The University of Bradford has entered into a strategic partnership with SSE Energy Solutions, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities to help bridge the sustainable skills gap currently facing the UK.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, intends to address inequalities by promoting diverse and inclusive recruitment practices. It will offer students practical exposure to sustainable energy projects, enriching their educational experience and preparing them for careers in the green economy.
Neil Kirkby, Managing Director of Enterprise at SSE Energy Solutions, commented, “Strategic collaborations like our agreement with the University of Bradford are crucial in driving the transition to a sustainable energy future. By utilising our combined expertise and resources, we can accelerate innovation, create skilled jobs, and unlock the potential of clean energy as a lever for regional growth.”
While addressing the skills gap will be a major focus for the partnership, it won’t be the only collaboration between the University of Bradford and SSE Energy Solutions. That’s because the partnership also includes a focus on improving research capabilities, and the implementation of sustainable energy solutions to meet the university’s energy and decarbonisation goals.
Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, commented, “We are delighted to sign this new partnership with SSE, which aims to develop further innovation of green technologies, something we feel passionate about at the university.
“We are committed to taking action on sustainability and decarbonisation on our own campus, whilst enabling the development of green skills, jobs and technologies, working closely with the West Yorkshire Mayoral Green Task Group.
“We are excited to establish this partnership and look forward to working with SSE on a range of green opportunities.”
Kirkby concluded, “This partnership is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration in addressing the critical challenges of climate change and shaping a net-zero future for generations to come. We invite other organisations to join us in this vital journey, and we look forward to further discussions on driving sustainable economic growth at the upcoming UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds this week.”
