Siemens in drive to bring turbine jobs to Tyne

Sep 29 2009 By Adrian Pearson, The Journal

ONE of the world's biggest wind turbine producers is at the forefront of plans to secure thousands of Tyneside jobs, The Journal can reveal.

Siemens are searching for a site to locate a new factory producing offshore wind turbines. A team from the firm, which is one of Europe’s biggest manufacturers, has already been shown around locations in North Tyneside in a bid to secure the investment.

One potential site would be the former Swan Hunter base which was recently bought by North Tyneside Council. Mayor Linda Arkley is now looking to use the site to underpin regeneration along the north bank of the Tyne.

The battle to bring the thousands of jobs to the North East is being led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has held talks with Siemens bosses eager to set up two factories.

The company already owns a turbine servicing company in North Tyneside and will have noted the £4.4m handed over to American turbine manufacturer Clipper Windpower earlier this month.

An even larger cash incentive is likely to be offered to Siemens who would be expected to play a crucial role in producing the thousands of turbines set to be placed off the North East coast. Such a large expansion in the offshore wind market would guarantee a widening market for the company, underpinning the creation of thousands of new jobs.

At Labour’s annual conference yesterday Energy Secretary Ed Miliband would not be drawn on how far negotiations have got, instead pointing to a further £20m on offer to support renewable energy. That fund could be used to offer further incentives to Siemens as part of Tyneside’s economic transformation.

With many sites along the north bank of the Tyne already earmarked for other off-sea companies, the former Swan Hunter yard would present the best opportunity for Siemens.

The company is one of several thought to be interested in the site, with one well placed source claiming that "all the top companies are aware of what is on offer in North Tyneside".

The Journal was also told by the source that the case for North Jobs was being led "at the highest level, Gordon is very keen to secure this investment".

Last night mayor Linda Arkley promised to put her support behind plans to bring thousands of well-paid jobs to the region.

She said: "We are keen to talk to any companies interested in bringing highly skilled jobs within the marine and renewables sector with good prospects to the north bank of the Tyne."

A spokeswoman for Siemens would only confirm the company was searching for a site to locate at least two factories, and that the UK was a likely candidate.

"We are in very early stages and have not decided which country yet alone which region," she said.

The company could take up to a year to decide where to build the turbines, but a decision could come much sooner if the right incentives are offered for the deal.

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