Sep 29, 2021

Offshore wind powers North-East jobs in a boost for UK supply chain Story by More than 440 jobs are being created and safeguarded across the North-East of England in an offshore wind production boom thanks to £130m of government and private investment. Offshore wind cabling manufacturer JDR Cable Systems Ltd is receiving funding from the government’s £160m Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme, which, together with private investment from the company, will see £130m invested in facilities that will develop and build components for next generation wind turbines. With the investment being used to build a new factory in Cambois, near Blyth, and protect jobs at its existing facility in Hartlepool, this will be a huge boost to local economies in the North-East of England, with more than 440 jobs being created and safeguarded. Of those jobs, 270 will be protected at JDR Cable Systems’ existing factory in Hartlepool, with a further 170 created as the company builds a new production facility in Cambois. Stimulated through the investment announced as part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan, this brings the total investment of government and private sector investment to £675m already this year, which is creating and protecting almost 3,600 jobs across the Humber and North-East whilst building the UK’s offshore wind capacity to deliver clean electricity generation as the country ends its reliance on coal for power by 2024. As the UK steps up building a secure home-grown renewable energy sector and is reducing its reliance on unreliable fossil fuels and exposure to volatility in global wholesale energy prices, the capacity for using clean, domestic offshore wind to help power the country is set to accelerate in the next decade. Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK’s offshore wind sector is a major industrial success story, but we need to ensure local workers and manufacturers fully reap the economic benefits of this booming industry. This major investment is a perfect example of how our transition to a low carbon economy can attract new industries, create jobs, reduce our reliance on unreliable fossil fuels and generate export opportunities as we build back greener from the pandemic.” Thanks to the £130m investment, JDR Cable Systems’ new Blyth facility will supply its Hartlepool site with state-of-the-art cable cores and high voltage underwater cabling that will enable the UK to compete more effectively with foreign manufacturers and increase its standing in global export markets. Tomasz Nowak, Chief Executive Officer at JDR, said: “As the energy transition gathers pace and the UK’s offshore wind sector continues to thrive, turbines are growing taller and farther from shore, calling for higher voltage subsea cables. We’re delighted to build on our legacy as a leading provider of subsea cables to the offshore energy sector by investing in this new facility. We’re also delighted to continue our investment in the North East of England, and in bringing new jobs to Cambois, Blyth and Northumberland. Our proposed facility is strategically located to capitalise on the rapidly growing and largest offshore renewable energy market in Europe.” Share This Article Orega, 189 Marsh Wall