Plans to expand the Energy Academy have now been approved by North Tyneside Council, paving the way for a major new investment in the region’s engineering and renewable energy training infrastructure.

The £8.5m development will see a new, purpose-built education and workshop facility constructed on land alongside the College’s existing Energy Academy on Hadrian Road. Together, the developments will form an enhanced Energy Campus at the heart of Wallsend, supporting skills growth in one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors.

Once complete, the expanded facilities will allow Newcastle College to increase student capacity significantly, with learner numbers expected to triple over the next five years. This growth directly responds to increasing demand from the offshore wind and renewable energy industries, which are forecast to create around 4,500 manufacturing and engineering jobs on the River Tyne over the next decade. The regional workforce supporting this sector is expected to grow to more than 24,000 during this period.

The new building will provide specialist engineering training aligned to industry needs, supporting the North East’s ambitions to play a leading role in the UK’s transition to clean energy. Industry-standard workshops and teaching spaces will be designed in partnership with employers to ensure learners develop the skills required for modern energy and engineering careers.

As a leading provider of technical and professional education in the North East, Newcastle College works closely with industry partners to address skills shortages and create clear pathways into employment. The Energy Academy expansion will build on this role, enabling more people to access high-quality training linked directly to job opportunities across the region. Newcastle College will also become the only training provider in the UK to offer green skills training from entry level through to post‑graduate study.

Work on the development is expected to begin in the coming weeks, delivered in partnership with Shepherd Offshore, the North East Combined Authority, North Tyneside Council, Elliott Associates, Ryder Architecture and Fairhurst.