Industry-led engineering programme launches in September, giving students direct access to technical skills, employer engagement and future apprenticeship opportunities

As the Prime Minister announces plans to transform technical education by creating new pathways for young people from the age of 14, CATCH and Healing Academy are already putting that vision into practice in North East Lincolnshire.

This September, CATCH will welcome the first cohort of Year 10 students onto a pioneering engineering programme that combines core academic study with real-world technical education, employer engagement and direct exposure to careers in industry.

The programme will see two cohorts of 14 students attend CATCH over a two-year period to complete a Level 2 Engineering qualification alongside their studies at Healing Academy. Students will gain hands-on experience operating process plant equipment, learning industry-standard health and safety practices, and working on real engineering challenges. They will design solutions to engineering problems before prototyping, building and installing their projects using mechanical, process and electrical engineering skills.

The launch comes just days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled reforms designed to give technical education equal status to traditional academic routes, enabling students aged 14 and above to study technical subjects linked to employment opportunities in their local area.

The idea behind the programme was developed long before the national announcement, following concerns that many young people with an interest in engineering struggle to access meaningful technical learning opportunities while at school.

CATCH developed the new programme to bridge that gap by creating an authentic engineering experience within a world-class industrial training environment.

Bob Padley, Head of Process and Maintenance at CATCH, said:

“When the Prime Minister spoke about creating technical pathways for young people from the age of 14, it immediately resonated with what we’ve been building here at CATCH.

The reality is that many young people know they want a technical career long before they leave school, but too often they struggle to access learning that reflects the opportunities available in industry.

This programme changes that. Students won’t be learning about engineering from a textbook or building bird boxes. They’ll be operating process plant equipment, solving engineering challenges, building prototypes and working in an environment that mirrors the workplaces they may eventually join.

For us, this is about creating a genuine talent pipeline, from Year 10 through apprenticeships and higher-level qualifications, while helping employers engage with future talent much earlier.”

Healing Academy is one of seven school and college partners that CATCH works with across the Humber and Lincolnshire region. Since September 2025, the partnership has continued to grow through a shared commitment to helping young people understand and access careers in engineering and manufacturing.

Throughout the past academic year, Healing Academy students have participated in a range of CATCH led experiences, including industry work experience placements delivered in partnership with Puragen and Lenzing, Trade Taster Days covering welding, pipefitting, process operations, mechanical and electrical engineering, sponsored by the Humber Energy Board, activity days in partnership with IChemE, Women in Welding events, and site tours designed to showcase the breadth of opportunities available within industry.

The partnership is already producing positive outcomes. Current Year 2 apprentices training at CATCH include former Healing Academy students, while 6 additional students from the school have secured apprenticeship opportunities and are due to begin this September.

Working closely with Steve Hoey, Careers Lead at Healing Academy, and colleagues across the school, the new programme has been carefully designed to ensure students understand the value and significance of the opportunity and the progression routes available to them.

Stephen Logan, Principal at Healing Academy, said:

“Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of comprehensive technical education reforms across England, Healing Academy is proud to be at the forefront of this national shift.

By partnering with a world-class organisation in CATCH, we are giving our Year 10 students the exact opportunity championed by these reforms: studying local, industry-linked technical subjects directly alongside their core academic learning.

Fully embedded into our curriculum and timetable, this pathway equips our young people with practical skills, opens direct routes into high-value apprenticeships, and addresses critical regional skill gaps in North East Lincolnshire.”

CATCH is now working with employers across the region to support the programme and strengthen the talent pipeline into local industry. The ambition is to create a clear learning journey that can take students from their first experience of technical education in Year 10 through to apprenticeships, higher-level qualifications and rewarding place based careers within the Humber’s industrial sector.

At a time when national policy is increasingly focused on the importance of technical skills, the partnership between CATCH and Healing Academy demonstrates that employer-led, locally relevant technical education is not a future aspiration but a reality already taking shape.

ENDS

CATCH welcomed apprentices, employers and industry partners from across the region this week as it hosted the prestigious WorldSkills UK regional heats for Welding and Metal Fabrication.

The three-day event brought together some of the most talented apprentices in the sector, providing them with the opportunity to test their skills under pressure and compete for a place in the national stages of the competition.

The competition programme saw:

• Day One – CATCH first-year apprentices compete in the Metal Fabrication competition.
• Day Two – More than 30 external competitors attend and compete in either Metal Fabrication or Welding competitions, including several returning second and third-year CATCH apprentices.
• Day Three – CATCH first-year welding apprentices compete against one another in the Welding competition.

The event was organised by  Paul Bryant leading the Metal Fabrication competition and Stephen Haymes overseeing the Welding competition.

The competitions were supported by industry sponsors, including Miganglia and Enginuity (EAL) for Metal Fabrication, and Code A Weld and Air Products for Welding.

Industry experts also volunteered their time as judges. Metal Fabrication competitors were assessed by Paul Bryant and Paddy Oakes (EAL), while Welding competitors were judged by Clive Slocombe (Code A Weld) and Chris Porter (Air Products).

Competition Results

Day One – Metal Fabrication

1. Eddie Keeble (Frogmech / CATCH)
2. Jamie Smith (PJD / CATCH)
3. Rhys Barnsley (PJD / CATCH)

Day One – Welding

1. Alfie Ingram (P66 / CATCH)
2. Fred Sriprasoet (PJD / CATCH)
3. Harvey Meadows (GPE / North Lindsey)

Day Two – Welding

1. Charlie Farrow (EFAB / CATCH)
2. Liam Lough (Bilfinger / CATCH)
3. Jack Watson (Bilfinger / CATCH)

Joel Broddle, Head of welding and pipefitting, CATCH, said:

“Its been a pleasure to be asked to host both regional finals for World Skills in Metal Fabrication and Welding over 3 days, this week. We’ve had some incredible success with the welding competition since we started in 2023 and it’s something we are hoping continues this year along with Metal Fabrication. Competitions and World Skills is a passion of the WPH team. It gives individuals an incredible opportunity to show off their skills and potentially compete against the best in the country and the world. Its not all about winning for us, we believe the competitions are a great builder of confidence and personal development for the apprentices. Whether its applying for a job, doing a trade test or completing a coding, the pressure is there as the apprentices start their career journeys. Competing in the competitions is part of the process to improve how they cope under pressure”.

CATCH continues to champion excellence in technical skills development, providing apprentices with opportunities to gain industry-recognised experience, develop their capabilities and prepare for successful careers in the UK’s engineering, energy and manufacturing sectors.

Over 80 delegates came together, in person and online for the HIDN, sponsored by The University of Hull, Apprentice Employment Agency and RAS.

Chair, Joe Howe, Net Zero Humber Professor, University of Lincoln opened the event and thanked sponsors.

First to speak was Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) University of Sheffield, who discussed opportunities for SAF in the Humber Industrial Cluster.  Prof Pourkashanian introduced SAF and what it is – a low carbon alternative to jet fuel. SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emission by up to 70-80%. He discussed SAF production pathways and explained that SAF is an opportunity to reduce dependence on fragile supply networks – however SAF remains more expensive than jet fuel. He highlighted that the Humber matters as there is no other region in the UK that is better placed – industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce and CCS and hydrogen networks. He discussed the policy and government support such as the SAF mandate, AFF fund, and commercialisation pipeline. And presented the NEXTGEN-SAF case study, which aims to build the world’s first demonstration plant, including the challenges for SAF projects, only 1-20 SAF projects reach FID. He gave advice on how to ensure your project is successful, suggests a combination of policy, partnerships and project structure including the right feedstocks and the right infrastructure. Profs final point – The Humber does not need to wait!

After questions, Jade Fernandez, SSE then presented their Mission H2 Power R&D Programme. First Jade introduced the SSE drive to electrification, including networks, renewables and flexibility and the SSE Thermal network and the opportunity to decarbonise.  Jade then discussed the Humber Hydrogen programme with Centrica, Equinor and National Gas.  Jade then passed to Sue Beveridge, head of project engineering, who discussed the challenges of gas turbine technology, explaining why they need significant re-engineering of combustion systems, balancing performance, operability and fuel flexibility – Hydrogen and natural gas blends.  Next Sue discussed developing flexible, hydrogen ready power generation for deployment in this decade, and unlocking large scale hydrogen testing. Sue finished with hydrogen power is critical to a secure, net zero electricity system.

After coffee and networking, Oliver Orlik, SBTi, discussed their Science Based Targets Initiative. Oliver introduced the SBTi and advised that 13,270+ organisations have science based targets and commitments, with 91% of companies reporting targets have an overall positive impact on their organisation.  SBT is the first step for many organisations looking to reach net zero – which includes near term targets in the next 5-10 years and long term targets to be net zero by 2050. Oliver introduced their new standard to help companies take meaningful action and maximise the impact of SBT, and how to start and set targets – two routes, corporate and SME route. He discussed the methods, cross sector standards and sector specific standards and guidance. Oliver advised that the journey on average will take around 2 years to announce the target and inform stakeholders. Finally, Oliver signposted to SBTi free online academy.

