National Battery Training and Skills Academy officially opened

The National Battery Training and Skills Academy (NBTSA), a collaboration project between Newcastle University and New College Durham, has been officially opened by North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness.

Located at New College Durham the new academy and training facility will support workers in battery technology. The innovative facility is one of the first of its kind in the country and has been developed to provide the North East with the facilities to deliver training to the next generation of workers in battery technology.

Funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge, a programme delivered by Innovate UK, the academy is supporting workers and learners at Washington based battery manufacturer Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC.) Currently supplying Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, and Renault among others, over the past 13 years, AESC has produced power batteries for more than 950,000 EVs across 59 countries.

Regional battery hub

Professor Colin Herron from Newcastle University’s School of Engineering said:

“Having the NBTSA in the North East has been the catalyst for a lot more activity, in the skills and learning arena, both regionally and nationally. Regionally we have seen the Discovery Museum open their award-winning exhibition ‘Steam to Green’ which has, in its first 6 months, received over 70,000 members of the public and school children.

“New College Durham, a partner in the NBTSA, have installed their training equipment and trained hundreds of people in the battery Industry. The lead partner, Newcastle University, will be opening its training facility on the 6th of March to show case options for higher level training and its intent for a national battery training school. For the first time a battery skills framework has been produced from STEM to PhD with flexible learning routes.”

During her visit to the academy, the mayor spent time with staff and students along with representatives of the partnership that generated this latest development.

Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, said:

“The North East is at the cusp of a new era of jobs and prosperity in the industries of the future, with huge potential in sectors such as battery tech, electric vehicles and offshore. As Mayor I’m determined the next generation of workers will have access to the jobs, training, and opportunities we’re creating so we become the home of real opportunity. That means a strong partnership between industry and education working together, and I’m delighted to see how New College Durham are working with employers to create train a highly skilled, well-paid workforce – proudly making things right here in the North East.”