North East Mayor opens National Battery Training & Skills Academy

In a significant step forward for the UK's renewable energy sector, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, officially opened a state-of-the-art Battery Training & Skills Academy at New College Durham, dedicated to supporting the next generation of battery technology workers. The Faraday Battery Challenge, led by Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation, is a project aimed at building a top-tier battery industry in the UK. Funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge (Faraday Battery Challenge is delivered by Innovate UK), the academy will support the North East’s rapidly expanding EV battery industry.

In a significant step forward for the UK's renewable energy sector, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, officially opened a state-of-the-art Battery Training & Skills Academy at New College Durham, dedicated to supporting the next generation of battery technology workers. The innovative facility is one of the first of its kind in the country and has been developed to provide the North East with the facilities to deliver training to the next generation of workers in battery technology. The Faraday Battery Challenge, led by Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation, is a project aimed at building a top-tier battery industry in the UK. With a £610 million budget, it utilises the UK's best talents to tackle the complexities of battery technology. Funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge (Faraday Battery Challenge is delivered by Innovate UK), the academy will support the North East’s rapidly expanding EV battery industry. Sunderland based AESC, which owns and operates the UK’s only EV battery gigafactory, are the Academy’s industry partner and will use the centre to upskill hundreds of staff and potential recruits. The project will see the company share over a decade of EV battery manufacturing experience with the Academy, which has already seen the creation of a specialist battery fundamental bootcamp. Nine AESC staff have completed teaching qualifications to allow them to deliver course modules covering the latest industry developments. Thomas Bartlett, Deputy Director - Faraday Battery Challenge at Innovate UK, said “One of the main aims of the Faraday Battery Challenge is to empower partnerships such as this, to train and develop the next generation of innovators in this ever-growing industry. The FBC aims to develop a resilient and globally competitive battery industry in the UK. This is achieved by supporting advanced research and innovation, creating world-class battery facilities, and fostering the necessary skills and investment to bring new, exciting technologies to market.” During her visit to the academy, the mayor spent time with staff and students along with representatives of the partnership that generated this latest development. Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said, “The North East is at the cusp of a new era of jobs and prosperity in the industries of the future, with huge potential in sectors such as battery tech, electric vehicles and offshore. As Mayor I’m determined the next generation of workers will have access to the jobs, training, and opportunities we’re creating so we become the home of real opportunity. That means a strong partnership between industry and education working together, and I'm delighted to see how New College Durham are working with employers to create train a highly skilled, well-paid workforce - proudly making things right here in the North East." Jeff Pratt, Head of UK Operations at AESC praised the development, saying: “AESC has built a reputation for high quality batteries made to the highest safety standards. Fundamental to this achieving this has been the investment we have made in skills and training our staff over the past decade. Establishing the National Battery Academy in North East England will make the region a hotbed of talent for the EV battery industry, and we look forward to working closely with Faraday, New College Durham, and Newcastle University to achieve this.” Andy Broadbent, Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham added “With the correct levels of research and training, electric vehicles and the EV battery environment can provide huge opportunities for innovation, and growth particularly here in the North East. It is our aim to ensure that students at the National Battery Training & Skills Academy not only make themselves more employable in this growing industry, but that they strive to seek innovative solutions to any problems they encounter. I am immensely proud that, through partnership working with Newcastle University, New College Durham is now well positioned to play a leading role in generating innovative and sustainable technologies.”