Blackpool and The Fylde College named national college hub for onshore oil and gas

By Blackpool and the Fylde College

13 Nov 2014

Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) has been announced as the UK hub for the National College for Onshore Oil and Gas.

Building on the UK’s world-leading offshore oil and gas heritage, the National College is being set up by representative body UKOOG to meet the industry’s future skills needs and help the UK to become an international centre of excellence for onshore operations.

The news was announced by the Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP, minister of state for business and enterprise and minister of state for energy as he visited B&FC on 12 November. The minister also laid a foundation stone at the college’s Advanced Technology Centre, which will deliver core advanced engineering skills required for progression paths into the energy sector.

Bev Robinson, principal and chief executive at Blackpool and The Fylde College welcomed the announcement. She said: “This is very positive news for Blackpool, the Fylde Coast and the whole of Lancashire. B&FC are delighted to be able to contribute to the country’s energy industry and ultimately production capacity.

“Crucially, this will drive long term investment in the region, meet the demand for highly skilled labour and secure local jobs. To be named as the hub for one of the National Colleges is a privilege. It is testament to the College’s well established relationships with industry partners and high quality skills training up to and including honours degree programmes.”

As the hub for the National College for Onshore Oil and Gas, the college will deliver a comprehensive range of advanced qualifications, up to and including honours degree programmes, and produce the highly skilled engineers and technicians of the future.

B&FC has a proven track record of training employees for the offshore oil and gas industry to the exacting safety standards required by accrediting body Opito, who will also accredit onshore courses.

The college has been supported in its bid by a number of industry-leading organisations including Centrica Energy and Cuadrilla Resources.

Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla said: “We are delighted that the new National College for the onshore oil and gas industry is to be headquartered at Blackpool and The Fylde College. Several independent studies have shown that the development of a shale gas industry in the region will generate tens of thousands of jobs and this new National College will give the North West region a head start in developing the skills that are needed for a productive shale gas industry.”

Greg McKenna, director of non operated assets at Centrica Energy said: “We welcome the commitment to a National College for the onshore oil and gas sector, which marks an important step forward for the industry.

“Blackpool and The Fylde College is an outstanding educational establishment which is well placed to play a key role in delivering the National College initiative. High quality training programmes are extremely important to the future of the energy industry, as year on year the UK is faced with a growing shortage of engineers. Initiatives such as the National College will help us tackle this issue, and allow young people greater access to training opportunities which will lead to skilled jobs.

“We are pleased to offer our support to Blackpool and The Fylde College and all of the partner organisations who will be involved in delivering the National College programme.”

Bev Robinson added: “We extend our particular thanks to industry partners, the Lancashire LEP and local MPs who have worked closely with B&FC throughout the process and played an integral part in Lancashire securing the national hub. We will continue to liaise with industry to ensure our skills offer is fully aligned to the jobs and careers available.” B&FC is a leading training provider for the energy sector. It has been working closely with the Lancashire LEP to address the skill priorities identified in the growth strategy and as a result, more than £6million of funding has been set aside for the College to create an Energy HQ for Lancashire. The Energy HQ will support traditional oil and gas as well as renewable and low-carbon energy generation training and skills, and will now include onshore oil and gas. B&FC will support the industry as it makes the step change from fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon energy sources.

Latest news

1

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders Ant and Dec and Amy and Chris Cheadle

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders

18 Jul 2025

2

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch Dave Scholes and Malcolm Ireland

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch

18 Jul 2025

3

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed Flying Combat Air Demonstrator

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed

17 Jul 2025

4

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company The Printed Cup Company

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company

17 Jul 2025

5

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International Joe Diston

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International

17 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin