Dogger Bank Wind Farm launches community grants for 2026

29th January 2026 in Community News

• The Operator Fund community grants are available to community projects in South Tyneside, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Redcar and Cleveland.
• Dogger Bank Wind Farm provides £80,000 of funding to the Operator Fund each year.
• Each community grant will provide up to £1,000 of funding.

Community projects across South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and the East Riding of Yorkshire are invited to apply for the 2026 round of the Dogger Bank Operator Fund.

At Dogger Bank Wind Farm, we’re dedicated to empowering our local coastal communities. This year, £80,000 has been allocated to support grassroots initiatives.

Community projects and local organisations can now apply for grants of up to £1,000 at doggerbank.com/about/community

Investing in our local communities

The funding decisions are guided by a panel of experts from joint venture partners Equinor and SSE Renewables, alongside independent representatives from NOF, the business development organisation behind the North East’s offshore wind cluster, Energi Coast.

The Operator Fund is a core pillar of Dogger Bank’s £25 million community fund, designed to support coastal communities throughout the wind farm’s operational lifespan. In addition to this, the fund is working to enhance STEM education and develop skills for a net-zero future throughout its operational lifespan.

“We are incredibly proud to continue our support for the local projects that make these regions thrive,” says Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager. “From helping young people find their first career steps to installing solar lighting for village safety, these grants make a tangible difference. We look forward to seeing the innovative projects the 2026 applications will bring to the table.”

Neurokey, a community project from Redcar and Cleveland, said:

“We piloted the unique Specialist Community Navigator for neurodiverse young people in Redcar and with the help of Dogger Bank funding we were able to reach out to 20 parent carers who had been isolated and deemed not to fit access criteria for SEND support.  We liaised with 5 schools to improve understanding of the range of neurodivergence and lobbied the NE Integrated Care System to explain how poor professional knowledge was driving a negative life impact.”

The Walkington Ukulele Festival

Gary and Hazel Hughes, organisers of the Walkington Ukulele Festival in The East Riding of Yorkshire, said:

“The Walkington Ukulele Festival (WUF) 2025 was a huge success with over two hundred ukulele enthusiasts and music lovers attending from the local community and from across the UK.

“After all our efforts to deliver a successful Ukulele Festival we were thrilled that the Walkington Ukulele Festival was recently nominated for the ‘Community Event of the Year’ in the national Ukies Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars of the ukulele world.

“Furthermore, another positive impact of the festival is that a new Ukulele Group has been established at the local Walkington Primary School and our charity The Stephen Hughes Foundation has funded a class set of ukuleles.

“The grant from the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operator Fund was integral to delivering a successful festival and we are enormously thankful for the support provided.”

Bilton Hall Amateur Boxing Club

Marty Devlin from Bilton Hall Amateur Boxing Club in South Tyneside said:

“We are delighted with the new Ergo boxing gloves that we have purchased with the grant we received from the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operator Fund.

“The gloves used in Amateur boxing have to be well padded and of very good quality for safety purposes and are expensive.  A lot of our members find them unaffordable so when we heard about the fund we thought it may be a good idea to apply.  When we later heard we had been successful in our application we let our young boxers know and it was like an early Xmas present for them, they could not wait to wear them.”

Key Funding Details

Local organisations with a formal constitution can apply for grants to support projects that enhance the quality of life for residents near the wind farm’s grid connections and its operations and maintenance base.

Community grants can be used to enhance quality of life for local residents; contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities; and/or promote community spirit and encourage community activity.

About Dogger Bank Wind Farm

Located over 130km off the Yorkshire coast, Dogger Bank is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn. Once fully completed, it will generate enough renewable energy to power around six million UK homes. SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion. Vårgrønn brings specialist offshore wind expertise to the project.

How to Apply

Eligible community projects and local organizations can submit their applications via the official website here: doggerbank.com/about/community/

Dogger Bank Wind Farm and Seaway7 mark completion of all foundations on world’s largest offshore wind farm

27th November 2025 in Construction

Dogger Bank Wind Farm and delivery partner Seaway7 have installed all 277 transition pieces on Dogger Bank Wind Farm, marking the completion of all foundation installation work on the 3-phase offshore wind project in the North Sea.  

