Etc. secures clean energy excellence status

A Teesside-based college group is set to play a leading role in addressing skills shortages in the clean energy sector.

The Education Training Collective (Etc.) has been named one of just five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges (CETEC) by the Department for Education, placing it at the forefront of low carbon skills development.

The group, which includes Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training, Redcar and Cleveland College and Stockton Riverside College, has been recognised for its work addressing skills shortages and supporting industry demand across the clean energy sector.

The launch of the first cohort of the Tees Valley Net Zero Industry Scholarship at Redcar and Cleveland College, an initiative bringing together education providers, industry leaders, employers and the local and combined authorities

Central to this is the £3.2 million Clean Energy Education Hub at Redcar and Cleveland College, which offers specialist training in areas such as hydrogen, carbon capture, and onshore and offshore wind, alongside core engineering disciplines.

The group has also expanded provision through initiatives including scholarships with bp and the opening of NETA’s £4.7 million All Access Academy, supporting key skills for emerging industries.

An artist’s impression of the new All Access Academy delivered by NETA, in Redcar

As part of the new status, Etc. will work with partners including Newcastle College, Hull College and Teesside University to strengthen collaboration and share expertise across the region.

Further investment is planned to enhance facilities and training opportunities, supporting learners at all stages, from school-leavers to those retraining, as demand for clean energy skills continues to grow.

Grant Glendinning, Etc. chief executive and group principal, said: “This is a fantastic acknowledgement of what has been a real targeted effort to prepare for the changes that are happening all around us, and ensure there is a pipeline of talent ready to meet demand.

“By working closely with employers and industry leaders on such a forward-thinking project, this has established us as a training organisation which leads from the front and has been a catalyst for a host of further initiatives and ambitious developments.”

Stuart Blackett, Etc. chair of the governing board, added: “Collaboration is very much at the centre of the Technical Excellence College (TEC) programme, and that aligns perfectly with our ethos.

“We are proud to have been given CETEC status and be in a position to share what we have learned with education colleagues, and to build on this to deliver a coherent regional clean energy curriculum framework aligned to Local Skills Improvement Plan and Skills England priorities.”

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “Our region is now firmly established as a global leader in green energy, from offshore wind to carbon capture – creating exceptional opportunities for local people to access high-quality, well-paid jobs.

“To fully realise this potential, it’s vital we equip our workforce with the right skills and support. 

“This announcement strengthens our position as a centre of excellence for green energy training, ensuring workers from Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool can further drive our economy forward and share in its success.”

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