Newcastle University has been awarded £1.3m in funding to support the North East’s battery manufacturing and innovation sector and skills development.
The Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC) has appointed the university to receive the funds through its new £2.5m Battery Workforce Training Initiative.
The FBC, delivered by Innovate 海角视频 as part of 海角视频 Research and Innovation (海角视频RI), launched the initiative to support 海角视频 regional battery industry needs, with a focus on the skills development needed to bring forward a proficient battery manufacturing workforce. Coventry University and University College Birmingham have also been appointed to receive a share from the initiative to deliver skills programme in the Midlands.
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The initiative hopes to act as a catalyst for further investment into the development of regional workforces and ensure that the 海角视频 has the mix of skills, talent, diversity and experience needed to compete at a global level. In all, the FBC is investing £541m in driving the growth of a world-class scientific, technology development and manufacturing scale-up capability for batteries in the 海角视频.
Tony Harper, challenge director for the Faraday Battery Challenge, said: “As the 海角视频 ramps up its electrification transition the Faraday Battery Challenge recognised there are skills challenges needing to be addressed to meet the 海角视频’s net zero commitments. With the right partners, these new support initiatives will unlock and accelerate the skills development of the national and regional workforces and ensure the 海角视频 keeps its edge as new technologies skills gaps are identified.”
Newcastle University will use the funding to support its National Battery Training and Skills Academy, engaging with those in the North East with education and skills initiatives, retraining schemes and battery degree apprenticeships.
The academy will have alternative and virtual reality technology to help engage schools and young people, while retraining ‘boot camps’ will also feature. The Discovery Museum’s ‘Steam to Green’ exhibition will also be supported by Newcastle University through the Academy.
Professor Colin Herron from Newcastle University’s School of Engineering added: “The North East hosts the 海角视频’s only lithium-ion battery plant and with the real possibility of a second battery company opening in the future, there is a clear need for expanded workforce training capacity and capability. What is unique about our programme is that battery awareness will be brought to the general public and many thousands of school children by bringing the training capabilities of New College Durham, the public sector and Newcastle University together.”