A group of welders have secured themselves jobs at SeAH Wind’s new state of the art factory after successfully completing a pioneering course at Middlesbrough College.

Eleven people have been taken on by SeAH Wind in permanent positions after finishing a 24-week bespoke training course designed to train them for the particular demands of welding work in the offshore wind sector.

The successful graduates – all from the Teesside area – will start their full-time jobs at the beginning of next month.

The ten men and one woman, who all had previous welding experience, were picked from over 100 candidates who had applied for a position on the course, run by Middlesbrough College in partnership with SeAH Wind.

Alan Jones, Associate Director of Curriculum – Motor Vehicle, Welding, & Commercial Training, at Middlesbrough College Group, said: “We’re delighted that this first cohort of candidates on the SeAH Wind welding course have passed their assessments and will soon be starting work at the company.

“This was a difficult and demanding course which required the students to learn a lot of specialist skills in order to work at SeAH Wind, which makes giant monopiles used in the installation of offshore wind farms.

“This included gaining work ready knowledge and skills to participate in heavy engineering activities in the welding sector including an appreciation of sub-arc welding (SAW), air arc gouging, and appropriate welding theory.

“SeAH Wind makes monopiles of up to 120 metres in length, 15.5 metres in diameter and weighing approximately 3,000 tonnes so producing such structures takes a lot of skill and knowledge.”

Matthew Hart from SeAH Wind explained that the company had come to Middlesbrough College to help co-create the specialist course as it was keen to recruit locally and to help boost the skills base on Teesside.

SeAH Wind is currently building Europe’s largest monopile factory at the giant Teesworks site on the south bank of the River Tees, which will eventually employ up to 750 people once fully operational.

Matthew Hart, HR Manager at SeAH Wind, said: “As a business, we are incredibly proud to welcome the first 11 cohort from Middlesbrough College to SeAH Wind. Teesside has a rich heritage in welding and fabrication. However, there is a national shortage and demand for these skills. We are keen to give local people the opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to have a successful career with SeAH Wind. This opportunity is a key pillar to our recruitment strategy to create future talent.

“It’s important to recognise that each and every one of the learners has shown amazing commitment, attending this program in their own time, with most having full-time jobs, young families, or other commitments. The determination to succeed has been inspirational, and I am very proud of these guys.”

The 11 successful students, whose ages range from 20 to 38, have since started their journey with SeAH Wind and are currently going through an induction process into the business, gaining valuable and essential knowledge and skills to undertake their new roles safely and efficiently. Once they have finished their induction, they will start working in the factory.

Alan Jones said: “It has been terrific working with SeAH Wind on this course and preparing learners for an exciting career in what is a fast-growing and vital sector of the economy.

“We have worked with employers to produce a number of different bespoke courses over the years and it is always rewarding to see the results with skilled, motivated and dedicated people who become real assets to their employers.”

The training has been delivered with the help of funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority through its Adult Skills Fund.

Another group has also seen training support through the programme with Nordic Products and Services.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We are delivering thousands of well-paid highly skilled jobs at Teesworks and beyond but it is essential that the right training is place to ensure local people can take advantage of the fantastic career opportunities being created across our area.

“It is outstanding to see how our funding has supported these talented trainees develop vital skills which will provide a platform for secure employment not just for now but throughout their career.”

In September, Middlesbrough College Group opened its new £12m state of the art TTE training centre at the Group’s Middlehaven campus.

The centre will train over 300 full-time students, 300 apprentices and 500 adults each year, alongside a thriving international cohort of students.

More details on bespoke training courses at Middlesbrough College can be found online at https://www.mbro.ac.uk/