“We’re proud to showcase the North East’s growing renewables cluster,” said Ashley Nicholson MBE as the Port of Tyne opened its gates to the UK’s first Clean Energy Jobs Fair on Thursday 11 December. Co‑hosted by the North East Mayor’s office and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the event drew more than a hundred school pupils and college students to meet employers, colleges and universities.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Industry Minister Chris McDonald toured the stands with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, speaking with young people about routes into well‑paid industrial work. Organisers say this is the first of a series to be staged nationwide, with the North East chosen given its record in clean energy-from Blyth launching the UK’s offshore wind industry 25 years ago to today’s training and research base.

Government expects up to 15,000 extra clean energy roles to land in the region over the next five years. The East Coast carbon capture cluster is forecast to directly support around 2,000 jobs locally, while the mayor’s office projects up to 24,000 roles by 2035 as projects move from planning to build and operations.

Training capacity is already in gear. Newcastle College’s Energy Academy in Wallsend runs subsea and renewables courses with employer‑led facilities, while on Teesside, Middlesbrough College and bp are shaping a new energy apprenticeship to train operations technicians for carbon capture and hydrogen.

Alongside the fair, Great British Energy opened a £300 million Supply Chain Fund to boost UK manufacturing of key offshore wind components and kit for enabling electricity networks. Applications are open until 10 December 2026, with grants drawn down between April 2026 and March 2030.

For those weighing up pay, the government’s plan lists 31 priority occupations-plumbers, electricians, welders among them-and says entry‑level roles in most clean energy trades pay roughly 23% more than the same jobs in other sectors.

The Port of Tyne’s 230‑acre Tyne Clean Energy Park, underpinned by more than £150 million of investment, is being positioned as a home for the cluster, offering space for manufacturers, engineers and service firms supporting offshore wind. The port argues this momentum can help put the North East on the map as a clean‑energy centre of excellence.

Employers including Siemens Energy, RWE, JDR Cables, Shepherd Offshore and National Grid used the fair to set out apprenticeship and graduate routes across operations, maintenance and project delivery. Siemens’ Darren Davidson, who began his own career as an apprentice in Newcastle, told students there has rarely been a better time to step into the sector.

There is a wider system shift under way too. This week Ofgem cleared early investment for three major electricity “superhighways”, intended to speed power from northern wind and the North Sea to where it’s needed-help that should ease grid bottlenecks holding back projects.

Ministers say further clean energy jobs fairs will follow across the UK. The Clean Energy Jobs Plan also confirms five Technical Excellence Colleges focused on clean energy, with selection processes running by the end of 2025 and delivery slated from April 2026, giving colleges and employers a short window to shape courses.