Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm has joined forces with Humber University Technical College (UTC) to help support the growth of a highly-skilled local workforce that would help underpin the future success of the renewables industry.
Over the next three years, Triton Knoll will sponsor the college’s Electrical Workshop, and is also preparing to launch a new engineering challenge that will give the college’s students experience of the industry and the challenges it faces.
Triton Knoll Project Director James Cotter said: “We are absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to support the University Technical College. Triton Knoll is committed to becoming a catalyst for skills growth in the region, and we can think of no better way than helping develop today’s students to be the engineers of tomorrow.
“There are great opportunities in this area for young people to consider a career in offshore wind, which is a strong and growing industry. We believe that the UTC’s curriculum is well placed to successfully prepare students for the jobs and opportunities that could be realised not just for our own project but from across the wider industry.”
The Electrical Workshop is part of a suite of specialist workshops at the college, which is based in Scunthorpe, where students typically spend part of their 9am – 5pm working day learning practical engineering and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related skills. The skills they will learn are highly transferable; with specialisms in renewable technologies increasingly valued amongst employers looking for those best able to support the specific needs of the industry.
Andrew Downing, Principal at the Humber UTC, said: “We are both pleased and excited by the support Triton Knoll is providing to the students of the Humber UTC, showing the project’s desire to develop engineers of the future. The Humber UTC has a simple aim, to provide outstanding education, while providing the necessary technical and employability skills that will help transform life chances. Triton Knoll’s commitment to developing a highly-skilled workforce is a natural fit with this ambition and the sponsorship of this ‘state-of-the-art’ workshop is just one example of the wealth of knowledge, expertise and support that the project is offering to our students.”
Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm will be located approximately 32km off the Lincolnshire coast and 50km off the coast of North Norfolk. It is being developed as a joint venture between Innogy Renewables UK Ltd(2) (50%) and Statkraft (50%), with innogy managing the project on behalf of the partnership. With a capacity of up to 900MW, the wind farm has the potential to power up to 800,000(1) UK homes once fully operational.
If you would like more information about the Triton Knoll project, please visit the website: www.tritonknoll.co.uk