Equinor

Equinor is the UK’s leading energy provider and supports the UK economy by investing billions in crucial energy infrastructure, working with over 700 suppliers across the country. They are one of many businesses to sign up to the South Tyneside Pledge.

Alongside its partners SSE Renewables and Eni, Equinor is building Dogger Bank Wind Farm, 130km off the North East coast.

Construction of the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base for Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the Port of Tyne has already positively impacted the region’s economy with over £7.5 million re-invested throughout North East England.

To date, over £4.4million has been spent within the South Tyneside Local Authority area with supply chain partners, including South Tyneside-based Castle Building Services Limited and Thompsons of Prudhoe Limited benefitting from the project.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm will enable the development of skills for the future of green energy by supporting 25,000 young people in 142 schools during the construction of the wind farm. Bespoke programmes are being delivered in schools across South Tyneside aimed at inspiring young people for a working life in a net-zero world.

Twenty five students from coastal communities in the north, specifically including South Tyneside, have already been supported in their education thanks to scholarships of £5,000 each from Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The Scholarship Fund provides grants to local students undertaking science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses in further education. A total of 62 scholarships being awarded during the construction of the wind farm.

Dogger Bank Operator Fund

Community groups in South Tyneside have also benefited from the Dogger Bank Operator Fund. This provides small grants to grassroots community projects to help enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and/or promote community spirit and encourage community activity.

Awards made to date in South Tyneside have included Bede’s Helping Hands Food Bank to set up a job search club; Bliss Ability for running community support group for people with depression; and Hedworthfield Community Association for outdoor seating. Wilby Rocs CIC received funding to deliver a community wellbeing day; Action Station received support for volunteer expense and Kayaks received support for a club for children with specialist needs.

Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager at Equinor said “The South Tyneside Pledge is a way to show our commitment to the local community.  Equinor will operate the windfarm for its 35-year lifetime and we are creating hundreds of new jobs in the area. As well as investing in our new facility, we want to support local businesses and to encourage our employees to explore the area and discover its many attractions. This is a great place to live and work and we are proud to support the pledge”.

Tom shared his experiences of working as part of the team behind the world’s biggest offshore wind farm in several Business Talks delivered by Invest South Tyneside.

Organisations, public and private, big, and small, can sign up at any time and become part of the Pledge South Tyneside network at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/southtynesidepledge