Experts in Subsea and Renewables Education
New Energy Campus
The Energy Academy was established in 2012 to enable Newcastle College to work in partnership with industry and develop specialist qualifications (including Higher Technical Qualifications) tailored to the needs of businesses operating in the offshore, subsea, renewables and wider energy supply chain sectors.
Over the past decade, the Energy Academy has gone from strength to strength and in 2025, it reaches a significant milestone, marked by major investment to create an Energy Campus - new space, facilities and equipment that will support the North East to become the home of the green energy revolution.
Next Event
4,500
Jobs forecast in Tyne offshore energy over 10 years
£8.48m
Investment for a new Newcastle College Energy Campus
24,000+
North East offshore energy jobs expected by 2035
Investment into a new Energy Campus
An £8.48m investment for the expansion of Newcastle College's Energy Academy has been approved by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Combined Authority Cabinet, in a move which will help thousands of young people to get the skills needed to find jobs and careers in the region’s fast growing green energy sector.
Read moreTimeline
From our initial award in June 2025, to a fully operational site delivering a full range of qualifications from V Levels and T Levels to Higher Technical Qualifications, this exciting programme is being developed with the needs of our industry partners and the business community at its heart.
The main milestones for the development:
-
Announcement of investment June 2025
-
Start of building works February 2026
-
Completion of building August 2026
-
Start of internal works September 2026
-
Completion of project August 2027
-
Campus opens September 2027
Development Plan
Artists impression of the new Energy Campus.
Energy Academy
Newcastle College's award-winning Energy Academy is situated on the banks of the River Tyne in Wallsend, in the heart of the region's energy sector.
The Academy is recognised as a leading training provider in the North East and built to train students for a career in the renewable and offshore sector, it prepares students for one of the fastest growing industries in the North East. It provides unique opportunities to gain practical, hands-on experience in world-class facilities, along with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in their future career.
Facilities
-
A world-leading Immersive Hybrid Reality (iHR) training system
-
MMA, MIG and TIG welding bays
-
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software
-
Plasma cutting and engineering workshops
-
Wind turbine testing
-
Solar panel testing
-
Solar photovoltaic systems
-
Autonomous inspection robot
-
Industrial drone
-
Subsea inspection ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle)
Alumni
Our Energy Academy alumni go on to achieve incredible things, building successful careers and making a real impact in industry.
Thomas Anderson is a great example - after studying Energy Engineering at Newcastle College, he’s now working as a QHSE Coordinator at Shepherd Offshore Group.
Watch the video to hear Thomas share his journey and how the Energy Academy helped him get there.
Industry Partners
The Energy Academy's strong links with employers are at the heart of everything we do. We work closely with industry partners to shape our courses, ensuring our students develop the skills, knowledge and experience that employers are actively looking for.
One example of this is our partnership with Smulders, a leading offshore manufacturer. Together, we designed and delivered a Welding Skills Bootcamp to address real skills shortages in the industry, giving learners the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and progress directly into employment.
Watch the video to see how this collaboration is creating opportunities.
