Weardale Lithium, the company behind plans to extract valuable lithium from beneath the County Durham countryside, has formed a partnership with New College Durham to build the technical skills needed for its operations.
Partnership Aims to Develop Workforce
The collaboration comes after Weardale Lithium secured grant funding from the Government's Drive35 competition earlier this year. The company aims to extract lithium carbonate from geothermal waters in the North Pennine Ore Field, a material critical for battery manufacturing and energy storage. The project is expected to create jobs requiring advanced technical skills.
New College Durham is already active in the area through its National Battery Training & Skills Academy (NBTSA), which offers specialist training in battery technology and prepares students for careers in electric vehicles, energy storage, and advanced manufacturing.
College Recognised for Excellence
Alison Maynard, deputy principal of New College Durham, said: "This partnership with Weardale Lithium marks an important milestone for both our students and the wider regional economy. By working in close collaboration with industry, we are equipping learners with the advanced technical knowledge and specialist skills required to succeed in a rapidly evolving energy sector, while supporting the development of sustainable, high-value careers across the North East."
She added: "The strength of our curriculum, the depth of our employer partnerships, and our clear focus on future workforce needs have recently been recognised at a national level. We are extremely proud to have been confirmed as one of only four Technical Excellence Colleges for Advanced Manufacturing in the country, an achievement that reflects both the quality of our provision and our commitment to delivering skills that align with industry demand."
Scaling Up Operations
Planning approval was granted last year for Weardale Lithium's demonstration plant at its Eastgate cement works site. The firm is now looking to scale up its operation and will work with New College Durham on developing training programmes.
Stewart Dickson, managing director of Weardale Lithium, added: "By connecting education, research and industry, this partnership will play a vital role in ensuring the North East workforce is equipped with the advanced skills needed to support the clean energy sector’s rapid expansion. With significant progress being made locally, including our planned lithium extraction projects in County Durham, the region is quickly emerging as a key contributor to the UK’s critical minerals and battery supply chain."
He continued: "Through this collaboration, we are not only responding to immediate skills demands but also helping to build a sustainable talent pipeline that aligns with national priorities around energy security and the development of domestic lithium production. By aligning education with cutting-edge innovation and industrial growth, we are positioning the North East and its workforce at the forefront of the UK’s transition to a low-carbon, high-value economy."