Our last speaker, Sarah Duckering, University of Hull gave an update on the Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF).  A brand new triple helix funding scheme – public sector, university and industry.  The LIPF initial bid focuses on industrial opportunity, to support places to increase their competitive advantage.  Government wanted to identify key regions, for innovative excellence. HEYCA, Universities of Hull & Lincoln and CATCH put in a bid, as did Teeside.  We were invited by UKRI to proceed with a joint bid for up to £30m, over 5 years. The money is secure, so long as we can put forward a coherent, Industry led, and industry match funded, pipeline of projects to put before UKRI for project approval.  Sarah advised that they are working though what a good project looks like across the regions, such as derisking anchor projects, cluster and ecosystem growth and R&D infrastructure development.  Please reach out to katie.hedges@catchuk.org if you are interested in the programme.

The event closed with lunch and networking with our sponsors.

A major £5M Humber Freeport funded industry collaboration space at the CATCH facility in Stallingborough has officially opened, further strengthening the role of CATCH as a hub for industry engagement, skills development and knowledge sharing across the Humber, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire regions.

The facility was formally opened by Simon Green, Chief Executive of Humber Freeport, alongside industry leaders, partners and regional stakeholders.

The centre will provide a hub for industry collaboration, member networks, conferences, education partnerships and skills development linked to emerging sectors such as hydrogen, carbon capture and renewable energy, helping to support new investment and job creation across the Humber industrial cluster.

Originally announced during a ground-breaking ceremony in 2025, the development introduces a modern space including a central atrium, lecture theatre, event and breakout areas, an immersive AR/VR suite, a dedicated member lounge and a new Humber Suite.

The project has been supported by more than £5 million of funding from Humber Freeport through its seed capital fund, alongside £1.8m of private sector investment and forms part of the wider CATCH expansion programme with partners Viking CCS members Phillips 66 Limited, Harbour Energy, Drax Group and Associated British Ports (ABP), plus Air Products and Uniper to scale up the training of industrial workers.

Katie Hedges, Chief Strategy Officer, said,

“With the support of Humber Freeport, we now have a facility that reflects the scale of ambition across our region.

“Our new centre represents an important investment not only in facilities, but in the strength of our membership community. CATCH was founded by industry for industry, and this space will allow our members to come together to collaborate, share expertise and shape the future of skills and industrial growth in the region”.

Simon Green, Humber Freeport’s CEO, said:

“CATCH’s new facility provides high-quality, modern spaces which will stimulate collaboration and innovation, bringing together industry and academia for the benefit of our young people and local communities.

“Through the Freeport’s seed capital fund, we were delighted to support the expansion and celebrate an important milestone in CATCH’s own story and growth.

“CATCH’s commitment to skills development, including being home to the UK’s largest welding training facility, is critical to our region’s economic prosperity and ensuring the Humber has a future workforce properly equipped with the right expertise.”

Paul Fursey, VP, UK Lead Executive, Humber Refinery said:

“The new collaboration space at CATCH is an exciting next step in this development, creating a safe and inspiring environment for apprentices to learn, grow, and collaborate while ensuring a pipeline of skilled talent to fuel the region.”

“The Humber is at the heart of energy and security resilience, and one way we can support this is by investing in future talent and creating opportunities necessary for them to thrive. By fostering an environment where skills are honed and innovation is encouraged, we ensure the region’s continued growth and contribution to the energy sector’s stability and advancement.”

Graeme Davies, EVP CCS Harbour Energy said:

“The opening of CATCH’s new centre represents an important investment in skills development and knowledge sharing across the Humber. CATCH plays a vital role in bringing industry together and helping ensure the skills and capabilities needed to deliver projects like Viking CCS are in place. Collaboration like this is essential to building a skilled workforce that can support the region’s industrial future.”

On Monday 9th February 2026, four apprentices from Stallingborough based training provider CATCH attended a National Apprenticeship Week reception at 10 Downing Street, hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after writing directly to him about the value of apprenticeships and skills training in supporting the UK’s clean energy ambitions.

