Ørsted has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 round of its Skills Funds, which support projects that improve access to education, training and employment opportunities in coastal communities near the company’s offshore wind farms.
The Ørsted Skills Fund is made up of three separate, ring-fenced funds:
• East Coast Community Fund – £75,000
• Walney Extension Community Fund – £100,000
• Hornsea 3 Community Fund – £100,000 (with £20,000 ring fenced for scholarships)
Groups can apply for funding to deliver skills development projects, confidence-building programmes, training initiatives, mentoring schemes, industry-related learning, or activities that help local people gain practical experience that supports employment. A grant may be awarded to one organisation in each area or divided between several groups that apply.
Since launching, the Skills Funds have collectively awarded £1,772,093 to 85 projects across the UK, helping thousands of people develop skills, qualifications and hands-on experience that open the door to new career pathways.
Imran Nawaz, Ørsted’s Senior Advisor and Community Benefit Fund Manager, encouraged organisations to apply:
“The Ørsted Skills Funds are a real opportunity for groups to help local people grow their skills, gain confidence and explore new futures. We are proud to support training and education projects that create long-lasting impact in coastal communities. We look forward to seeing the applications for 2026.”
Spotlight on Impact: First Ever STEM Film Academy
One of the most recent Skills Fund supported projects demonstrates the scale of opportunity that the funding can provide.
Eye Film and Television Limited received £15,000 from the Hornsea 3 Skills Fund to run the region’s first-ever STEM Film Academy at Norwich Research Park.
The Academy brought 20 students aged 16 to 24 together for an intensive five-day course focused on documentary filmmaking. Students learned interview techniques, filming, editing and production, and created four short documentaries showcasing groundbreaking scientific work taking place at the park.
Interest was high, with 45 young people applying for the 20 available places. The films were screened at the John Innes Conference Centre and will also be shown publicly at Cinema City in Norwich.
Charlie Gauvain, Development Producer at Eye Film and Television Limited, said:
“Thanks to the support from the Ørsted Skills Funds, we were able to run the first-ever STEM Film Academy at Norwich Research Park. Twenty students took part in an intensive five-day programme, producing four short documentaries that highlight the stories behind the remarkable science taking place here. This opportunity simply would not have been possible without the grant.”
How to Apply
Ready to make a difference? The 2026 Skills Fund rounds are now open, closing to applications on Friday 27 March 2026. Full eligibility details, guidance materials and online application forms are available on GrantScape’s website: www.grantscape.org.uk
Organisations are encouraged to apply early and discuss project ideas with GrantScape if they are unsure about eligibility or alignment with fund priorities.
