Britishvolt has announced a strategic partnership with Northumberland College and the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre to provide the skills needed for its gigafactory in the North East.
The firm, which is bringing its £1.7bn plant to the Northumberland coast, says it will work with the college and the centre to nurture manufacturing associates and technicians through apprenticeship training.
Northumberland College will also support BV FutureGen Foundation, the charity created by Britishvolt which aims to help build a better future for local communities through providing entry level, gateway qualifications into STEM and renewables employment.
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Katie Sloggett, Britishvolt head of learning and development, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work within our local communities and help generate the skills required for Britain to play its part in the next industrial revolution. These partnerships will initially create opportunities for apprentices at levels 2-4, in time forming part of a wider electrification skills pathway towards higher-skills, up to and including level 8 (PhD).
"Both Northumberland College and the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre will link to Britishvolt FutureGen Foundation, connecting into hard-to-reach communities and driving up the aspirations and skills of the many.
"I’m very excited for the boost for Northumberland and West Midlands. These agreements, alongside the broader technical training programme, will ensure that we have the people and skills that we need for the 3,000 direct highly-skilled jobs (and another 5,000+ indirect wider supply chain roles). Building the batteries that will power our electric vehicles for a cleaner, greener future.”
Iain Nixon, vice principal partnerships and commercial for Education Partnership North East, which incorporates Northumberland College, Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form, said: “The arrival of Britishvolt in south east Northumberland is going to have a massive positive impact on the local area and its economy and we’re delighted to be partnering with Britishvolt to help recruit new talent and develop their workforce through apprenticeships.
"The college will initially provide training for entry-level apprentices at Britishvolt – operators on the production line and engineering technicians. Ahead of the gigaplant starting up production, a pilot engineering technician apprenticeship programme will start this September.”
Minister for Skills Alex Burghart said: “The UK is leading the way in supporting cutting edge green industries and it is brilliant to see apprentices take their rightful place at the forefront of our green skills revolution.
“This deal proves what is possible when colleges and companies work together to meet the needs of learners, local communities and the economy, and I would encourage all colleges to follow Northumberland’s example.”
Britishvolt says apprenticeship opportunities will be shortly made available on the BV careers and National Apprenticeship Service websites.
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