Powering a Green Revolution in the North East
Imagine a region that’s not just churning out cars and houses, but also churning out thousands of green jobs—that’s what the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is cooking up in the energy sector. Andrew Clark, the Energy Programme Lead, says the news is not just good; it’s electrifying for the local economy.
Surveying the New Energy Hub
- Hundreds of fresh roles are being added at Northern Gas and Power (NGP), which is moving into its brand‑new Riga HQ.
- The 30,000‑square‑foot waterfront office is a £2 million splash on the Tyne – a place where the company is busy racing ahead in procurement and power‑management.
- NGP already has announced plans to recruit an extra 100 positions across the coming months, as it ramps up its expansion.
- Thanks to a £150,000 grant from the LEP’s Energy for Growth Fund, the Riga project is getting the kick‑start it needs.
- The LEP’s mantra? “Energy is the bedrock for jobs and prosperity, so let’s make the North East the UK’s green heart.”
From a One‑Person Start‑up to a 750‑Strong Powerhouse
Founded in 2013 by Fokhrul Islam, NGP exploded from a single person to 140 staff by 2017, then grew worldwide to France, Texas, Malta, and India. Their 30 TWh of energy assets now dwarf Ireland’s entire annual consumption—talk about scales!
Garbent for the future, Brendan Garvey, NGP’s Chief People Officer, says, “We’re adding a hundred more jobs—yep, that’s a lot of buzzing energy around us.” It’s like watching a rocket launch, but with more smiles and less anxiety.
Smash‑Open Stats and Real‑Time Giggles
- From 40 employees in 2015 to 750+ today.
- Moving into Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter shows a “no‑limits” attitude.
- “Staggering growth since we moved six years ago,” says Councillor Malcolm Brain. He also rant‑ed about how the Cambridge‑style Office is going to help Gateshead become the best place to work.
All this electrifying momentum is set against a backdrop of offshore power, EVs, batteries, and low‑carbon tech—the very ingredients that make the region the UK’s go‑to hub for green innovation.
Why It Matters
Andrew Clark reminds us, “Job expansion in the energy sector is as crucial as plugging a charger into a dead phone.” With the new jobs cementing the North East’s role as a major strategic player in the UK’s green dream, it’s not just a win for the economy but also for the planet.
So, whether you’re in Gateshead or just hearing about it from a friend, know that the city’s power‑up is real – and it’s giving us a reason to cheer for a cleaner, greener future.
