Freeport case study: Accessing the skills to make sustainable growth sustainable
Freeports are powerful tools to foster sustainable economic growth and provide long-term job and skills opportunities.
Freeports are instrumental in addressing economic and environmental challenge by facilitating the transition to new, future-oriented sectors. This case study explores how Freeports are fostering the development of local and UK skills bases in green industries, ultimately enabling better training opportunities and well-paid jobs for local communities.
- Freeports cultivate green skills: Freeports play a pivotal role in nurturing local skills in green sectors, ensuring the creation of sustainable job opportunities.
- Access to local green skills: Freeports are actively working to develop and enhance local green skills, including energy, transport, and logistics, through initiatives such as the Clean Growth Fund.
- Tailored job-skills programmes: Freeports are harnessing their convening power to collaborate with higher and further education institutions, as well as industry partners, to tailor job skills programmes that align with employer priorities.
Freeport East: This Freeport, known for its offshore wind hub, has established a Net Zero Skills Centre with dedicated facilities to support green technology training. The centre, funded by the UK Government and the Clean Growth Fund, offers training in areas like hybrid/EV maintenance, renewable energy generation, and heating technologies.
Teesside Freeport: The Teesworks Skills Academy plays a crucial role in supporting local employment. It identifies local talent, provides training, and connects talent with Teesside businesses. The Academy maintains a database of over 4,000 individuals matched with recruiting businesses and helps local people take advantage of the new jobs and opportunities linked to the Teesworks site either directly or through the supply chain. Through its network of training providers, it can offer free training from entry level through to specialist industry skills.
Freeports are more than just economic zones; they are catalysts for positive change and sustainable growth. By fostering local and UK skills bases in green industries, Freeports are driving investment, industrial development, and employment opportunities. Their unique convening power ensures that the skills development initiatives are closely aligned with the needs of local employers, fostering an environment of sustainable growth and prosperity for communities across the UK.