For Immediate Release
The Faraday Battery Challenge, led by Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation, is a project aimed at building a top-tier battery industry in the UK. With a £610 million budget, it utilises the UK's best talents to tackle the complexities of battery technology.
Funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge (Faraday Battery Challenge is delivered by Innovate UK), the academy will support the North East’s rapidly expanding EV battery industry. Sunderland based AESC, which owns and operates the UK’s only EV battery gigafactory, are the Academy’s industry partner and will use the centre to upskill hundreds of staff and potential recruits.
The project will see the company share over a decade of EV battery manufacturing experience with the Academy, which has already seen the creation of a specialist battery fundamental bootcamp. Nine AESC staff have completed teaching qualifications to allow them to deliver course modules covering the latest industry developments.
Thomas Bartlett, Deputy Director - Faraday Battery Challenge at Innovate UK, said
“One of the main aims of the Faraday Battery Challenge is to empower partnerships such as this, to train and develop the next generation of innovators in this ever-growing industry.
During her visit to the academy, the mayor spent time with staff and students along with representatives of the partnership that generated this latest development.
“The North East is at the cusp of a new era of jobs and prosperity in the industries of the future, with huge potential in sectors such as battery tech, electric vehicles and offshore. As Mayor I’m determined the next generation of workers will have access to the jobs, training, and opportunities we’re creating so we become the home of real opportunity. That means a strong partnership between industry and education working together, and I'm delighted to see how New College Durham are working with employers to create train a highly skilled, well-paid workforce - proudly making things right here in the North East."
“AESC has built a reputation for high quality batteries made to the highest safety standards. Fundamental to this achieving this has been the investment we have made in skills and training our staff over the past decade.
Andy Broadbent, Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham added
“With the correct levels of research and training, electric vehicles and the EV battery environment can provide huge opportunities for innovation, and growth particularly here in the North East. It is our aim to ensure that students at the National Battery Training & Skills Academy not only make themselves more employable in this growing industry, but that they strive to seek innovative solutions to any problems they encounter.
I am immensely proud that, through partnership working with Newcastle University, New College Durham is now well positioned to play a leading role in generating innovative and sustainable technologies.”
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Notes for Editors
Image 5 L-R Professor René Koglbauer, Dean of Lifelong Learning and Professional Practice at Newcastle University, Andy Broadbent, Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham, Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, Alison Maynard, Deputy Principal of New College Durham and Jeff Pratt, Head of UK Operations at AESC
About New College Durham (NCD)
New College Durham is a further and higher education college in Durham city. The college is a catalyst for positive change, driving social, economic, and environmental transformation. NCD inspires individuals of all abilities to unlock their full potential, igniting their careers and enriching our communities. Its commitment to delivering high quality professional, technical, and lifelong education empowers people to shape a better, brighter future.
The college strives to be a trailblazer in both Further and Higher Education and celebrated for exceptional skills training and academic excellence. NCD aims to be a beacon of innovation and quality, recognised not just in the North East Combined Authority (NECA) region, but throughout the UK and across the globe.
About the Faraday Battery Challenge
The FBC seeks to address market failures in road transport decarbonisation and to attract investors to the UK's battery industry. By leveraging scientific strength, with our delivery partners: Faraday Institution, UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and Innovate UK, we are building an ecosystem that supports industry growth and ensures UK prosperity.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and easy to navigate.
About UK Research and Innovation
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of around £8bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK, and Research England.
We operate across the whole country and work with our many partners in higher education, research organisations, businesses, government, and charities.
Our vision is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally, and internationally.
Our mission is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.
Learn more about UKRI: https://www.ukri.org/
About AESC
AESC is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries for zero-emission electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Founded in Japan in 2007 and headquartered in Yokohama, AESC has been building manufacturing capabilities around the world in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Japan, and China to serve key markets and leading customers locally for over 14 years. Today, AESC has become the partner of choice for the world’s leading OEMs and energy storage providers in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its advanced technology powers over one million electric vehicles and provides battery energy systems in over 60 countries. AESC is currently constructing its second UK gigafactory at its Sunderland site and will employ over 1,000 people in the UK when the 15.8 GWh Plant 2 is fully operational.