Plans have been unveiled for a skills academy that will bring back into use the historic former Binns building in Hartlepool.
A Memorandum of Understanding to develop a new Nuclear and Electrical Trades Academy was signed at a ceremony in Hartlepool Civic Centre, attended by Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson MP.
The agreement brings together Hartlepool Borough Council, Hartlepool Development Corporation, Hartlepool College of Further Education, Centrica PLC, X Energy and Jonathan Brash MP.
The partners are committed to working together on the development of the new academy.
Hartlepool Borough Council has committed £13.8 million of capital investment to bring back into use the Grade II listed former Binns building at the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, with the aim of turning an empty building into a centre for skilled work, decent wages and long-term opportunity, whilst also helping to revive the town centre.
The academy is closely linked to the major opportunity created by Centrica PLC’s partnership with X Energy to deliver 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, an investment that will create huge demand for skilled workers across nuclear, clean energy and construction.
(Left-right): Alistair Black, X-energy; Gary Riches, Hartlepool College of FE, Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson MP, Jonathan Brash MP, Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Robert Booker, Centrica plc; Denise McGuckin, Hartlepool Borough Council.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of Hartlepool Development Corporation who first came up with the idea for the academy, said: “When our MP Jonathan Brash secured this landmark nuclear deal, I was absolutely clear about one thing: Hartlepool must come first. A deal of this scale must deliver real jobs, real skills and real futures for the people who live here.
“That’s why, over the last six months, I’ve been personally driving this forward, bringing together X Energy, Centrica and our fantastic FE College to turn the vision of a trades academy into a reality. We’ve committed £13.8 million to transform the old Binns building, and I’ve worked to secure the backing needed to get this project over the line.
“This isn’t just another announcement; it’s a generational investment in Hartlepool’s future. It will open the door for local people to train for skilled, well-paid careers right here at home, while helping deliver the workforce Britain needs for the nuclear industries of tomorrow.
“Put simply: this is about making sure the biggest opportunities coming to our town are seized by Hartlepool people. And I’m proud to have led the charge to make it happen.”
Jonathan Brash MP said: “Last September we signed an historic deal to bring world-leading Advanced Modular Reactor technology to Hartlepool, a £12 billion investment, enough clean power for 1.5 million homes and 2,500 jobs. But from the very moment that deal was signed, I was clear about one thing: those must be Hartlepool jobs for Hartlepool people.
“Working in close partnership with the Leader of the Council, we have driven forward the creation of this new trades academy, linking industry giants like X Energy and Centrica with our brilliant FE College to build a pipeline of talent right here in our town.
“For too long Britain has talked a good game about skills while failing to train the workers the country actually needs. This academy is about changing that. If we are serious about rebuilding Britain, we need electricians, construction workers, welders and skilled technicians, the people who quite literally build the future, and I want Hartlepool to lead the way.
“Training on our doorstep, real opportunities linked directly to real employers, skills that will power our town and our country for decades to come.
“And by bringing the old Binns building back into use as a modern trades academy, we’re also showing what real regeneration looks like.
“Together, we have worked relentlessly to turn this vision into reality, combining a £12 billion national investment with a £13.8 million commitment to transform the Binns building into a centre for skills and opportunity. The result will be a legacy that lasts for generations.”
The academy will focus on hands-on technical training, with clear routes into apprenticeships and employment. It will train people in electrical installation, heating systems, fabrication, construction, low-carbon technologies and wider construction skills - the kinds of skills the country is crying out for and which employers often struggle to find. Strong literacy and numeracy will be built in as essentials, recognising that safety, quality and professionalism matter in nuclear, construction and energy industries.
Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, said: “I welcome the collaboration between Centrica and X-energy, alongside Hartlepool Development Corporation, Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool College of Further Education, to establish a Nuclear and Electrical Trades Academy in Hartlepool.
“This partnership brings together industry leadership, local government and further education in a way that directly supports the UK’s clean energy ambitions and the development of a highly skilled domestic workforce. By aligning investment in advanced modular nuclear technology with high-quality technical training, this proposal has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for local people, businesses and the wider economy.
“The Government strongly supports initiatives that connect major energy projects with skills, regeneration and opportunity, and I commend the parties for their commitment to working together in good faith to deliver a sustainable model for training, employment and growth for Hartlepool and the wider region.”
Gary Riches, Vice-Principal of Hartlepool FE College, said: “Hartlepool College of Further Education stands ready to deliver the knowledge, skills and qualifications that will make this trades academy a success. But technical training alone is not enough. The industries of the future need people with the right attitude, behaviours and confidence — individuals whose character shines through in the workplace.
“That blend of skill and personal development has been at the heart of what we do since 1849, and it’s why our learners go on to thrive in high‑demand, high‑skill sectors. We are proud to play our part in ensuring Hartlepool people are first in line for the opportunities this investment will unlock.”
Alistair Black, Vice President, X Energy said: “The nuclear industry runs on skilled people, and this academy will help provide a first-class workforce to support a new power station at Hartlepool. These will be real, long-term careers in a growing industry - high quality well-paid work that people can build a life around, close to home. That kind of opportunity can make a genuine and lasting difference to communities here. We’ll bring everything we know about our exciting Xe-100 technology to support the training, so that every person who comes through here leaves with qualifications that the whole industry will respect.”
Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive, Centrica PLC said: “Hartlepool has been at the heart of the UK’s nuclear success for more than half a century. Our aim is to ensure that the next generation of clean‑energy jobs stays rooted here too. This partnership is about giving young people the skills, confidence and pathways to build their futures in a sector that will support Britain for decades to come. We’ve got big ambitions for Hartlepool - not just to host new nuclear technology, but to become one of the UK’s leading centres for clean energy skills and training. That means real opportunities, real investment, and long‑term careers for local people as the town leads the next chapter of the UK’s energy story.”