Seaway7’s heavy-lift vessel, Seaway Alfa-Lift installed the 87th and final transition piece onto its corresponding monopile foundation at Dogger Bank C, the third phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, in late November. This milestone followed the previous installation of 95 transition pieces at the Dogger Bank A and 95 at the Dogger Bank B phases of the project.  

In total, Seaway7 has installed 554 foundation assets on the wind farm, following successful installation of 277 monopiles earlier in the construction programme, utilising Seaway7’s heavy lift vessel Seaway Strashnov  

Alan Evans, Senior Project Manager on Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: 

“Today we’re celebrating the safe and successful installation of more than 500 foundation assets across the three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm over the last three years.  

“During this time, we’ve enjoyed a strong partnership with Seaway7 and its sub-suppliers who together, have navigated a hugely demanding and complex engineering challenge.  

“We now have the solid foundations in place to support our 277 generating assets that will make a significant contribution to a cleaner, more secure and affordable renewable-led energy system.” 

Bruce Willox, Project and Operations Director, Seaway7, said:   

“Installing the foundations for the world’s largest offshore wind farm is an enormous achievement. Over the three years, hundreds of components and over a thousand lifts have been completed – representing a phenomenal scale in offshore construction. Installing the full scope across all three project phases enabled us to optimise safety, performance, and efficiency. 

“This project demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnership, shared ambition, and the dedication of our skilled people working onshore and offshore. We are proud to have played a key role in the journey to delivering Dogger Bank Wind Farm and thank our client and partners for their trust and collaboration.” 

UK economy to receive £6.1 billion boost from the world’s largest offshore wind farm according to new report

6th November 2025 in Community News, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

An independent report published today reveals that Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm once fully operational, will boost the UK economy by £6.1 billion during its lifetime and support thousands of UK jobs over the next three decades.

The report, written by economic consultants BVG Associates, finds the £6.1 billion GDP contribution will be driven by significant investment in UK companies, jobs and skills during the lifecycle of Dogger Bank.

At 3.6GW, Dogger Bank will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm when fully operational and will be capable of generating enough power for around 6 million UK homes each year. Already, the project is beginning to generate homegrown renewable energy from initial commissioning at its first phase, which is being transmitted along subsea high voltage transmission cables for use by UK consumers.

The economic impact report was commissioned by Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s equity partners SSE, Equinor and Vårgrønn who are currently constructing the offshore wind farm in three 1.2GW phases at adjoining sites in the North Sea more than 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.

Direct spend with companies in the North-East of England and in the counties of North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire is expected to total over £3 billion, with hundreds of jobs supported in these regions. To date this has included jobs in companies such as Jones Bros, Bowmer and Kirkland, Boston Energy and Tekmar.

With the project beginning to generate from initial commissioning at its first phase, full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs supported across the UK by Dogger Bank are expected to reach 3,600 over 2025. 1,500 of these jobs will be in the North-East of England and North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.

A significant number of UK jobs will also continue through Dogger Bank’s operational life of at least 35 years, with an average of 1,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs expected to be supported over this period, which are predominantly highly skilled. These will also include roles for trainees and apprentices.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm has also committed to investing a further £26 million directly in local communities to enhance science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education, and to support vital grassroots community initiatives. This community investment scheme includes a scholarship programme for STEM students, with 123 grants already awarded to students in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland and South Tyneside.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

“Clean, homegrown power is the right choice for families and industry right across the country. Wind power is cheaper, cleaner and more secure than new gas – helping us bring down bills for good.

“As shown by this independent report, offshore wind projects such as Dogger Bank will generate billions for the UK, while also delivering thousands of good jobs – showing once again that clean power is the economic opportunity of the 21st century.”

Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Olly Cass, said: 

“People have always been at the heart of everything we do on Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Even from the early days of planning, there was an inherent drive from everyone involved to see what value we could unlock through this extraordinary engineering masterpiece.

