Our network in the north-west of England took centre stage recently as Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, visited key sites in Merseyside and Manchester to see first-hand how investment is driving skills, jobs and growth across the region.
Mr Esterson, who is also MP for Sefton Central, began his visit at Hoylake House, our principal training centre for Merseyside and North Wales. The centre delivers everything from entry-level craft and engineering programmes to advanced electrical training, supporting more than 100 local employees and 300 supply chain contractors working across the Liverpool City Region.
He met some of the 49 SP Energy Networks trainees currently undergoing training at Hoylake, with a further 35 set to join the business this month – a clear sign of our commitment to building a skilled local workforce.
Nicola Connelly, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said, “Electricity demand is set to double over the next 25 years, and that means transforming a network that was largely built in the 1960s and 70s. The apprentices and trainees we’re investing in today will be the ones delivering that transformation – building substations, installing cables, replacing overhead lines and upgrading equipment. It was fantastic to showcase that work to the Chair and the Committee.”
The visit continued at SP Electricity North West’s control room in Manchester, where Mr Esterson saw how skilled engineers manage the network to ensure a safe and reliable electricity supply for homes and businesses across the region.
He met with Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Trubshaw and Asset and Investment Director Paul Killilea to discuss SP Electricity North West’s £2bn investment programme and the role of new technologies in improving network performance and speeding up restoration times.
Mr Esterson said, “Modern, safe and resilient electricity networks are vital to the UK’s energy future, and it’s been great to see the positive impact of investment here in the north-west. Growing a skilled workforce and building domestic supply chains will be key to delivering clean power, and ScottishPower is clearly making a real difference for local people and businesses.”
Stephanie Trubshaw added, “In the North West, we put customers at the heart of everything we do. That means providing the support they need to meet their energy needs, and continuing to invest in technologies that reduce bills without requiring any change in behaviour. The benefits are clear, and we were proud to share our progress with the Committee Chair.”