable the transition to a low carbon economy and expand the sector by becoming the world’s leading offshore renewable technology sector.”

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Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “We were really pleased to show the Education Minister round the centre during her visit to Blyth, and emphasise our commitment to training and apprenticeships here in Northumberland.”

The Chichester MP also visited an offshore windfarm just off the coast at Blyth along with Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho.

Posting on social media, Mrs Keegan said: “Claire Coutinho and I met some inspiring apprentices working at a wind farm just off the coast of Blyth. Our apprenticeship reforms over the last decade mean that now, you can access nearly 70 per cent of occupations via an apprenticeship.”

Miss Coutinho said it was “brilliant” to meet the engineering apprentices working in the offshore wind sector, adding: “Choppy waters aside, there was nothing but excitement for the bright futures they all have ahead of them.”

ORE Catapult is the largest wind turbine blade test facility in the world, and the Secretary of State saw the blade testing hall in action. She also visited the 15MW offshore wind powertrain test hall, a high-voltage test facility and materials lab.

The apprentices the Education Secretary met were on a variety of programmes including control design engineer, maintenance electrical technician and laboratory scientist. The majority of apprentices working at Catapult stay with the company once they complete their apprenticeship.

Mrs Keegan’s visit comes in the week that Northumberland Labour revealed the number of apprentices in Northumberland had fallen by almost half since 2015. Data from the Government showed that apprenticeship starts in Northumberland fell from 4,030 in 2015 to just 2,160 in the latest round of data – a fall of 46.4 per cent.

Northumberland Labour’s Angie Scott said: “Families in Northumberland want to see their children do well and get on – and apprenticeships are a great route to doing exactly that. But under the Conservatives fewer and fewer young people are able to find opportunities to take up a place.

“Labour will reverse this trend, giving businesses the flexibility they need to train people up with new skills from digital technologies, to the green skills needed to tackle climate change.”

Responding to this, deputy leader of the council Richard Wearmouth pointed out that the council had more than 400 new recruits start apprenticeships in the last four years. He also said the new facilities in Blyth would offer more routes into work for the county’s residents.

He said: “As one of the region’s largest employers, the council is committed to provide high-quality career pathways, we’ve had over 400 new recruits starting their careers with NCC as apprentices in the last four years.

“We also had 87 apprentices complete their apprenticeships within the last 12 months and will be launching a recruitment drive for more this spring.  The Northumberland Skills Welding and Fabrication Technical Training Centre in the Port of Blyth supports this ambition, equipping residents of all ages with the skills they need to kickstart their career in advanced manufacturing, engineering, construction, marine and clean energy sectors.    

“With 20 welding bays, a dedicated fabrication training area and state-of-the-art equipment including CNC and robotic technology, the centre is primed to boost local skills and the economy. Funded by a £1.38m investment from Northumberland County Council, the courses are delivered by experienced lecturers from Northumberland Skills, the council’s post-16 education provider.  

“Northumberland Skills delivers a wide range of full and part-time courses, apprenticeship training and employability programmes – all of which are designed to improve prospects, boost confidence and build better futures. We invested in this site so that our residents can make the most of the opportunities offered by the exciting developments taking place in Blyth and the green energy sector.

“The investment in the welding centre has also added to the capacity to train apprentices. We have apprentices from across the region attending this state-of-the-art centre and when the Energy Central Learning Hub opens in September we will be able to increase the capacity to train more and contribute to the workforce needs.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners in the port, and beyond, so we can support them by investing in the workforce of the future and bring more skilled jobs and rewarding careers to Northumberland.”