Humber Energy Skills Training Academy's story
The Humber Energy Skills Training Academy provides Humber-wide provision for new/existing engineers to support the decarbonisation and clean growth agenda. It has been supported with a grant of just over £300k from the Humber's Local Growth fund allocation and secured by the Humber LEP.
A hub and spoke model enables partner providers and the wider provider-network to build capability/capacity to deliver modern methods of construction and engineers to work with new technologies. The initiative aims to address skills and labour shortages in key areas within the region and has a particular focus on creating 'green engineers' versed in the clean technologies identified has likely to have the most impact on decarbonisation. These include mini turbines, biomass boilers, photovoltaic panels, air and ground source heat pumps, and Energy Management / Recovery Systems.
The facility will also be able to showcase new and developing green technologies by working with key manufacturers (including Ideal Standard and Baxi) to support employers' understanding of the technologies required to meet local carbon reduction targets. By matching the green engineering skills with experience of innovative low-carbon equipment, the project supports targeted industrial improvements in energy usage/efficiency, extending to operations and maintenance, process improvements, digital, motors and drives and building energy design and management.
712sqm of new/refurbished training facilities have been created at AIRCOs existing training facility in Hull to increase capacity and provide industry-linked training opportunities. The facilities are operated as a partnership with Airco owning the land and building and the delivery being managed through North Lindsey College. This will allow the current provision of 15 apprentices and 15 further education learners per year, along with the breadth of provision to be significantly increased. by the investment and breadth of provision will be increased.
As a centre of excellence and offering unrivaled provision, the project will also offer the opportunity to upskill other FE and private sector training providers. This will support other providers to consider the changing needs of industry and technological developments, enabling them to also prepare for the skills requirements of the future and associated training needs.
Useful learnings from Humber Energy Skills Training Academy
The partnership approach (North Lindsey College, part of TEC Partnership working with AIRCO and suppliers of green technologies) means that students and businesses can be sure the courses will be closely aligned to evolving industry practice and demand. It also means that the curriculum provision can be quickly adapted and respond to rapid technological developments.
We will work closely with employers to select, design and gain approval for additional provision in today's emerging technologies, which will become tomorrow's mainstream requirements. This will include adding new content to provision with a focus on understanding the principles of sustainable development, informatics for environment and sustainability, operations and maintenance and other specific topics relevant to job roles and career areas.
As well as developing courses for new entrants, new courses are planned on topics and units to upskill current employers, managers and staff and also to also provide access to a centre of excellence demonstrating developments in technology which will be introduced into the workplace.
Humber Energy Skills Training Academy's metrics
Number of qualifications obtained (90).
Number of apprenticeships completed (57).
Number of other learners supported (255).
