From Binns to Big Jobs: Hartlepool Plans £13.8m Trades Academy
- Mar 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 7
Hartlepool’s £13.8m Plan to Train the Next Generation of Nuclear Workers
6th March 2026
Plans have been unveiled for a new Trades Academy in Hartlepool aimed at training local people for skilled jobs in the growing nuclear and clean-energy sectors.
Hartlepool Borough Council's announced proposals for a Nuclear and Electrical Trades Academy, developed in partnership with Centrica, X-energy, Hartlepool College of Further Education and the Hartlepool Development Corporation. The academy is intended to equip residents with the technical skills needed to work in industries such as nuclear energy, engineering and electrical trades.
The council's said to have committed £13.8 million pounds to help create the facility, which is planned for the former Binns department store building in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre. If formally approved, the academy would provide hands-on training facilities alongside classroom learning, helping students gain practical experience in electrical and engineering trades. Training programmes are expected to include technical qualifications alongside support in core skills such as maths and English, helping people move into skilled employment.
Preparing for future nuclear investment
Supporters say the academy could play a key role in preparing Hartlepool’s workforce for future investment in nuclear power and other clean-energy projects. Energy companies involved in the partnership are currently exploring opportunities for new nuclear technology in the UK, including potential projects in Hartlepool. Local leaders believe creating a specialist training hub in the town will ensure residents are well-placed to benefit from future job opportunities as the sector expands. The academy would also strengthen Hartlepool College of Further Education’s role in delivering specialist training for the energy and engineering industries.
If the plans move forward, the project could help position Hartlepool as a major centre for energy skills and training in the North East.
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