• Project Leader: Dr Fiona Whitehurst
• Staff: Dr Natalie Kruse
• Sponsors: ESRC
• Partners: Sir Joseph Swan Institute

Dr Fiona Whitehurst from KITE and Dr Natalie Kruse from the Sir Joseph Swan Institute have been successful in attracting Economic and Social Research Council funding for a seminar to explore innovative ways of engaging employers in the skills agenda. The seminar will be aimed at the energy sector in the North East of England. One NorthEast, the regional development agency for the North East of England, has identified energy as one of three key areas for development over the next 20 years, with the potential to gerenerate around £2bn of new economic growth for the region's economy. Already estimated to be worth around £900m, the energy sector is also one of the most productive sectors in the region, employing around 30,000 people and with more than £6bn currently being invested in novel energy projects over the next few years. There has been significant investment in new energy and process industry infrastructure, including major bioenergy, carbon capture and renewables projects. ONE has invested over £100m in recent years and public sector investment will continue; ONE has committed a further £100m of public funds to energy R&D over the next five years.

The Sir Joseph Swan Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute within Newcastle University which provides the focus for internationally renowned energy related research across the University and incorporates researches from 11 academic schools (including Newcastle University Business School) in natural science; social science and engineering.

For further information about this seminar please click energy.