Ørsted have committed a substantial financial contribution towards Ron Dearing University Technical College’s (UTC) exciting new expansion in Hull, which will support an additional 200 student places annually growing the total cohort to 800.
Ørsted have supported the Ron Dearing UTC in Hull as a major partner since its opening in 2017 and are incredibly proud of their success. From funding their student library - ‘the Ørsted library’ for student research and independent study to their new expansion which will have a renewed focus on decarbonisation, sustainability, and renewables. The expansion will support the Humber’s growth as a leading hub for green energy technology. The new building will open by September 2023. The region is home to a number of groundbreaking offshore wind projects, including Hornsea 2, currently the world’s largest offshore wind farm, with Hornsea 3 in the pipeline to take the title.
In 2022, Ron Dearing UTC was ranked number one – out of more than 4,500 schools – for the number of students moving on to apprenticeships after sixth form. UTCs offer a great opportunity to introduce young people in the Humber region to the application process for the three-year Ørsted Apprenticeship Programme. The programme is geared towards building a strong foundation for the next generation of offshore wind technicians through a combination of classroom-learning and on-the-job training.
Mark Hickson, Head of Site Lincs and Gunfleet Sands at Ørsted, said: “I’ve worked in the sector for fifteen years, and the growth I’ve seen is phenomenal. The offshore wind industry alone is expected to employ approximately 100,000 people in the UK by 2030. * That’s around three times the amount of people currently employed in the sector today. We need to keep up with the demand of skilled people to keep providing green energy to the UK. Investments like this keep the talent pipeline flowing with local young people. We’re proud to be an industry and employer partner of UTCs to discuss what the industry needs and influence the training to future proof people’s skills.”
The school’s unique curriculum created in conjunction with the region’s leading employers to address the STEM skills gap has been such a success that it has been over-subscribed every year since its opening.
Sarah Pashley, Principal at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This expansion will enable us to increase the places we can offer young people significantly and help us meet the high demand for places. We’re so grateful for the support from Ørsted. Renovating and developing the former fire station next door into a satellite site would simply not have been possible without this funding. We have been absolutely committed to deliver a low carbon building and Ørsted’s sponsorship has enabled us to realise this vision.
Sarah continued: “Ørsted’s continued support for Ron Dearing UTC enables young people in our region to access the diverse career paths available in the renewable’s industry. Through working with our students on employer-led projects that focus on the importance of sustainability, Ørsted is helping to ensure the sector’s future talent has the knowledge and skills to be able to make a real difference on the UK’s journey to net-zero.”
Read more about Ørsted's support with UTCs here.
