Teesside is cementing its role as a major hub for the UK’s renewable energy sector, with investment in offshore wind, clean energy and advanced manufacturing creating a surge in local employment opportunities.

Ensuring local people have the skills to take up these roles is crucial; not only for meeting the sector’s workforce demands, but for supporting the region’s transition to net zero. Companies such as SeAH Wind, which operates the world’s largest monopile manufacturing facility at Teesworks, demonstrates the scale of this growth and the need for specialist skills.

The expansion of offshore wind and related industries presents both opportunities and challenges. While new jobs are being created in welding, engineering, fabrication and manufacturing, ensuring local people have the practical skills and qualifications required for these roles is critical.

Workforce development initiatives and training programmes are helping to close this gap, equipping local talent with hands-on, industry-led training while helping companies build the teams needed to drive sector growth.

Local organisations are working closely with individuals to strengthen Teesside’s skilled workforce, as demonstrated through Nordic Engineering’s intensive 24-week welding programme. Funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority through the Adult Skills Fund and Skills Bootcamps, the programme delivered advanced training in MMA and MIG welding.

The course was supported by Teesworks Skills Academy, which works with local businesses to understand workforce needs, from recruiting apprentices to upskilling existing employees.

By collaborating with local recruitment organisations, the Skills Academy connects individuals seeking employment with relevant opportunities. This approach benefits both local people and companies, helping to address skills gaps and strengthen the workforce as the region grows at pace through developments such as Teesworks and the Teesside Freeport.

Out of more than 700 applicants, 24 individuals from Teesside were selected for the programme. Every participant has now secured full-time roles with SeAH Wind, where they continue to build their skills and experience. These outcomes highlight how targeted training and upskilling programmes provide clear pathways into long-term employment.

Mohammed, 52, is one of the programme’s standout success stories. Having previously worked in construction, retail and as a taxi driver, he had struggled with the instability and irregular hours that came with self-employment: “Being self-employed in the declining taxi industry was difficult. I didn’t have a good work-life balance,” he says.

Transitioning into a new trade was initially daunting for Mohammed, particularly as he is colour-blind, which made some aspects of welding more challenging. The encouragement he received from the trainers proved pivotal: “With their support, I passed one of the welding tests within just two weeks,” he recalls. “I’m so grateful for the guidance and patience they provided.”

Completing the 24-week welding programme enabled him to move into a structured full-time role at SeAH Wind. “I would encourage anyone who is thinking of changing career paths to go for it. Now, I can see my kids and grandkids more, and I’ve even been able to travel around the UK to places I’ve never visited before. It’s given me confidence and a real sense of purpose.”

Blain, who had been working as a chef while completing welding qualifications, also joined the programme. Looking to develop his practical skills, he valued the hands-on nature of the training, which complemented his prior theory-based, academic studies. “The training was intense, but very rewarding. It prepared me for a role in the industry and gave me the confidence to apply my skills on-site,” he explains. Since joining SeAH Wind full-time, he has undertaken additional in-person courses covering health and safety and working at height, gaining exposure to a variety of tasks and further developing both technical and communication skills.

The experiences of Mohammed and Blain highlight how effective training programmes can support upskilling. Through Structured training, supportive learning environments and clear pathways into employment enable people to gain the skills needed for high-demand roles, while contributing to both personal development and wider regional economic growth. As Teesside continues to strengthen its role in the UK’s green industrial future, building a skilled, adaptable local workforce will remain essential to sustaining the sector’s expansion and ensuring that local people can fully benefit from the opportunities it brings.

Crucially, the continued development of Teesworks is ensuring that these opportunities remain rooted in Teesside, enabling residents to build lasting careers without leaving the area. As new manufacturers, energy projects and supply chain companies establish operations on site, demand grows for apprentices, technicians, electricians, engineers and support roles drawn from local communities. This momentum allows young people, career changers and experienced workers alike to access funded training, industry placements and secure employment pathways close to home locally.

By linking education providers, training centres and employers through coordinated programmes, Teesworks helps businesses grow while ensuring wages, skills and investment circulate within the regional economy. For many families, this means greater stability, improved prospects for younger generations and renewed confidence that Teesside can deliver long term industrial success across local communities today.

Ongoing collaboration between local authorities, colleges and employers will expand retraining options, helping workers transition from declining sectors into future focused industries anchored at Teesworks. With continued investment and targeted outreach, more residents can secure qualifications, contribute to major projects and keep economic benefits circulating within Teesside for decades to come, supporting sustainable prosperity locally. Ultimately Teesworks stands as a catalyst for opportunity, skills growth and renewed regional pride.