20th October 2025 in Community News
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is helping to prepare young people for careers in a net zero world by awarding 30 additional scholarships, each worth £5,000, to students from coastal communities across the North and North-East of England.
These grants will help support students from South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and East Riding of Yorkshire as they pursue further education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) subjects.
With this second round, a total of 123 scholarships has now been awarded, contributing to the wind farm’s broader £25 million community investment fund.
The Scholarship Fund prioritises areas central to the project: East Riding of Yorkshire and Redcar and Cleveland (where the wind farm connects to the National Grid) and South Tyneside (home to the future Operation and Maintenance Base).
The recipients are studying a wide range of STEM courses, from Computer Science and Natural Science to various engineering degrees like Energy Engineering that directly support the push toward a net zero future.
Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, expressed her support:
“We are delighted to be able to make a real difference to students in our region through a scholarship that tackles the immediate living costs around university. It’s always amazing to see the range of skills these young people are developing across STEM subjects, helping to build the knowledge we need for a greener future.’
The financial support is already easing the burden on recipients, allowing them to focus on their studies.
Thomas Chantry from Hull, studying Physics at The University of Hull noted:
“A course like physics is very content heavy and if I’m not in a lecture then I am doing assignments or reading up on lectures to help develop my understanding of the course, so this scholarship will mean I will have more time for this as on a weekend I travel home to work as university life is not cheap.
“I would 100% advise people to apply for the Dogger Bank Scholarship programme. Applying was very easy, and the scholarship is a great opportunity which does not only support your studies, but it also connects you with a project making a difference in our community.”
Sophie Jennings from South Shields, Studying Computer Science at Newcastle University, said:
“It feel great to get this scholarship from a project based in South Shields, where I’m from. It’s really good that local people are getting the opportunity to be able to focus on their degrees, to pursue what they want to do in the future. would definitely tell anyone to go for it and apply for this scholarship.”
16th October 2025 in Community News
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is delighted to announce that its community fund has been highly commended at the RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind Awards. This recognition celebrates the significant commitment Dogger Bank Wind Farm has to creating a long lasting, positive benefit to the communities in which it operates.
The Dogger Bank Community Fund is investing £25 million during the operational lifespan of the project, working with education providers to support the development of skills needed for the future of green energy. The fund is also committed to making sure the coastal communities closest to our construction and operational bases directly benefit from our innovative development.
Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, expressed her pride in the achievement:
“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition at the Global Offshore Wind Awards. It truly reflects our team’s dedication and the fantastic partnerships we’ve built with local groups. Seeing the tangible difference our Community Fund makes in people’s lives is immensely rewarding, and we look forward to continuing this vital work throughout the life of the project.”
Further information about the Dogger Bank community fund and information on how to apply for grants and scholarships can be found here: www.doggerbank.com/about/community/
A full list of Dogger Bank’s accolades is available here https://doggerbank.com/about/our-awards/
8th September 2025 in Events
Are you between the ages of 14 and 18 and fascinated by space? Here’s your chance to turn that curiosity into a real-world experience.
The CubeSat Challenge is an exciting opportunity for young space enthusiasts to design their very own CubeSat satellites. Participants will get an exclusive chance to collaborate with actual NASA astronauts on their designs.
Supported by Dogger Bank Wind Farm, this unique, week-long event runs from October 27-31. You’ll work on cutting-edge space technology and gain hands-on experience that could shape your future.
Ready to launch your future into space? Sign up now to join the challenge at http://uknsp.com and get ready to innovate.
26th August 2025 in Press releases, Project news
- Joint venture developers SSE and Equinor finalise seabed lease with The Crown Estate to progress Dogger Bank D offshore wind project, following establishment of terms last year.
- This allows capacity of Dogger Bank C lease area to be maximised, unlocking up to 1.5GW of additional renewable electricity capacity from the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
- Dogger Bank D is a proposed fourth phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction – and can make the world’s biggest offshore wind farm even bigger.
- SSE and Equinor each own 50% of the proposed Dogger Bank D development.
SSE and Equinor have finalised a seabed lease with The Crown Estate to progress the Dogger Bank D offshore wind project.