Emily Hasthorpe, now a second-year Process Operations apprentice, employed by Lenzing in North Lincolnshire, wrote to the Prime Minister on behalf of CATCH and the wider apprenticeship cohort. Her letter highlighted the importance of high quality, employer led apprenticeships, hands on technical skills, and sustained investment in training to secure the future workforce.

In response, Emily and three fellow apprentices: Harry Hooton, welding apprentice and world skills finalist, employed by Blackrow, Shayden Rodgers, pipe welder employed by GE Vernova and Madeleine Cartwright, electrical apprentice employed by Philips 66 Limited, attended the high profile Opportunities for All: A National Apprenticeship Week Reception hosted by Keir Startmer at 10 Downing Street, celebrating the role apprenticeships play in creating good jobs, supporting industry, and strengthening communities across the UK.

Emily commented, “I am currently in my second year of a process apprenticeship with Lenzing Fibres. During my first year at CATCH, I wrote to the Prime Minister to invite him to visit our site, however I was instead honoured to be invited to Number 10 for National Apprenticeship Week. This provided a valuable opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, engage with representatives from a range of trades and companies, and raise awareness of the work carried out by Lenzing Fibres, as well as my training provider, CATCH. I am extremely grateful to CATCH for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it has been amazing!”

Lisa Buck, Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at CATCH, said of the visit: “We are incredibly proud of Emily and her fellow apprentices. It is not every day you get to attend a reception at 10 Downing Street and meet the Prime Minister! This invitation recognises not only her confidence but the voice of apprentices across our region who are working hard to build long-term careers in vital industries. Apprenticeships are about providing opportunities for all, developing lifelong skills and valuable hands-on experience and Emily’s letter captured that perfectly.”

Lewis Crowther, Head of Business Development and Marketing, Blackrow said, “We are incredibly proud to see Harry represent both Blackrow and the wider apprenticeship community at such a prestigious event. Apprenticeships play a vital role in developing the skilled workforce our industry depends on, and it is great to see that recognised at a national level. Supporting young people into engineering careers is something we are deeply committed to, and opportunities like this show just how far an apprenticeship can take you.”

CATCH is a nationally recognised, industry-led training centre supporting skills development across the energy, process engineering and industrial sectors. The organisation continues to invest heavily in state-of-the-art facilities, supported by strong collaboration with its members and partners. This includes investment from Viking CCS partners Phillips 66 Limited, Harbour Energy, Drax Group and Associated British Ports (ABP), alongside Air Products and Uniper, as well as funding from the Humber Freeport and ECITB. Together, this support has enabled the development the CATCH facilities, with further investment underway through a new conference centre due to open in April this year.

The invitation to Downing Street comes during National Apprenticeship Week and underlines the growing recognition of apprentices as key contributors to the UK’s economic future and clean energy transition.

On Wednesday 28^th January 2026 CATCH held the latest meeting of the CATCH Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Network at The Ropewalk, Barton-Upon-Humber.

Chair Joe Howe, Net Zero Professor at University of Lincoln welcomed over 60 delegates both in person and online, before introducing the first speakers, Helen Sisson, Senior External Communications Manager, STEP Fusion and Dr Edward Wright, Senior Energy Advisor, Lincolnshire County Council.

Helen introduced STEP Fusion, and their aim to be the first power plant operating using nuclear fusion as a method of energy production. Helen explained the benefits of the process and how their Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production is a pioneering prototype fusion power plant. By 2040 STEP hope to be providing energy to the grid, using their prototype power plant.  STEP Fusion is supported by the government in its current stages, with an aim to bring around 6,500 Construction Roles and 13,000 Operational Roles across the United Kingdom.

Dr. Edward Wright then discussed the Trent Supercluster, in particular the West Burton Power Station where STEP Fusion will be operating. The Trent Supercluster not only operates as an anchor for energy and economic growth within the region, with 3 large scale power production facilities, including the site as West Burton, but also as a collaborative between government and industry across the East Midlands, Greater Lincolnshire and increasingly South Yorkshire regions, with local businesses being continually supported and raising aspirations throughout the regions as the project continues.

After taking questions from delegates, the meeting next heard from Antony Miller, Commercial Lead – Hydrogen, Equinor, about the Humber Hydrogen Pipeline Project. Antony began by explaining how the Humber Region is the best location to be able to kickstart the H₂ Economy and deliver H₂P in both the short and long term, due to extensive skills and experience across the region, access to green energy and power plants that could be converted to operate on hydrogen, as well as suitable geology and geography within the Humber Region.

