Energy and Environmental Technologies Funded Projects

Higher Level Skills Partnership: Energy and Environmental Technologies (2010) NWUA has produced this booklet to publicise the Energy and Environmental Technologies projects funded as part of the Higher Level Skills Partnership (HLSP). Eight courses based at North West institutions are being developed with employer and industry input. Download Brochure (pdf)>>

For more information on the projects within the Energy and Environmental Technologies Sector, please contact Elizabeth Underhill on eunderhill@nwua.ac.uk or 0161 234 0431.

University of Central Lancashire - Postgraduate modules / CPD in Safety Case Specialist Topics

The highly numerate and technical requirements for Safety Case Specialists are best met by targeting the skills gaps in this area at post-graduate level using a CPD ‘bite-sized’ modular approach. The proposal includes the development of a blended learning form of delivery in order to be more attractive to both employers and employees. Further incentive is provided by validation of each module in its own right, enabling the build up of a portfolio of smaller awards that results in a Postgraduate Certificate with the longer term aim of providing a route to Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree.

The University of Manchester, Joule Centre - CPD in Power System Protection Engineering

The project will deliver the material for a series of CPD modules in Power System Protection. Once the modules are operational for CPD, they will also be used as part of a flexible MSc programme in Power System Engineering. The modules will be designed to satisfy the initial training requirements of graduate engineers who want to specialise in the protection and control of transmission and distribution networks. Modules are likely to include Power System Fundamentals, Introduction to Power System Protection, Advanced Power System Protection, Substation Communications and an experimental module.


Myerscough College – Blended Learning Foundation Degree in Wastes Management

To develop and market an innovative blended learning Foundation Degree Wastes Management course. The course will combine the best of face to face delivery with online learning materials. This will appeal to Employers who wish to develop their key staff at higher level and improve the performance of their businesses by enhancing wastes management skills within their organisation.


The Open University in partnership with National Skills Academy for Nuclear – Certificate of Nuclear Professionalism.

To develop nationally competent and transferable professionals for the nuclear industry via the development of a higher level nuclear skills framework to be delivered modularly via work placements, employer accredited training/learning, distance learning and face to face sessions. The content and structure of the framework to be specified by employers and delivered by employers and HE partners.

Lancaster University – Fuel and Energy Generation from Waste

This proposal covers the development of an “M” level training continuing professional development (CPD) programme on fuel and energy generation from waste, addressing the established demand and skills gap in this sector. The course will be organised and run by Lancaster University, together with private providers. The training will be specifically tailored to meet the needs of industry professionals across the sector, to develop both capability and market opportunities. The approach proposed will be modular, allowing maximum flexibility and will provide a range of possible outcomes from post-graduate certificates of attendance to masters level degrees.

University of Central Lancashire
Constructing Solutions for the Low Carbon Economy (funded through the Redundancy Response Fund)

This project will focus on the development of a series of dynamic workshops to enhance the professional development and employment opportunities of personnel employed in engineering construction, focusing on the low carbon economy. Input will be received from all the relevant sectors of the industry to inform the development of the workshops.

The training will relate to the North West’s subject priorities, as identified by SummitSkills. Delivery will take into account the most relevant way of communicating information to the cohort identified. Topics covered will consider the industrial, commercial and domestic markets and enable employees to up-skill in a key growth sector.

For more information on this project, please contact Elizabeth Underhill on eunderhill@nwua.ac.uk or 0161 234 0431.

University of Central Lancashire
Engineering Conversion and Workforce Proficiency for Operation Management in the Energy Sector (funded through the Redundancy Response Fund)

This project will entail the development of Continuing Professional Development modules to allow engineers to develop technical skills required for the role of operations and design management in the energy sector.

It is envisaged that the engineers undertaking the training will include those progressing from blue collar to white collar positions, as well as those engineers presently in operations management roles who will develop further competence in the field. The modules will also be open to graduates who wish to improve and develop their employability by studying specialist technical skills.

The provision will primarily target renewable sector engineer staff, engineering graduates and those engineers in vulnerable sectors, however, the modules will also be targeted at employees in the automotive sector and ex-armed forces personnel who want to re-skill into a key growth sector. The overall aim of the project is to expand the recruitment pool and the competence of present and potential staff to meet the needs of the renewable energy sector.

For more information on this project, please contact Elizabeth Underhill on eunderhill@nwua.ac.uk or 0161 234 0431.

University of Manchester
CPD in Smart Metering and Smart Grids (funded through the Redundancy Response Fund)

This project will deliver the materials for an integrated series of CPD modules centred in topics related to communications and networking for Smart Metering and Smart Grids. The modules will be designed to satisfy the initial training requirements of graduate engineers with varying backgrounds who wish to specialise in smart metering and smart grid technologies. A range of employers in this field expressed a need for training of this sort. Once the modules are operational and are providing high quality CPD, they will also be used as part of the M.Sc. programmes in the school of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The CPD units will provide opportunity for up-skilling and re-skilling from electrical, computer and IT engineering sectors to Smart Grids and Smart Metering.

For more information on this project, please contact Elizabeth Underhill on eunderhill@nwua.ac.uk or 0161 234 0431.