This marks the latest important milestone in the development of a proposed fourth phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm currently in construction off the coast of England in the North Sea.
The lease allows Dogger Bank D’s 50:50 joint venture shareholders SSE Renewables and Equinor to maximise the potential renewable electricity generation capacity from the eastern portion of the existing Dogger Bank C seabed lease area, located around 210km off the Yorkshire coast.
Delivery of Dogger Bank D is subject to it securing a Development Consent Order as well as a final investment decision by partners SSE Renewables and Equinor.
A fourth phase has the future potential to unlock an additional 1.5GW in renewable electricity capacity at Dogger Bank for Britain’s energy system and would make the world’s biggest offshore wind farm even bigger.
Developers SSE Renewables and Equinor previously established terms for Dogger Bank D with The Crown Estate in July 2024. Implementation of these commercial terms was subject to the conclusion earlier this year of the plan-Level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) associated with The Crown Estate’s wider Capacity Increase Programme. Dogger Bank D will work collaboratively with The Crown Estate and other stakeholders to deliver the environmental compensation and mitigation required by the lease.
The Dogger Bank D project recently concluded its eight-week statutory consultation during which project proposals were presented to the public. These include plans for up to 113 installed offshore wind turbines on fixed bottom foundations as well as up to two offshore substation platforms at the 262km2 seabed site. Also proposed is associated export and inter-array subsea cabling connecting with onshore infrastructure in East Riding of Yorkshire for transmission of the electricity generated by the wind farm to Britain’s national grid.
Steve Wilson, Director of Offshore Development and Construction, SSE Renewables said:
“We’re delighted to have finalised an amendment to the existing Dogger Bank C seabed lease agreement with The Crown Estate to unlock additional clean energy potential from the site’s existing seabed lease. In amending the lease in this innovative way, we’ve taken significant strides to progress Dogger Bank D as a proposed fourth phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction, Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
“Concluding this process is testament to the shared innovation of shareholders SSE and Equinor along with The Crown Estate to enable a framework that allows us to increase the generation capacity potential of the site. We look forward to continuing Dogger Bank D’s progression as a nationally significant offshore wind project for the UK and building on our vision to the make the world’s biggest offshore wind farm even bigger.”
Melissa Read, Head of Regional Development – UK Renewables, Equinor, said:
“Reaching this milestone for the Dogger Bank D development provides future opportunity to unlock more value and volume from the world’s largest offshore wind farm whilst building on our expertise and presence in the North East of England.
“The UK is a core strategic market for Equinor and Dogger Bank D demonstrates how there is the potential to further develop our future UK portfolio by having the opportunity to increase future value from quality existing assets. We look forward to maturing the project further with SSE and continue to support the UK’s offshore wind and net zero ambitions.”
Gus Jaspert CMG, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said:
“As one of the world’s largest offshore windfarms in construction, Dogger Bank showcases the UK’s global position in deploying this vital technology to deliver clean and secure energy for millions of people. This new approach to increase capacity on the existing windfarm site that The Crown Estate has agreed with Equinor and SSE, through Dogger Bank D, will enable more communities to benefit from the energy it creates and the jobs it supports.
“As with all developments, we carefully consider the important responsibility to balance the needs of energy and nature and have embedded environmental compensation measures agreed by the Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero into our leasing for this windfarm. As development of our leading Marine Delivery Routemap continues, this collaborative approach will support future prioritisation decisions and avoid nature impacts as much as possible.”
Dogger Bank D is one of seven UK offshore wind farm projects with existing seabed leasing agreements that have been identified for potential generating capacity increases as part of The Crown Estate’s Capacity Increase Programme to unlock up to 4.7GW of potential new green electricity production.
A Statutory Consultation with community members in East Riding of Yorkshire and with stakeholders recently concluded on the offshore and onshore proposals for Dogger Bank D as well as on the outcomes of preliminary environmental assessments. Feedback from this consultation process will help inform the development of a final application for a Development Consent Order which is expected to be submitted by SSE Renewables and Equinor to The Planning Inspectorate in due course.