The Humber Hydrogen Pipeline is looking to connect Aldbrough Hydrogen Store to terminals at Easington and Saltend Chemical Park, the South Bank and potentially beyond to Keadby, all locations which have the capability for production of both Blue and Green H₂, as well as H₂P and H₂ Users. The Humber Hydrogen Pathway is hoping to be selected as the preferred H₂ Network in Early 2027, becoming a scalable pathway to the National Hydrogen Economy, starting regionally within the Humber.

The group then heard from Arjan Geveke, Director, Energy Intensive Users Group, whose members include some of the most energy intensive users in the United Kingdom, including the Steel Industry, British Glass and Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI).

The Energy Intensives Users Group have several focus areas, including the interaction between the Carbon Leakage Mitigation Policies and Review of the Relief Schemes for certain Energy Intensive Industries. Arjan also discussed the about ensuring the security of Energy Supply, before finishing by discussing how Energy Intensive User Group are looking to assist in influencing the Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Policies.

Arjan took questions from the group before a brief coffee and networking break.

Following the break, the group heard from Georgiana Muscula, Hydrogen Project Specialist, Cadent Gas, who presented to the group on Cadent’s Low Carbon Conversion of Non-Domestic Properties Project. Cadent’s aim is the generate holistic evidence to assist and inform with future policy and regulatory frameworks for non-domestic decarbonisation. They are doing this by visiting a variety of businesses and conducting site surveys.  There is still time to partake in Cadent’s Project, and more details can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7419317843810484224

The final speaker for the network was Debbie Baker, Clean Energy and Public Affairs Consultant, who spoke on behalf of The Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Skills Accelerator. Debbie began by indicating the jobs forecast for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage, acknowledging where the skills challenges are.

The Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Skills Accelerator have been approved to operate pilot programmes in the North and South West Regions in order to support the skills gap present in both Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage.

The skills plan has recognised significant issues, including uncertainty in the demand for skills, and a lack of clarity surrounding what the roles will look like within industry. There is also a lack of provider capacity to be able to deliver specific hydrogen training, so the Skills Accelerator is looking to not only bridge the skills gap in their pilot regions, but also work with SIAS to develop Level 2 and/or Level 3 Hydrogen and CCS Qualifications, and are aiming to ensure that careers utilising hydrogen and carbon capture are well understood.

The session closed with Joe thanking all in attendance, and a networking lunch for all in-person attendees followed.

The next meeting of the CATCH Industrial Decarbonisation Network will be held on Wednesday 25^th March 2026, and will be held at Aura Innovation Centre, Hessle, Hull.  This meeting is sponsored by the Northern Endurance Partnership.

For more information about our networks and CATCH Membership, please contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org.

CATCH has been recognised in the UK Government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan as a leading example of how industry and education can work together to create the skilled workforce needed for the clean energy future.

Based in stallingborough, Grimsby, CATCH already operates as the new “Technical Excellence College” model, training people for real industrial careers. The triple-award winning organisation delivers apprenticeships and training in 11 of the identified priority occupations, students are supported by tutors who bring years of experience from working in industry. Its facilities are designed to feel like real industrial workplaces, giving learners hands-on experience that prepares them for their future careers. The organisation also leads the way in inclusion, running Women in Engineering initiatives, Equality Diversity, Inclusivity and Belonging network, and a dedicated outreach team connecting schools and communities with opportunities in the industrial sectors.

David Talbot, CATCH CEO, said, “Our strength lies in our deep routed industrial connections, with investors, local councils, government and employers across the region. Our offer spans the full talent pipeline, from pre-apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps through to Level 4 HNC programmes which will be delivered from September 2026, ensuring opportunities for learners at every stage. It also supports the existing and transitioning workforce through short courses for upskilling and reskilling, aligned with the region’s industrial needs including, Local Skills Improvement Plans and working with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs Training Guarantee, and the national clean energy skills pilot”.

The Government’s report describes CATCH as “an employer-led training provider, co-funded by industry and government, supporting reskilling in hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and process operation.”

Download details of how we align with the clean energy jobs plan here.

CATCH is delighted to announce the appointment of Jacqueline Gray, as Director of Business Development and Partnerships. In this newly created role, Jacqueline will oversee new opportunities across all service areas, including apprenticeships, commercial training, and membership services.

