A new East of England offshore wind Cluster Forum has been launched to promote the region’s centre of excellence status and place at the core of the global industry.
The cluster’s purpose is to raise awareness of the capability and innovation in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire in order to win new investors, develop expertise, and export homegrown skills and services to the international market.
One of the Cluster’s first actions will be to attract businesses to participate in a work experience programme, starting early in 2022.
It will showcase the diverse, varied, career and work experience opportunities to attract more people into the industry.
The cluster’s first report, supported and published by Vattenfall, defines the purpose of the cluster to place the region at the forefront of the skills development for the global offshore wind industry.
More than 160 people joined the first cluster event in Lowestoft in September, organised by Vattenfall and the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).
Voting is now underway now for the cluster’s first chair and vice chair, which will be announced on 12 November.
The new appointees will be tasked with creating a long-term strategy and plan to attract further investment and opportunity.
Vattenfall UK country manager and co-chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council Danielle Lane said: “Offshore wind is a globally competitive industry and we want the East of England to be recognised as a centre of excellence, attracting investment and demand for the skills and innovation which the region offers.
“For this to happen, we need a strong, unified voice which can bang the drum for East Anglia to attract investment, boost skills, and create jobs.”
EEEGR chair Martin Dronfield said: “The East of England has achieved incredible progress in the offshore wind industry and has enormous potential, but is often accused of hiding its light under a bushel, getting on with the job rather than shouting about its innovation, excellence, expertise and knowledge.
“It has built on its heritage from maritime and offshore oil and gas to be at the forefront of this exciting renewable sector since it began when Scroby Sands offshore wind farm was built off Great Yarmouth in 2007.
“The cluster will grasp this opportunity to put the region in its rightful place as a global leader, to entice investors and take skills honed here across the world to developing markets, like the US and Taiwan.”