New offshore wind factory and investments to create 1,000 North East and Humber jobs

The government has announced that more than 1,000 green energy jobs are set to be created and safeguarded across the North East and the Humber.

Offshore wind manufacturers, SeAH Wind on the Humber and Smulders Projects UK at Wallsend in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, are creating the jobs as part of plans to create a new factory and invest in new equipment.

The projects will be created as a result of more than £180m of private investment, with each of the companies also receiving grant funding from the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme.

At SeAH Wind, the funding will be used towards a new £117m monopile foundation factory at the Able Marine Energy Park on the Humber which is expected to create up to 750 jobs by 2030.

Smulders Projects UK will use the funding towards a £70m investment in new equipment and infrastructure, creating and safeguarding up to 325 jobs.

Kwasi Kwarteng, business and energy secretary, commented: “Wind is one of the UK’s greatest natural assets and we’re a world-leader in offshore wind energy.

“With the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world, we are determined to grow and nurture a strong, world-class manufacturing base so British businesses and our workforce can fully seize the economic benefits being a windy island nation brings.

“Today’s investments will not only put the wind in the sails of the UK’s industrial heartlands, creating and supporting thousands of good quality jobs, they will also benefit the whole of Britain as we work to onshore more manufacturers, attract inward investment and ramp up export opportunities.”

Gerry Grimstone, minister for investment, said: “The UK is well-established as having the largest offshore wind capacity of any country on the planet.

“These investments highlight how we are building a manufacturing base that reflects our position as a world leader in this key technology and the attractiveness of the UK’s clean energy sector to international investors.

“UK workers will be building the next generation of wind turbines that will not only help us meet our own climate change commitments but will be exported and can power countries all over the globe in a cleaner greener future.”