David Talbot, CEO CATCH said, “We are very excited to be welcoming Jacqueline to the team in mid-November, she brings a strong track record of strategic leadership with a focus on growth and client engagement, which aligns perfectly with the requirements of this new role. We are confident that Jacqueline will drive significant growth and success across our business”.

Jacqueline will drive CATCH’s growth agenda by leading regional and national partnerships, developing new commercial opportunities, and supporting the organisation’s mission to support members clean power ambitions, innovation, and skills development across our region and beyond.

Jacqueline said: After an incredibly rewarding decade at the University of Lincoln, this next chapter feels both exciting and purposeful. CATCH plays a vital role in shaping the Humber and Greater Lincolnshire’s industrial future, driving decarbonisation, innovation, and skills development across energy-intensive sectors. Its vision for a cleaner, more connected, and competitive industrial economy truly resonates with me, and I’m honoured to be joining the team at such a pivotal time for UK industry.

Over the past ten years, I’ve been privileged to work with exceptional colleagues and partners on projects such as the Bridge, IDRIC, Freeport collaborations, and many others focused on regional growth and Net Zero innovation. Those experiences have shaped my approach to partnership, purpose, and people, all of which I’ll carry proudly into this new role.

A heartfelt thank you to all who’ve supported, encouraged, and collaborated with me along the way. Here’s to the next chapter, collaboration, growth, and making a lasting difference together”.

Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for CATCH as the organisation continues to expand its influence across the region.

British Steel today announced a new partnership with leading training provider CATCH as it prepares to welcome dozens of new apprentices into its business.

The UK’s only primary steelmaker is taking on its first apprentices for 3 years including 36 in engineering and technical roles in Scunthorpe.

Training for these successful candidates will be delivered by expert tutors from CATCH and follow a flexible delivery model, so the apprentices learn their trades both on-site at British Steel and at the Stallingborough-based CATCH facility.

Located in the heart of the UK’s Energy Estuary, CATCH delivers high impact services tailored to meet the evolving needs of industry, from its world-class training facilities and membership networks to its policy engagement and school outreach work.

British Steel HR Director Nick Ashton said: “CATCH has an outstanding reputation, and we’re delighted our new apprentices – our next generation of engineers and technical experts – will benefit from this exciting new partnership.

“We’ve been working closely with CATCH to ensure the best possible training experience, with a blend of technical knowledge and practical hands-on skills.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming our new apprentices who will play an important role in our drive towards sustainable steelmaking.”

British Steel’s new engineering and technical apprentices for Scunthorpe will join the business in September and, over the course of their 3-year programmes, work towards a National Apprenticeship while earning a competitive salary.

Nick said: “Many of our senior leaders joined as apprentices and our new recruits will have a superb opportunity to follow in their footsteps and build the foundations for a hugely rewarding career with British Steel.”

Paul Robinson, Director of Education and Training at CATCH, said: “British Steel has a proud legacy and the people that work there have a deep-rooted sense of belonging, these values closely align with our own at CATCH.

“We are extremely proud to be working in partnership with the team and to support the development of their future workforce. Together, we will provide a high-quality apprenticeship programme that blends technical expertise with practical, hands-on training, giving apprentices the tools they need to thrive in their new careers.

“We look forward to a long partnership and to playing a key role in British Steel’s journey as they continue to invest in place, people, skills, and their community.”

British Steel is recruiting a total of 58 apprentices this year. In addition to the 36 engineering and technical apprenticeships in Scunthorpe, 6 functional roles have been created at its headquarters, 14 positions at its operations on Teesside and Skinningrove, and 2 roles at its R&D facility in Sheffield.

CATCH was delighted to welcome Sir David Bell, Vice Chair of Skills England, and Andrew Mills, Skills England Regional Relationship Manager (North), to our Stallingborough site this week.

Hosted by CEO David Talbot, the visit included a tour of our industry-led training facilities, followed by a working lunch and roundtable discussion with representatives from across the Humber’s process, energy, and engineering sectors.

The roundtable provided a valuable opportunity for employers to share key challenges – including skills shortages, the need for greater training capacity, and clarity around funding and investment – directly with the Skills England team. Participants highlighted the importance of collaboration between training providers, colleges, and employers to address regional skills gaps and deliver a workforce ready to support major infrastructure and the clean energy mission projects.

We thank our members, partners, and stakeholders for contributing to such an impactful session and look forward to continuing our engagement with Skills England to shape a skills system that truly meets the needs of industry.