”Offshore wind is a global sector with a global supply chain, but this report proves we have the skills, expertise and desire in the UK to fuel the energy transition and create economic value that’s far-reaching. The ripple effects of our UK spend, generating £6.1 billion for the UK economy, can be felt from the Highlands of Scotland, down to the south coast, and plenty more in between.

“BVGA’s report also gives us a chance to reflect on important lessons learned, so we can use Dogger Bank as the springboard for future economic growth in the UK in our development of critical energy infrastructure.”

Alun Roberts, Director of Economics, BVG Associates, said:

“Our independent analysis shows the significant impact of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Our economic model shows that the boost to the economy and jobs is sustained through the life of the project. This is vital for sustaining political support for offshore wind.”

Jones Bros senior contracts manager, James Lockwood, said:

“As a company, we are always eager to give our apprentices and trainees valuable on-site experience, and as the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank is a hugely significant project to be a part of.

“The numbers speak for themselves, with five higher apprentices and three trainee engineer apprentices working on Dogger Bank, whilst we also recruited 28 ground worker trainees and 18 plant operative apprentices.

“I know it has always brought everyone from senior managers to trainees and apprentices a great sense of pride to be associated with the scheme.”

BVGA’s report is available here: https://doggerbank.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dogger-Bank-Wind-Farm-economic-impact-report-by-BVG-Associates.pdf

Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s summary report in response to BVGA’s findings, which includes lessons learned, is available here: Dogger-Bank_Social-impact-report-2025.pdf

Final Dogger Bank Wind Farm Community Grants available for 2025

23rd October 2025 in Community News

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is pleased to announce the final allocation of its operator fund community grants for 2025 are available, offering support of up to £1,000 to local community projects in the areas closest to its construction and operation bases.

The operator fund grants are available to community projects near our construction and operation locations. Eligible organisations can now apply for this latest round of funding from the Dogger Bank operator fund to support their vital activities.

The operator fund supports local community projects in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland, and South Tyneside – the locations of the wind farm’s grid connection points and the operations and maintenance base.

The operator fund provides a total of £80,000 of funding in grants of up to £1,000 for local community projects who have a constitution and deliver activities in Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside or East Riding of Yorkshire.

Community grants can be used to enhance quality of life for local residents; contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities; and/or promote community spirit and encourage community activity.

Eligible community projects and local organisations can apply for grants up to the amount of up to £1,000, at https://doggerbank.com/about/community/.

The funding decisions are made by a panel with representatives from wind farm joint venture partners Equinor and SSE Renewables, as well as independent participant Hannah Smiles from NOF. NOF is a not-for-profit business development organisation helping to make connections between national businesses in the energy sector and owns and operates Energi Coast, North East England’s Offshore Wind Cluster.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is under construction more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes once completed. A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn, SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion. Vårgrønn brings specialist offshore wind expertise to the project.

Find out more about Dogger Bank’s £25 million community fund commitment here.

See who benefitted so far in 2025 from the Dogger Bank operator fund grants:

Ship’s bell raised from the depths of the North Sea after nearly 130 years following discovery during Dogger Bank Wind Farm excavation works 

21st October 2025 in Community News, Press releases, Project news

• 19th Century ship’s bell belonged to The Masonic vessel that sunk in 1893 and has now been fully restored to its former glory after lying forgotten at the bottom of the North Sea 
• Copper-alloy bell will be welcomed to its new home at Brightlingsea Museum in Essex by great-grandson of one of the vessel’s original owner

It had lain undisturbed at the bottom of the North Sea for nearly 130 years but now a historic ship’s bell will toll once again thanks to restoration work commissioned by Dogger Bank Wind Farm.   

