National Grid joins Northern Powerhouse Partnership to support investment, skills, jobs and supply chain growth across the North

National Grid has joined the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP), strengthening its commitment to boosting economic growth, jobs and skills in Northern England through a major program of energy infrastructure investment.

The announcement was formally made at National Grid’s Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) Converter Station Visitor Center at Wren Hall yesterday (26 November). Recently officially opened by MP Keir MatherAttending the event were (pictured left to right) Joe and Leroy, apprentices in their first year of BAM’s Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Programme, Baroness Julie Elliott, Chair Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Alex Kaufman, Director of Land, Planning and External Affairs at National Grid, Richard Gwilliam, Northern Powerhouse Partnership Board Member and UK BECCS Director, Drax, and Neil Lyons, EGL2 Project Director,

as part of Great Grid Upgrade, National Grid is making significant investments in the North to help provide the secure, domestic electricity network the UK needs. Major projects include Eastern Green Link 1 and 2, yorkshire green and such proposed developments cross border connection And North Humber to High MarnhamOverall, National Grid’s network investment is expected to support 55,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, with a significant share of employment generated in the North,

Jobs and Supply Chain Opportunities for the North

This investment is already generating significant economic growth for northern communities:

• On EGL2, construction partner BAM is creating around 200 jobs, including apprenticeships and highly skilled engineering roles.

• A series of ‘Meet the Buyer’ events for EGL1 and EGL2 have connected hundreds of Northern SMEs with new contract opportunities across EGL2 and National Grid’s wider portfolio.

• Businesses across the North are securing work in civil engineering, cabling, transport, environmental services and technical design, ensuring the region can capture long-term economic value from the transition to clean energy. At EGL1, METLEN, which is building the converter station, has so far awarded contracts totaling in the region of £170,000 to small and medium enterprises.

• National Grid is also investing in grid supply point improvements that support Network Rail and wider transport infrastructure in the region, as well as projects such as replacing the overhead lines crossing the River Tyne with a new cable tunnel, helping to unlock economic growth in Tyneside communities and industries dependent on the river.

Joining the Northern Powerhouse Partnership will allow National Grid to deepen collaboration with local leaders, industry and communities, ensuring that the scale of the upcoming investment translates into sustainable jobs, skills development and resilient local supply chains.

Alex Kaufman, National Grid’s director of land, planning and external affairs, said,

National Grid is investing in the North to enhance the UK’s energy network and support the shift to clean, home electricity from more affordable sources. By joining the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, we can work even more closely with regional partners to maximize the economic benefits of this investment, from high-quality skilled jobs to stronger local supply chains.

Projects like Eastern Green Link 2 demonstrate the scale of the opportunity. Our buyer meet programs are already helping Northern businesses win work, while our construction partners are creating hundreds of new jobs. We look forward to supporting the partnership’s advocacy and ensuring the North continues to play a vital role in Britain’s energy transition.”

Baroness Julie Elliott, chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said:

We are delighted to welcome National Grid into the partnership and look forward to working with them to ensure that communities across the North get the full economic and skills benefits of The Great Grid Upgrade. Our ongoing research on the jobs created in the economy depends on electricity transmission investments, from building and deploying small modular reactors to running more electric and battery trains.

Discussing the apprenticeship opportunities being created across the North is a reminder of what this investment really means for all our communities. These are high-quality, safe jobs that support the next generation of engineers and technicians, and they are central to delivering clean, affordable energy.