Tees Valley firms pledge 2.5 million for social and environmental projects

NZT Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership have announced a joint social investment strategy for the Tees Valley, committing 2.5 million pounds in cash to support local communities. The two key enablers of the East Coast Cluster aim to deliver lasting benefits through targeted spending across four primary areas, including education outreach, pathways into employment, and community resilience. The initiative also prioritises sustainability and diversity, specifically through a partnership with the Tees Valley Nature Partnership to fund an access to nature initiative at Coatham Marsh.

Coatham Marsh is a 54-hectare site of special scientific interest in Redcar, managed by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. The employment pathway scheme is designed to expand local skills training by gifting apprenticeship levy, providing funded training in high-demand technical trades, and creating direct recruitment routes into NZT Power and its supply chain. This approach is supported by education outreach activities, such as STEM workshops, career guidance, and teacher development across Tees Valley schools. These efforts build on more than 380 classroom hours already delivered with Technip Energies, the project’s EPC contract consortium leader.

The plan was formally unveiled at the launch of Secure Roots, a new school programme delivered in partnership with Spark Aspirations to bridge the employment gap in the industry. The social investment also extends to primary education, with every primary school in the Tees Valley set to receive fully funded access to the Spark digital careers platform. This new commitment is in addition to 2 million pounds in previous social investment pledges by NZT Power and NEP, which included the Tees Valley net zero industry scholarship programme and regional apprenticeship schemes.

Ian Hunter, boss of NZT Power, stated that Teesside is a historic industrial heartland and that the company is part of its next chapter. He emphasised the priority of ensuring project benefits are felt locally, from the present day through to the next generation. Hunter described the 2.5 million pound plan as a significant step in building skills, careers, and stronger communities across the region. Rich Denny, managing director of NEP, agreed, noting that creating infrastructure for net zero is about more than engineering projects. He highlighted the importance of investing in people and supporting communities to build a legacy for future generations. Denny said the funding would help address local priorities by creating opportunities for people to develop new skills and share in the long-term benefits of the projects.

NZT Power is positioned to be the core emitter for the East Coast Cluster, while NEP is building the transport and storage aspect of the track one winning project. Both projects are currently under construction. The gas turbine for the 742 MW gas-fired power station arrived on site last month. Offshore construction for NEP began over the summer, with the company aiming to secure a development consent order for the Humber network by early 2027.