The 12kg and 15cm high copper-alloy bell was originally installed on The Masonic vessel in 1876, but went down with the ship and its entire crew off the coast of Yorkshire during fierce storms in November 1893. Newspaper reports of the time refer to the remains of passengers and crew from the vessel being found on the beach at Saltburn-by-the Sea during a four-day hurricane 

The Great Storm as it was known was blamed for the deaths of 335 people at sea, with over 140 vessels abandoned or foundering including The Masonic, which went down in a stretch of water off the Yorkshire coast 

There the bell lay undisturbed on the seabed until 2022 when the team carrying out a subsea survey as part of pre-construction activities on Dogger Bank Wind Farm – set to be the largest in the world when complete – discovered an unexplained form embedded into the floor of the sea.   

The object was initially thought to be an unexploded bomb, but onshore inspections revealed a bell-shaped object with the inscription ‘Masonic’. After undergoing specialist restoration work involving X-ray imaging, the maritime treasure will now be housed at the Brightlingsea Museum near Colchester in Essex.   

Credit: MSDS Marine

 Remarkably the museum was also able to track down the great-grandson of one of the vessel’s original owners, who will be joined by representatives from Dogger Bank Wind Farm for a special unveiling ceremony of the Masonic Bell at the Brightlingsea Museum today (21st October 2025).   

The Deputy Receiver of Wreck, Andrea Bailey, worked with representatives from MSDS Marine to uncover the story behind the bell, and how it had come to be nestled into an area of seabed where offshore electricity cables were to be installed over 130 years later.   

The bell was correctly registered with the Receiver of Wreck, part of HM Coastguard, but with no-one claiming ownership, it became the property of The Crown and it was agreed its final journey would be back to Brightlingsea for exhibition in the local museum.  

Deputy Receiver of Wreck Andrea Bailey, said:   

“The fate of the Masonic and her crew was a tragedy, far away from where it first set sail. So it feels right that the bell – the last surviving piece – is returned to where it was built.  

“Reuniting objects with their owners or finding a proper home is best done by registering maritime finds with the Receiver of Wreck. By doing so, you can help share history and ensure artefacts end up where they truly belong.”  

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built in three phases off the Yorkshire coast by developers SSE, Equinor and Vårgrønn and once fully complete in 2027, will be capable of powering up to six million homes annually.  

Credit: MSDS Marine

Lizzy Reynolds, Lead Offshore Consent Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:  

 “When we set out to build the world’s largest offshore windfarm, we had no idea that our careful archaeological surveys would yield up this historic gem from the depths of the ocean floor.   

“We feel it is the right thing to do to fully restore the Masonic Bell to its former glory as a tribute to those brave mariners who perished on board the ship during violent storms of 1893. Our delivery partners Haskoning and MSDS Marine have brought the bell back to life and it will now have a new dry home at the Brightlingsea Museum.”  

Richard Dove, great-grandson of Captain William Dove, one of the owners of the Masonic, said:  

“Raising the Masonic bell from the deep after its 132 years of seabed slumber is a tangible link to my great-grandfather. 

“Hopefully the fully restored bell is testament to those brave souls that sadly perished in 1893, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has breathed new life into this wonderful piece of maritime history.”  

Carola Del Mese, Conservator at MSDS Marine and Heritage led the restoration of the 19th century bell on behalf of Dogger Bank Wind Farm contractor, Haskoning.   

Carola added:  

“Conserving the Masonic bell has been a technical challenge and a privilege, and I’m honoured to have been part of its return journey home to Brightlingsea as a commemoration to the crew and an addition to local history.” 

Local history experts from the Brightlingsea Museum believe The Masonic vessel was built by shipbuilder Robert Aldous, to transport coal, building materials and food during the 19th Century.   

Margaret Stone, Brightlingsea Museum Curator, said:   

“We are delighted to welcome the bell from the Brightlingsea-built barge, the Masonic, to the museum. This is the first artefact for our collection which comes from an actual vessel built in the town during the Nineteenth Century. What makes it even more special are the links the Masonic has to an organisation and families still in the town -  and even the museum itself. We are most grateful to all that have made this possible.”  

Image caption: Three generations of the Dove family attended the unveiling of the Masonic ship’s bell at Brightlingsea Museum.