Offshore wind giant Orsted has made a “substantial financial contribution” to the expansion of Hull’s Ron Dearing University Technical College.
The company’s investment in the city centre site will support a further 200 student places, lifting the current cohort by a third to 800 in time for the next academic year. The Danish company has been a major partner since it opened in 2017, having also funded the student library, supporting research and independent study.
Ron Dearing’s expansion - taking in the neighbouring former Central Fire Station that closed as the school opened - is being undertaken by Sewell Construction at Kingston Square. It will be home to an exhibition centre, a renewables innovation lab, a sixth form centre and a creativity hub to be known as STEAM Studios, representing the school’s specialisms in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.
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The company said the expansion will support the Humber’s growth as a leading hub for green energy technology, with it home to a number of leading offshore wind projects, including Hornsea Two, currently the world’s largest offshore wind farm, with Hornsea Three in the pipeline to take the title.
Mark Hickson, head of site for Lincs and Gunfleet Sands at Orsted, said: “I’ve worked in the sector for 15 years, and the growth I’ve seen is phenomenal. The offshore wind industry alone is expected to employ approximately 100,000 people in the UK by 2030. That’s around three times the amount of people currently employed in the sector today. We need to keep up with the demand of skilled people to keep providing green energy to the UK. Investments like this keep the talent pipeline flowing with local young people. We’re proud to be an industry and employer partner of UTCs to discuss what the industry needs and influence the training to future-proof people’s skills.”
While Orsted has its East Coast Hub in Grimsby, it plays a significant role in the wider Humber cluster's activity, with key interests in skills and supply chain. It works closely with Siemens Gamesa in Hull, both as a customer for the blades produced and turbines assembled, on the huge load-outs ahead of installation, and the warranty period. It is also involved with University of Hull research.
In 2022, Ron Dearing UTC was ranked number one – out of more than 4,500 schools – for the number of students moving on to apprenticeships after sixth form. It is also described as a great opportunity to introduce young people in the Humber region to the application process for the Orsted apprenticeship programme.
Sarah Pashley, principal at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This expansion will enable us to increase the places we can offer young people significantly and help us meet the high demand for places. We’re so grateful for the support from Orsted. Renovating and developing the former fire station next door into a satellite site would simply not have been possible without this funding. We have been absolutely committed to deliver a low carbon building and Orsted’s sponsorship has enabled us to realise this vision.
“Orsted’s continued support for Ron Dearing UTC enables young people in our region to access the diverse career paths available in the renewable’s industry. Through working with our students on employer-led projects that focus on the importance of sustainability, Ørsted is helping to ensure the sector’s future talent has the knowledge and skills to be able to make a real difference on the UK’s journey to net-zero.”
It comes as the company partners with STEM Returners, launching a programme nationally to coax back candidates from career-breaks, while also commiting to the funding of the Thrive safety leadership programme at Immingham - a legacy from Hornsea Two - until 2025. The award-winning multi-media immersive experience was initially develpoed for induction of construction personnel, and had been opened up to wider industries.
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