ENDS
About Dogger Bank D
Dogger Bank D is being developed as a proposed up to 1.5GW fourth phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm by a 50 / 50 joint venture between SSE and Equinor, two of the world’s leading companies in the development and operation of offshore wind energy. Both companies were involved in the design and planning consent of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which is currently under construction in the North Sea.
Dogger Bank was awarded rights in The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 3 and is currently under construction in three 1.2GW phases: A, B and C. Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%).
18th August 2025 in Community News
The Building Our Futures programme, a STEM-focused primary careers-learning initiative funded by Dogger Bank Wind Farm, recently marked its third year of remarkable success at a celebratory event held at Redcar & Cleveland College. Since its inception, the programme has supported over ten thousand young people with future career guidance.
This pioneering programme is dedicated to embedding comprehensive careers education into every primary school across Redcar and Cleveland. It achieves this through engaging school workshops and the invaluable support of local employers. Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) delivers the programme, with strategic guidance and support from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
The recent celebration brought together employers, partners, and schools, providing an opportunity for programme leaders to highlight the significant achievements over the past three years, building on a successful pilot programme in 2021-22.
Since its inception, the Building Our Futures team, in collaboration with local employers, has worked with the vast majority of schools in Redcar and Cleveland.
These young people have gained crucial skills and knowledge essential for the future workforce. In total, 64 individual companies, with over 100 dedicated colleagues, have devoted their time to support employer engagement initiatives.
The Building Our Futures initiative has seen remarkable success by building impactful links between local employers and schools, providing young people with realistic career aspirations and tangible pathways to employment. The programme focusses on connecting students with a diverse range of local employers, ensuring that the job opportunities presented are genuinely attainable within their communities.
The programme supports participating schools by delivering six comprehensive modules focused on career learning and essential skills development. Beyond curriculum, the initiative provides strategic and operational support, featuring regular termly Career Champion networks, dedicated staff training and mentoring for Career Champions, engaging STEM events, valuable workplace visits and more.
Amanda Olvanhill, Head of Employability at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said:
“We are very proud of the Building our Futures programme in Redcar and Cleveland, and it is so well embedded with our primary schools, it has been wonderful to see so many children benefitting from the programme each year and learning about the fantastic career opportunities on their doorstep.”
Jacqui Hutchinson, Education, Employment and Skills, Primary Careers Co-ordinator, Building our Futures, said:
“On behalf of Redcar & Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency, it is an honour to deliver the Building our Futures programme to primary and SEND schools in Redcar and Cleveland. Its success is testament to the commitment of our Business network to give back to their communities, our Education networks to finding the best opportunities for their students and to the determination and energy of the young people we are privileged to serve.
“The programme would not have been possible without the investment provided by Dogger Bank Wind Farm and the engagement of its supply chain in our Business network, the strategic support provided by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, and the commitment our schools have to enriching the educational experience of their pupils.
As we move into our fourth year of delivery, we are celebrating the achievements of more than ten thousand young people whose aspirations have been meaningfully changed by engaging with Building our Futures, we are working closely with partners to co-design a sustainable future for the programme moving forward.”
Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“What really makes a difference to this programme is how local employers and businesses are at the heart of it. This is what makes the career learning so real to the children – and also shows how their ambitions can really happen, with opportunities that are in their area. It’s easy as a business to say that young people don’t engage, it’s not as easy to go and do something about it. This is why we are so impressed by and appreciative of all the employers that make this programme happen.”
Earlier this year, the Building our Futures Programme was recognised at the Northern Echo Business IQ awards, winning the Community Impact Award.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has been a key supporter of the program, providing not only funding and resources but also demonstrating a strong commitment to employer engagement with schools through its diverse supply chain partnerships.
The project is dedicated to establishing a long-term legacy in the communities where we work and build, promoting STEM education and career opportunities, and creating community growth by investing in people and organisations.
Last year, Dogger Bank Wind Farm announced the next phase of its community fund, committing £25 million to be used in the North and North East of England throughout the operational phase of the wind farm. This phase builds on the £1 million community fund set up during the construction phase of Dogger Bank.
Businesses interested in supporting the next generation can get involved with the Building Our Futures programme by visiting https://www.buildingourfutures.org.uk/contact-us/.
