£160m government offshore wind commitment will boost jobs and investment in North East, says NOF

George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF, the UK business development organisation for the energy sector, has welcomed the government’s commitment to offshore wind and the announcement by the Prime Minister to invest £160m in ports and factories to support the sector.

This funding will provide a boost to North East England, which has become a hub for wind energy activity with a highly active and experienced supply chain cluster.

George Rafferty said: “The government’s announcement demonstrates the increasing importance of offshore wind to the UK’s energy requirements and its economy and creates a real opportunity to deliver further investment and jobs to the North East.

“The region is well-placed to support the growth of the industry, based on its industrial heritage and the role it has played in offshore wind from the very outsight. As a result, the North East has the skills, capabilities within a strong cluster of companies that can deliver on the government’s net-zero ambitions.

“NOF is working closely with the developers of offshore wind farms and their main contractors to develop opportunities for UK companies, including the large cluster in the North East, to secure work from this burgeoning sector.  This latest announcement will enable investment into infrastructure and facilities that will be a catalyst to more sustainable job creation and strengthen the North East’s position as a hub for offshore wind, both in the UK and for markets around the world.”

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